WOMEN’S ROLES IN THE 1940’S TO 1950’S

Make a Hypothesis

Write down why you think that there was such a change in women’s roles between the 1940’s and 1950’s How does this compare to what we learned

yesterday?

THE WAR IS OVER1947

•With the end of the war, almost all war industry shut down•The GI’s return home•Potential conflict

•Men v. Women for jobs •After war most women felt they had to step down for the men to take the jobs. •They knew their work was just while the men were gone.

SO, WHERE DID THE WOMEN GO?

•They moved into service industry jobs

•Ex. teachers, nurses, librarians, bank tellers, etc.

•The number of workers declined but not to prewar levels• -OR- Women went home to be housewives again

1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 195014

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Women In the Work Force 1940-1950

Women In the Work Force 1940-1950

WWII Ends

US Enters WWII

DR. SPOCK•Dr. Spock- Common Sense Books of Baby and Child Care•Believed that mothers should not work outside the home unless they had to•Devote life to children

•Avoid job or hobby as it could damage a young child

HOUSEWIVES ON TV•Mass media supported this

•TV showed women as housewives•“Leave it to Beaver”

•The mother is asked who should her son marry and says: “Oh, some sensible girl from a nice family… who’s a good cook and can keep a nice house and see that he’s happy”

•“Father Knows Best”•The dad says this to his tomboy daughter: “The worst thing you can do is try to beat a man at his own game”

HOUSE KEEPING MONTHLY

“Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the

moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first- remember, his topics of conversations are more important

than yours.”

“A good wife always knows her place”

“Don’t ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or

integrity. Remember, his the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to

question him”

WOMEN LEAVE COLLEGE

•College enrollment dropped. •Girls left to get married or got married right out of college. •A new degree was put in place for wives

•“Ph.T.” Putting Husband Through