what were the main features of the revival of domesticity in the 2 decades after world war 2?

Question

this is for a history of women in america class...time of Betty Friedan

Answer 1

Women left the workforce after the end of WWII because 'the men' needed jobs. Men also enrolled in colleges and pursued higher education paid for by the GI bill and were able to forge careers in many fields that might have been denied them without college. They studied law, business, became active in the world of finance some became stockbrokers, entrepreneurs, some eventually entered politics. From survivng the depression and getting through the War, they were eager to join the ranks of the middle class.
They soon wanted wives who would fullfill _their_ ambitions, wives who would also be a social asset as their careers took off. Few if any of these options were available to women. They didn't expect to have any plans of their own. Putting Hubby Through (getting his degree) was the height of young women's ambition. They were groomed with idea that once hubby had his degree they could permanently retreat to domestic bliss and raising a family. It didn't always work out that way but on the whole the rising middle class could and did live on a single income. Levitt town PA also made the American dream a probability rather than a gamble. These cookie cutter pre-fab houses sprang up across the country. They were cheap and easily constructed. Affordable mortgages, again financed by the generous GI bill put thousand and thousand of young married into their first homes. For the first time in many many years the American family seemed stable.

Business and advertising joined in a co-ordinated effort to 'sell the joys of being a happy family to these budding Junior exectutives. House work was glamourized. New and labor saving devices were quickly vetted and pushed on the market. The idea was that housework should be, glamerous, easy to use appliances that would allow the young mother more time to see to the needs of her family were developed. TV dinners! Floor wax! fancy irons, waffle makers, TV's (and advertising on them) were pushed relentless. Some items such electric washers and dryers really did have positive impact on a woman's time. In time women came to realize that they needed to think about something other than how white their laundry was, "No ring around the collar" this month! and that shiney floors, bisquick, and instant coffee were not as captivating as they had been presented. They came to realize that they could not build a life lived though husbands and children. And one day a nice little lady with a husband and children of her own wrote this little piece for a magazine...and lettters flooded in and eventually the problem with no name had a whole lot of women talking, and weeping and talking some more. They realized they were living this nameless problem and if they couldn't change everything for themselves, perhaps with planning and perserverence, they could change things for their daughters. And they did.

Answer 2

After the WWII experience, women were asked, cajoled and guilted into leaving jobs as soldiers came back from war and needed jobs. The propaganda of the time told women that their main duty in life was has a successful marriage. As returning soldiers and there families beagn a new life together, the men went to work and the women stayed at home, bearing and raising children, being responsible for the education and religious training and learning more efficient and inventive ways to cook, clean and garden. Families moved into the suburbs and the families, once involved in their ethnic neighborhoods, now became isolated. The advent of television shows like "Father Knows Best" and "Leave it to Beaver" show an ideallized household where Father is the head of the house, Mother smiles and supports him and the children come in for gentle daily instructions. Very few real homes measured up to the ideal.

Answer 3

I'm not really sure I understand the question. But during WWII women entered the workforce in record numbers. The majority of people working in the ship yards and aircraft manufacturing were women since employers would rather hire a women than say a black man...however, minority races did get a boost in employment during this time as well. Anyways, with women in the workplace, their traditional roles at home and in the family were put by the wayside in order to work and support their families. This created the start of community day cares for children and female sexuality was becoming a concern. Also the American marriage was slightly weakened for a few reasons...one, women weren't home to take care of the home and two, they felt they had gained some independence Womens styles changed and so did their opinion of "acceptable lady-like behavior."