Why did a group of Boston city councilors post a picture of themselves flexing their muscles during a meeting on Wednesday? It wasn’t because they had just strong-armed Mayor Martin J. Walsh into finally giving them a raise.
The councilors and other local politicians including Senator Edward Markey, Massachusetts First Lady Lauren Baker, and state Attorney General Maura Healey were taking part in a global social-media campaign to raise awareness about women in poverty by posting “strengthies” in a Rosie the Riveter-type pose. The promotion, put on by the anti-poverty organization ONE, is intended to drive more people to sign a “Poverty is Sexist” petition and push world leaders to consider the plight of women, who are more likely to be poor than men.
A few media types and local organizations got in the muscle-bound action, but the proliferation of political participation was courtesy of public affairs firm the Dewey Square Group, which set up a strengthie photo station at the State House.
Props go to State Auditor Suzanne Bump for donning a red Rosie the Riveter bandana for her photo -- and to state Senator Michael Moore for rolling up his shirtsleeve to reveal a bulging bicep. But the most impressive image had to be the one posted by our buff lieutenant governor, Karyn Polito, who, it turns out, has some serious guns.
Katie Johnston can be reached at katie.johnston@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @ktkjohnston.