Preview

What Is The Role Of Women In The 1950s

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
268 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
What Is The Role Of Women In The 1950s
Although more women were working outside of the home, the primary role of women in 1950s American society was a housewife. Their key duties were to cook, clean and take care of their families. In addition, consumerism was in full swing. Marriage was promoted as the ultimate goal for women. Products were created specifically with women in mind to ease their household work load. Appliances-wash machines, vacuum cleaners, TV dinners, etc. Women were giving freedom of choice as well as freedom form their day to day duties with new technology. In 1950, women that worked outside of the home possessed jobs in low-salary positions such as clerical, sales and service labor. By 1955 the workforce of women increased. Women were working part-time
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Ch. 38 Overview
    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Ch. 38 Overview

    1. The 1950’s were different from the 1920’s in terms of women in society and in the workplace, also while race relations weren’t great in either decade there were significant steps of improvement in the 50’s. The 50’s and the 20’s were similar in terms consumerism. During World War 2 in the 1950’s there was a shortage of men in the workplace because most of them had left America to go fight the Germans. To make up for the work shortage many employers had to employ women. As a result women were working more and becoming more independent because they were making money and spending less time as homemakers. In contrast the women in the 1920’s were mostly all homemakers who looked after kids and obeyed their husbands, they were not independent and relied on their husbands for support. The race relations in both decades were not great but in the 1950’s there were significant steps made to improve these relations. Most famously Brown V. Board of Education that desegregated public schools and also overturned the infamous Plessy V. Ferguson. Also the refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger of Rosa Parks lead to the start of the equality movement spearheaded by Martin Luther King Jr. Relations also made a step when the Civil Rights Act of 1957 was passed, and even though it didn’t make any radical changes, it was a step in a positive direction. In terms of domestic consumerism the 1920’s were famous for the boom in spending, fueled mostly by the creation of credit buying. The American consumer in the 1950’s was very similar to the 1920’s consumer; there was an economic boom again and it seemed that everyone had to have the next big thing like cars and television sets.…

    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did The Post-War Affect Canada
    • 732 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Did The Post-War Affect Canada

    And television became a necessity for family and children and the series which came in the television they enjoyed watching it. The unemployment rate became very low as more job opportunities came up. Factories were being built for a new phase in the industrial section. The role of women was redefined during the 1950s as back then, there were women magazines which described that the reason of the children being in a bad health was because their mothers were working instead of taking care of them. And also after the war, they were supposed to go back to their normal life as the men took over from them.…

    • 732 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Northern vs. Southern Women from the 1800's to Now
    • 882 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Northern vs. Southern Women from the 1800's to Now

    During the 1840’s and ‘50’s, women from both the North and the South had unwavering roles that they played in their societies. Northern society bustled into wealth and culture. The homes were made more luxurious, adorning many intricate patterns, lush fabrics and intense colors. Higher standards for living were put into perspective, and women were the cornerstones to hold them in place. Women in the North were under the direct authority of their husbands, although few freedoms were allowed. Families were dependent upon the husband as the sole income of the house; workingwomen were considered a lower-class standard and only did so out of necessity. Many women were uneducated past an elementary level and encouraged to marry young. In the household, women were the cogs in the great oiled machine of family life. Though their education did not advance academically, women were deemed the “domestic guardians” of the home. Women “learned to place a higher value on keeping a clean, comfortable, and well-appointed home; on entertaining; and on dressing elegantly and stylishly.” (Chapter 10, Page 258) Women even developed a special female culture revolving around romance novels and magazines featuring shopping, homemaking, and domestic concerns of the modern housewife.…

    • 882 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To what extent did the decade of the 1950's deserve its reputation as an age of political, social and cultural conformity?
    • 484 Words
    • 2 Pages

    To what extent did the decade of the 1950's deserve its reputation as an age of political, social and cultural conformity?

    Social conformity was also being played out during the 1950s. During the 1950s, America's Gross National Product increased 51%. GIs returning from World War II and Korea were eager to spend money and to have children. In the 1950s, 29 million new Americans were born. The birth rate of the United States was comparable to that of India. To meet the consumer demands of this increasing population, American industry expanded at an amazing pace and turned out new cars, clothing, Frisbees, and a plethora of other consumer items. During the 50s, women faced terrific hostility as many were convinced that the female's place was in the home, their actions were acceptable and met the traditional values of the nation.…

    • 484 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The United States Society in the 1920's and 1950's with Respect to Race Relations and Role of Women.
    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The United States Society in the 1920's and 1950's with Respect to Race Relations and Role of Women.

    During the 1950’s women were very different from how they were in the 1920’s. Women were viewed as repressive and constrictive. Society placed a very high importance and many expectations on how women behaved at home as well as in public. The perfect mother was supposed to stay home and take care of her children so that society would accept them. Also the perfect women had dinner ready for her husband when he got home from work, and was at her husband’s every beck and call. She agreed with her husband on everything. Women were not allowed to voice any opinion or want schooling or anything like that.…

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    1950's Gender Roles Essay
    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages

