Final answer:
The woman in the cartoon, Mrs. Edward M. Barnes, might feel isolated and restricted by the suburban development of the 1950s, as it often left many women disconnected from city life, limited in their mobility, and confined within strict gender roles. Some women, like Betty Friedan, began questioning this ‘ideal’ life as they felt unfulfilled and restless.
Step-by-step explanation:
The woman in the cartoon, presumably Mrs. Edward M. Barnes, would likely feel trapped and isolated due to the nature of suburban development in the 1950s. Given her situation, with an environment that distanced women from social engagement and career opportunities, it created a sense of solitude and dependence. While the suburb was designed to be a domestic utopia, the reality was quite the opposite for some women, becoming a stifling bubble that limited their financial independence and mobility.
Suburban life during this time worsened the situation for many women who felt cut off from the bustling city life, which provided shopping, job opportunities, and entertainment options. This was exacerbated by gender roles that often left women with little personal money, few career options, and in some cases, locked in unhappy or even abusive marriages. Although societal norms depicted women as satisfied homemakers, the truth for some, including Betty Friedan, was a feeling of restlessness and a questioning of whether the homemaker's life truly brought fulfillment.