Woman's Role In The 1950s
Woman's Role in the 1950s
The role of women in the 1950 was repressive and constrictive in many ways. Society placed high importance and many expectations on behavior at home as well as in public. Women were supposed to fulfill certain roles,
Such as a caring mother, a diligent homemaker, and an obedient wife. The perfect mother was supposed to stay home and nurture so society would accept them. A diligent housewife had dinner on the table precisely at the moment her husband arrived from work. A wife was a "good" wife only if she carried out her man's every order and agreed with him on everything. In fact, even if she wanted to voice an opinion, he education, or rather lack of thereof would not allow it. Another reference is the 1950's …show more content…
Women did not join the conversations, they just stood near the men with platters of heure d'heurves. Men feared intelligent women because of their tendency to "think" for themselves and disagree with their man. In Pleasantville, when Betty starts doing things on her own, her husband is outrages and confused. He has never known any other way or treating his wife. He loves his wife, or rather the image and template that she is, for her simplicity and "propriety". He however, becomes weary when his wife takes on new interests and refuses to follow the old rules. As soon as she learns something, she becomes a threat, seemingly to his manhood and …show more content…
By achieving equality with men, women have also set up new stereotypes. Now in order to be respected, a woman has to be a "career" woman balancing both children and a job. In fact, stay home moms now receive the same degrading look as educated working women did in the 50's. Although the pressure of being a perfect mother and wife are now gone, pressure still remains to get a good education and become a successful citizen. However, in the attempt to become equal, women have swung too far…neither extreme is reasonable and neither is truly the solution. In reality, the goal should be freedom of choice without prejudice. A woman must have the right to choose whether she wants the career or a homelike. Neither stereotype is healthy and right and society (women especially) who think they have accomplished the goal are
The role of women in the 1950 was repressive and constrictive in many ways. Society placed high importance and many expectations on behavior at home as well as in public. Women were supposed to fulfill certain roles,
Such as a caring mother, a diligent homemaker, and an obedient wife. The perfect mother was supposed to stay home and nurture so society would accept them. A diligent housewife had dinner on the table precisely at the moment her husband arrived from work. A wife was a "good" wife only if she carried out her man's every order and agreed with him on everything. In fact, even if she wanted to voice an opinion, he education, or rather lack of thereof would not allow it. Another reference is the 1950's …show more content…
Women did not join the conversations, they just stood near the men with platters of heure d'heurves. Men feared intelligent women because of their tendency to "think" for themselves and disagree with their man. In Pleasantville, when Betty starts doing things on her own, her husband is outrages and confused. He has never known any other way or treating his wife. He loves his wife, or rather the image and template that she is, for her simplicity and "propriety". He however, becomes weary when his wife takes on new interests and refuses to follow the old rules. As soon as she learns something, she becomes a threat, seemingly to his manhood and …show more content…
By achieving equality with men, women have also set up new stereotypes. Now in order to be respected, a woman has to be a "career" woman balancing both children and a job. In fact, stay home moms now receive the same degrading look as educated working women did in the 50's. Although the pressure of being a perfect mother and wife are now gone, pressure still remains to get a good education and become a successful citizen. However, in the attempt to become equal, women have swung too far…neither extreme is reasonable and neither is truly the solution. In reality, the goal should be freedom of choice without prejudice. A woman must have the right to choose whether she wants the career or a homelike. Neither stereotype is healthy and right and society (women especially) who think they have accomplished the goal are