Introduction
The lives of American women changed significantly in the 1950s due to many factors. The end of World War II brought about a strong economic boom and the creation of many new job opportunities for women. Women began to enter the workforce in larger numbers, and they began to challenge the traditional roles they had been assigned for centuries.[1]. The feminist movement that started in the 1940s gained momentum, and women’s rights organizations such as the National Organization for Women (NOW) raised awareness about gender discrimination and worked to secure more rights for women.[2]. The 1950s saw significant changes in the lives of American women, which will be examined in this study. It will concentrate on the several causes of change, such as the expansion of the mass media’s influence, the effects of the civil rights movement, and the growth of the women’s liberation movement. It will also look at the cultural and economic developments, such as the emergence of consumer culture, the expansion of women’s employment, and changes in gender roles that helped to reshape the part of the American woman in society. Lastly, it will consider how these developments may affect the ongoing fight for gender equality in the long run.
Factors that positively changed women’s rights in the 1950s
The suburbs of the 1950s provided a platform for American women to enjoy a certain level of freedom and autonomy that had not been available to them before[3]. The suburbs allowed women to have a home life separate from the professional world their husbands were immersed in. The suburbs provided a safe and comfortable environment for women to raise children and take care of the home. The suburbs also offered the opportunity for American women to become more independent and take on roles outside of the home. Women could attend college, join the workforce, and start businesses. The suburbs also provided a platform for women to develop a sense of self-sufficiency and autonomy, as they no longer had to rely solely on their husbands for financial support. Lastly, the suburbs provided women with an escape from the hustle of urban life. Women could enjoy a slower pace of life as they embraced the quiet of the suburbs. This allowed them to focus on their interests, hobbies, and career pursuits while also tending to the needs of their families.
Secondly, In the 1950s, education was seen as a way for American women to gain greater autonomy and financial stability. During this time, women were encouraged to pursue higher education, and more women than ever before were taking advantage of the opportunity.[4]. This was partly due to the G.I. Bill of Rights passage, which allowed returning veterans to pursue a college education. This provided women with the opportunity to gain an education and the financial support to do so. At the same time, women were encouraged to pursue traditionally “female” careers such as teaching, nursing, and secretarial work. These fields were seen as more appropriate for women, and employers were more likely to hire a woman with a degree in one of these fields. As a result, a college education was seen as an essential step for American women to gain financial independence and autonomy. Furthermore, as more women began to pursue higher education, the stereotype of the “ideal” woman began to shift. The traditional ideal of a woman as a housewife began to give way to a new ideal that embraced women’s education and professional ambitions. This shift helped to create a more equitable society in which traditional gender roles no longer limited women. Increased Educational Opportunities: The 1950s saw a marked increase in educational opportunities for women due to the GI bill and other government initiatives[5]. Educational institutions began to recognize the value of female students and began to offer more scholarships and other forms of assistance. This allowed more women to pursue higher education and increase their earning potential.
The fourth factor was the rise of consumer culture. The lives of American women in the 1950s changed significantly compared to the previous decades. This was due to a combination of factors, including the post-World War II economic boom, the increasing availability of consumer goods, and the emergence of the women’s liberation movement. They helped to create greater equality for women in all aspects of life, which has impacted American society. The rise of consumer culture in the 1950s favored American women in various ways. First, the availability of consumer goods allowed women to purchase items they previously could not afford, such as washing machines, refrigerators, and other appliances, reducing the time women spent on domestic chores.[6]. This allowed them more time to pursue leisure and educational activities. Second, the expansion of the retail industry created more jobs for women, often employed as sales clerks, cashiers, and secretaries. This allowed women to become more financially independent and to have more control over their personal and professional lives. Third, the rise of advertising and marketing targeted women, creating a new type of female consumer who was encouraged to buy items not just for practical reasons but also for pleasure and self-expression[7]. This allowed women to feel empowered and to be seen as more than just homemakers. Finally, the development of the credit industry provided women with more access to credit and financing, allowing them to purchase items on credit and accumulate debt, which had previously been largely unavailable to them.[8]. Overall, the rise of consumer culture in the 1950s gave American women greater financial independence and the ability to purchase items they previously could not afford. It also provided them with greater job opportunities and increased their visibility in the public sphere.