    1950's Gender Roles Essay

    “The way to a man’s heart, so we’ve always been told, is a good working knowledge of a pot, pan and mold.” –The Brides Cookbook, 1956. This quote is from a cookbook, which was made especially for newlywed women (Brides Cookbook, 1956). This is one example of the gender roles that was expected during this time era. Many women during that time period were expected to stay home, cook, clean and take care of the children, while the man of the house would work. The quote also continues “A juicy red steak, or a tender fish fillet, done to a turn, in a bright copper skillet, And leaves the man happy, content and drooling” (Brides Cookbook, 1956), It states that the meals the women makes will leave him happy, and during this time era, women did all the work in the house (Brides Cookbook, 1956). Even television shows during this time era make is acceptable to be a house wife, such as I love Lucy and Leave it to Beaver.…

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Freedoms Of Women In The 1950's
    • 874 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Freedoms Of Women In The 1950's

    Since the end of world war two, in 1945, Australian society has witnessed many dramatic changes in the rights and freedoms of women. Women, who had been encouraged to take on men’s jobs during the war were expected to vacate these positions and return to their traditional vocation in “home making”.…

    • 874 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    19th Century American Women Research Paper
    • 1263 Words
    • 6 Pages

    19th Century American Women Research Paper

    Then we enter the baby boom period and things change a bit. Post war was during 1945 through 1960 and the troops came home. Marriage rates increased and the birth rate was through the roof(Norton, 839). Since families were growing the women now needed to stay home. When we entered the 1950’s people were getting married younger and families became the main focus. During this period is when I see the biggest change in gender roles. Women before this were trying to do the same things as men, have rights and be independent. They basically take a few steps back. While a good portion of women did work during this time, they were still responsible for the household duties and the children. Women who did work work faced discrimination. There would help wanted signs asking specifically for a male or a female(Norton, 860).…

    • 1263 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Women In The 1930's
    • 1887 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Women In The 1930's

    During the two decades from 1920 to 1940, the number of American women working outside the home increased slightly. In 1920, women made up 23.6 percent of the labor force; by 1940, this percentage had risen to 25.4. Some advances were made in working women's rights, but during the Great Depression, many female workers lost their jobs or were forced to accept severe cuts in pay. Despite the economic difficulties of the period, some outstanding businesswomen achieved great commercial success. In the 1930s, despite the fact that women were a big part of the society, they were not treated equally in the workplace compared to their male counterparts.…

    • 1887 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    1950s vs Today
    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages

    1950s vs Today

    Secondly, life has improved for women today because now women are taken more seriously in the business world. In the 1950's, the fact that a woman was even attending college was uncanny and paranormal, and the few brave women that chose to learn further were not taught mathematics and science (fields they were later going to succeed in) but home economics and cooking. Additionally, during the 1950’s, because housekeeping and raising a family were considered ideal female roles, only two out of five…

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Essay On 1950s American Fashion
    • 824 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Essay On 1950s American Fashion

    “...libraries converted their buildings into fallout shelters and disseminated survival information to millions of Americans.” (Spencer, Brett). While the men worked for hours on end to earn their families paychecks, women stayed home to clean the house, watch the children, and to keep their dresses without a single wrinkle on them. “The second half of the 1950s still emphasized women dressing for ‘their men’.” (1950 to 1960.). Women during this decade wanted to appeal others by looking uniquely beautiful , but still dress like every other woman in America, they had to look attractive and acceptable for any outgoing errands. “... practical but attractive housedress, not only for household chores but suitable for quick errands or the school run.” (1950 to 1960.). The Cold War brought women into where they had to play the role as the uprising wife who would always take care of all the cleaning. “Women’s focus was on rearing children and keeping house as they had largely left the war years’ workplace.” (1950 to…

    • 824 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Role Of Communism In The 50's
    • 916 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Role Of Communism In The 50's

    The 1950s are known for the baby boomers and a nationwide shift to the suburbs. Life was placid and relaxed for the majority of families. Most people knew their places and fit into them neatly. Men were often the sole earners for their families, while women stayed home and cared for the children (History.com Staff 2010).…

    • 916 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    The Role Of Women In The 1920s
    • 1949 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The Role Of Women In The 1920s

    The 1920s was a time period full of fun and excitement, also known as the Jazz Age. It was a revolution of the basic morals and manners everyone was used to. After returning from World War I , many were affected greatly. This caused people to want to have more fun in their life, knowing they may not have a long time left to live. This was specifically an immense decade for women politically, and socially. It was also a time period full of many influential women. Women started having more of a voice. New rights were put in place for women as they shocked the world. They started developing a new sense of fashion that was more appealing to them. The way they dressed and acted drastically changed. People like Alice…

    • 1949 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Women In The 1960s
    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Women In The 1960s

    The Women's liberation saw much change within the 1960s as women campaigned for equal pay for equal work within the workforce. These women came to be called "Labor Feminists" as they fought for their rights to be acknowledged within the workplace and were active members of unions. Different women's trade unions worked to secure the rights for women within the work place and they were a critical part of the push that created the Equal Pay Act of 1963. This act made it so that women are now legally required to receive equal pay for equal work.…

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    American Urbanization In The 1930's
    • 698 Words
    • 3 Pages

    American Urbanization In The 1930's

    Citizens had more money and they wanted to spend it on things that were once considered luxuries, now necessities, for an easier lifestyle. Women who were in the workforce were sent back home to be homemakers once the soldiers returned from war. The gender sphere of women being “guardians of domestic life” were responsible for raising good, democracy-loving children (Schultz, 2016, p. 472). Some women did remain in the workforce and they were highly discriminated against. They held positions that did not offer career advancements and their jobs were typically in the service sector.…

    • 698 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More