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1950s
Women's roles change after World War II as the same women who were once encouraged to work in factories to support the war effort are urged to stay home and care for their families.
NBC News Learn. (2020, May 1). Cultural shift: Women's roles in the 1950s [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/zlnH6V83QRA
- Mrs. America: Women's Roles in the 1950s
American society in the 1950s was geared toward the family. Marriage and children were part of the national agenda. - Women in the 1950s
The 1950s is often viewed as a period of conformity, when both men and women observed strict gender roles and complied with society’s expectations. - The 1950s HousewifeThe life of the average married woman in the 1950s and 60s was very different from that of today’s woman. This was the age of respectability and conformity.
Recollection Road. (2023, February 25). Daily life for a housewife during the 1950s and 1960s [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/LnJ_3HASemI
Jacobs, H., & Edwards, J. (2014, May 8). 26 sexist ads of the 'Mad men' era that companies wish we'd forget. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/26-sexist-ads-of-the-mad-men-era-2014-5#1955-guess-who-does-all-the-dishes-7
1960s
- 5 things women couldn’t do in the 1960sCan you imagine pregnancy being a fireable offence? How about job security hinging on your weight or the softness of your hands?
- Women’s rights movement
Also known as the “second wave” of feminism, the women’s movement was a diverse social movement seeking equal rights and opportunities for women in their economic activities, in their personal lives, and in politics. - FeminismFeminism is the belief in the social, economic, and political equality of women and men. Feminists are committed to activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.
The Sixties brought about a time of transition, change, and much confusion. Certainly for men, who did not enjoy relinquishing their control on society. The feminist goals of the Sixties radicalised and politicized more and more women as the decade progressed. By the end of the 60's, nearly 80% of American women were using the contraception pill. Many feminist trends in both fashion and culture took hold and have advanced, to some extent since.
Glamourdaze. (2019, May 18). Gender roles - How they sold women in the 1960's [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/boXW7eojaX4
Revill, J. (2008, June 1). The fight for equal pay ... 40 years on. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jun/01/1968theyearofrevolt.gender1
The struggle for Women's Liberation made major progress during the Sixties. It was the period women made major strides towards achieving equality.
Historycentral. (2019, January 21). Women in the sixties [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/FNucdoeKuGE