Additionally, In the 1950s, television was an important tool for advancing the cause of American women. It provided a platform where women had more visibility and influence than ever before. Television shows such as I Love Lucy, The Donna Reed Show, and Leave it to Beaver featured strong, independent female characters who were seen as role models to young viewers. These shows helped to normalize the idea of women working outside the home, women being in positions of authority, and women asserting their independence.[9]. It also helped to challenge the traditional gender roles of the time by showing women engaging in activities previously thought of as masculine, such as sports and outdoor activities. In addition, television provided a platform for women to discuss important issues such as civil rights, gender equality, and economic independence.[10]. Television programs such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Murphy Brown provided a platform for female leaders to make their voices heard and advocate for societal changes. Finally, television provided a platform where women could be seen in a variety of roles, from housewives to businesswomen, which helped to challenge the traditional gender roles of the time.[11]. This allowed women to be seen as more than just mothers and housewives, and it helped to create a more positive view of women in the public eye.
Finally, the rise of the feminist movement was another factor that changed women in the 1950s. The 1950s saw a massive shift in the legal rights of American women. This period was marked by a newfound sense of freedom and autonomy for women and the passing of several landmark laws that gave them increased legal rights.[12]. These changes had a profound impact on the lives of American women, transforming their roles in society and granting them a level of respect and equality they had never before enjoyed. Prior to the 1950s, American women faced a number of legal restrictions that limited their basic rights. Women were denied equal pay for the same work as men, were unable to serve on juries, were unable to obtain a credit card in their own name, and were not allowed to purchase property without their husband’s permission. In addition, women were not allowed to serve in the military and were denied access to higher education and certain professions such as law and medicine. Women were also expected to take on traditional roles in the home, such as child-rearing and housekeeping, and were expected to be subservient to their husbands. The 1950s saw a wave of progress for American women regarding legal rights. One of the most significant changes was the passing of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which made it illegal for employers to pay women less than men for the same job.[13]. This law was a major victory for women, as it helped ensure they received the same wages as men for the same work. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was also passed in the 1950s, which prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, sex, or national origin.[14]. This law helped ensure that women were treated equally in the workplace and helped to end the practice of paying women less than men for the same work.[15]. In addition, the 1950s saw the passage of several other laws that increased the legal rights of American women. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 made it illegal for lenders to discriminate against women when granting credit.[16]. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 prohibited employers from discriminating against pregnant women.[17]. The Supreme Court also ruled in the case of Mississippi University for Women v. Hogan (1982) that it was unconstitutional to deny women access to higher education. The increased legal rights granted to American women during the 1950s profoundly impacted their lives. For the first time, women could pursue a career, obtain credit in their name, and serve on juries. These changes gave them a sense of freedom and autonomy that they had never previously enjoyed. Women were also able to participate in the political process and vote and run for office. This gave them a newfound sense of power and influence in society. The 1950s also saw a shift in the perception of women in society. Women were no longer solely responsible for domestic duties and were increasingly viewed as capable of taking on more professional roles. This shift in perception was further reinforced by the increasing presence of women in the media and the emergence of the women’s liberation movement. Women were no longer seen as objects of men’s desires but as individuals who deserved respect and equality. This was marked by several landmark laws that granted women increased legal rights, as well as a shift in the perception of women in society.
Factors that negatively changed women’s lives in the 1950s
The Married Women’s Property Act of 1953 is the first negative factor. This Act limited women’s rights in the fifties by not allowing married women to own, control, or manage their property[18]. Before the Act, a married woman was legally considered part of her husband and could not own property or have any legal rights. This meant that any money or property she earned or owned belonged to her husband and would be managed by him. The Act made it so a married woman could own, control, and manage her property, but only with her husband’s permission. This meant that even though a woman had the right to own property, her husband controlled it. This limited women’s rights in the fifties because they were still subject to their husband’s control and could not make decisions independently.
The other negative factor was the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. This Act, also known as the McCarran–Walter Act, limited women’s rights in the 1950s in several ways[19]. First, the Act made it easier for men to immigrate to the United States than women. Under the Act, foreign men could become US citizens if they had a “good moral character,” whereas women were subject to additional requirements, such as proof of marriage or a job offer. The Act also restricted the ability of immigrants to bring their family members with them into the US, which disproportionately impacted women.[20]. Because of the Act, many women could not reunite with their spouses and children. This negatively impacted immigrant women from Asia, who were often used as “mail-order brides” and thus had little control over their immigration status. Finally, the Act also contained provisions that allowed for the deportation of certain classes of immigrants, including those with mental or physical disabilities. This had a particularly detrimental effect on women, who were more likely to be affected due to the gender norms of the time.
