Final answer:
In the 1950s, despite social expectations for women to be homemakers, women increasingly entered the workforce, particularly in teaching, nursing, and clerical jobs, facing wage disparities. Activism during the era began to challenge gender norms and pushed for equality.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1950s, the role of women in the workforce was at a growing and shifting point. Despite societal pressure for women to remain in domestic roles, the number of women working outside the home increased substantially during this decade, reaching nearly 40% for women with school-age children by 1960.
Women's employment was typically in areas like teaching, nursing, and clerical work, and they often faced significant pay disparities compared to men. The activism of this era, represented by events such as the Women's Strike for Equality in 1970, began to challenge these norms and lay the groundwork for future advances in women's rights and workplace equality.