Women in the 1950s

Warm Up – 3/20 Write questions and answers Warm Up – 3/20 Write questions and answers. This will be collected with other work today. Why is it especially important to connect women’s activism from the 1930s-1950s? Why were activists efforts difficult in the 1930s? Who was at the forefront of the civil rights movement? Name one effort by Latinos to challenge marginalization. Which 2 wars highlighted the activist efforts of Asian Americans? Women from all racial groups attempt to gain access to what?

Women in the Workforce More women entered the workforce in the 1950s 1940 – 25% of women worked 1960 – 35% of women worked These were not just single women because… 1940 – 17% of wives work 1960 – 32% of wives work Not just young women, mothers also increased their participation in the workforce Because moms were having children at younger ages and Americans were living longer, women began work once their children reached school age

Why were more women working? WWII Women took on traditionally males jobs during the war such as government, manufacturing, and war industries Once the war ended, women were lost these jobs but they continued working in white collar (clerical work, nursing, teaching) and pink collar jobs (waitressing, hairdressing, personal care, etc.) Consumer Culture and good economy = more jobs

The Real Housewives of the 1950s

The Cold War After WWII, the USSR and the US were the world’s two superpowers From 1945-1991, these two competed to be the richest, most armed, most powerful country No actual fighting between the two countries Instead used other countries to fight called proxy battles with the Soviets supporting one side and the Americans the other These battles were about communism versus democracy/capitalism and about America getting what it wanted out of other countries (resources, money, influence, etc).

“Us” versus “Them” The Cold War created a super competitive environment in all areas – education, arms races, economically, number of consumer goods, space race, etc.

1950s = Time of Suppression and Fake Conformity This led to the government wanting to make everyone in America look, talk, and act the same – all supporting democracy and capitalism Wanted to portray America as a place of freedom, success, and happiness Success = man worked, woman stayed at home Emphasis on consumer goods b/c lots of stuff = success and happiness Thus, lots of ads for new inventions like the microwave, TV, and vacuum cleaner

Was 1950s Suburban Housewife a myth? Largely, yes because… Most people could not afford to move to suburbs and buy new products Not everyone was as financially stable as the white and middle class Women did not just stay at home More women (young, old, married, single, and mothers) were working BUT…the image of the perfect housewife was in ads and on TV because the US thought women staying at home was way to beat USSR