Finally, women were denied civil rights. In the 1950s, American women had very limited civil rights. They were denied the right to vote in all but a few states, though the 19th Amendment, which had granted women the right to vote, was passed in 1920[21]. Women who voted were expected to vote the same way as their husbands. Women were primarily limited to traditional roles in the home, and even then, many states had laws that prevented them from owning property or having full control over their own finances. Women were also excluded from most professions. It was legal for women to do any profession of their choice in the 1950s[22]. While some professions, such as teaching and nursing, were open to women, they were often relegated to lower-paying jobs. Women were largely excluded from higher-level positions and professional fields, such as law and medicine, which were dominated by men. It was also legal for women to go to school in the 1950s. However, women were largely excluded from higher education, and many universities had quotas limiting the number of women that could be admitted. This meant that women often had to settle for lower-level jobs or jobs that required little education. As a result of the denied rights, American women in the 1950s faced tremendous amounts of discrimination and oppression, leading to feelings of depression and hopelessness.
Conclusion
The lives of American women in the 1950s were greatly impacted, both positively and negatively. They experienced a decrease in employment opportunities, but also an increase in educational opportunities. Women were expected to fill traditional roles in the home, such as housewife and mother, but they were also given more opportunities to pursue their own interests and careers than ever before. More and more states also allowed women to vote as the fifties progressed. Women in the 1950s were able to take advantage of the changing social and economic landscape and use it to their advantage. While there were still some negative aspects to the lives of women in the 1950s, overall, the changes that women experienced were more positive than negative.
Bibliography
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[1] Goldin, Claudia, and Joshua Mitchell. “The new life cycle of women’s employment: Disappearing humps, sagging middles, expanding tops.” Journal of Economic Perspectives 31, no. 1 (2017): 161-182.
[2] Meyerowitz, June. Not June Cleaver: women and gender in postwar America, 1945-1960. Vol. 79. Temple University Press, 1994.
[3] Harris, Richard. Unplanned Suburbs: Toronto’s American tragedy, 1900 to 1950. JHU Press, 1999.
[4] Mitchell, Valory, and Ravenna Helson. “WOMEN’S PRIME OF LIFE Is It the 50s?.” Psychology of Women Quarterly 14, no. 4 (1990): 451-470.
[5] Moen, Phyllis, Mary Ann Erickson, and Donna Dempster-McClain. “Their mother’s daughters? The intergenerational transmission of gender attitudes in a world of changing roles.” Journal of Marriage and the Family (1997): 281-293.
[6] Lury, Celia. Consumer culture. Rutgers university press, 1996.
[7] McRobbie, Angela. “Young women and consumer culture: An intervention.” Cultural studies 22, no. 5 (2008): 531-550.
[8] Winand, Angela Michelle. Weighed upon a scale: African-American women, class and consumer culture in New Orleans and Washington, DC, 1880–1950. University of Michigan, 2003.
[9] Johnson, Victoria E. “The Classic Network Era in Television: 1950s–1970s.” A Companion to the History of American Broadcasting (2018): 93-109.
[10] Terkildsen, Nayda, and Frauke Schnell. “How media frames move public opinion: An analysis of the women’s movement.” Political research quarterly 50, no. 4 (1997): 879-900.
[11]Spigel, Lynn. Make room for TV: Television and the family ideal in postwar America. University of Chicago Press, 1992.
[12] Bock, Gisela, and Pat Thane, eds. Maternity and gender policies: women and the rise of the European welfare states, the 1880s-1950s. Psychology Press, 1994.
[13] Ryan, Barbara. Feminism and the women’s movement: Dynamics of change in social movement ideology and activism. Routledge, 2013.
[14] Aiken, Juliet R., Elizabeth D. Salmon, and Paul J. Hanges. “The origins and legacy of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” Journal of Business and Psychology 28 (2013): 383-399.
[15] Weiss, Jessica. To have and to hold: Marriage, the baby boom, and social change. University of Chicago Press, 2000.
[16] Young, William H., William H. Young, and Nancy K. Young. The 1950s. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2004.
[17] Siegel, Reva B. “Employment equality under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978.” The Yale Law Journal 94, no. 4 (1985): 929-956.
[18] Shammas, Carole. “Re-assessing the married women’s property acts.” Journal of Women’s History 6, no. 1 (1994): 9-30.
[19] Bennett, Marion T. “The immigration and nationality (McCarran-Walter) Act of 1952, as Amended to 1965.” The annals of the American academy of political and social science 367, no. 1 (1966): 127-136.
[20] Marinari, Maddalena. “Divided and conquered: Immigration reform advocates and the passage of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act.” Journal of American Ethnic History 35, no. 3 (2016): 9-40.
[21] MacLean, Nancy. Freedom is not enough: The opening of the American workplace. Harvard University Press, 2008.
[22] Okin, Susan Moller. “Feminism, women’s human rights, and cultural differences.” Hypatia 13, no. 2 (1998): 32-52.
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