Final answer:
Life for women in the 1950s revolved around the role of the homemaker, reinforced by societal expectations. However, dissatisfaction with this role led to an increase in female employment, despite facing gender disparities and limited career opportunities. These challenges contributed to the groundwork for the feminist movement that gained momentum in the following decades.
Step-by-step explanation:
Life for women in the 1950s was characterized by traditional gender roles and societal expectations, which portrayed the woman primarily as a homemaker and mother. Despite popular media presenting an image of satisfied suburban homemakers, many women felt isolated and unfulfilled; a sentiment echoed by Betty Friedan, who propelled the conversation about women's dissatisfaction through her writings and surveys. Nonetheless, during the 1950s, the number of women working outside the home steadily increased. By 1960, 40% of mothers with school-age children were employed, mostly in fields like teaching, nursing, and clerical work, although they faced significant gender disparities in terms of career opportunities and pay.
Challenges within the Idealized Domestic Sphere
The idealized version of life and the domestic sphere could be stifling for many women, contributing to a sense of dependency and limited mobility, especially in the growing suburban neighborhoods. This limitation was exacerbated by social structures that left some women financially dependent on their husbands, making it difficult to escape unhappy or abusive marriages. Despite these difficulties, the 1950s laid the groundwork for the feminist movement in the following decades, which saw significant strides in women's pursuit of equality and autonomy.
Role of Women and Employment
Throughout the 1950s, the societal view was that women's employment outside the home was unnatural, a perspective held by both genders. Nevertheless, persistence in breaking these social norms led to an increase in women's employment. African American women, however, experienced even greater inequality than their white counterparts, with many relegated to domestic service and paid significantly less.