Status and Roles of Women in 1950s and 1960s (Essay Sample)

Status and roles of women in 1950s and 1960s
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The societal norms elaborate the precise roles and responsibilities of different sexes since time immemorial. The growth of democratic ideals and economic changes in the society has further blurred the differences in the roles between different genders. Before the World War II, the role of women was primarily homemaking. However, the war forced women to take up more responsibilities in the economy to further support the cause. Contrastingly, demobilisation of women after the war resulted in public activism by women. Companies categorised female workers as unskilled and received lower pay, unlike men. Furthermore, the constitution barely recognised the rights of women in the society. The period after the war marked the transformation and recognition of the role and status of women in the society. The majority of Western Europe and the United States of America are some of the societies to champion the changes. The essay evaluates the role and status of women in the 1950s and 1960s, and the impact on the women’s movement and relevance in today’s society.
Homemaking
The society’s norms clearly defined the roles and duties of each gender in the society. Women majorly undertook house duties while men were employed as labourers to support the family financially. The involvement of the men in the Second World War, especially in the USA and Great Britain, resulted in the active participation of women in key economic activities. Agriculture, manufacturing and secretarial services are some of the sectors women worked under during the war. However, after the war, the state and the private sector demobilised female workers and re-employed ex-servicemen returning from war. Women reclined to homemaking roles and little economic activities. The societies were majorly patriarchal, and women undertook family duties at home. The media championed the veneration of men as prominent members of the society while women supported men albeit minimally to improve the status of the family. Women primarily cooked for the family, raised the children and cared for the husbands.[Dorothy E. McBride, and Parry Janine A. Women's rights in the USA: Policy debates and gender roles. Routledge, 2014.]
Contrastingly, women were unhappy with the roles the society deemed appropriate for women. Women established numerous organizations championing radical changes in the fabric of the social profile of the community. NOW (National Organization for Women), a women liberation movement, championed some of the changes through the media and educational platforms in the society. Later, the state allowed the provision of oral contraceptives on women, a significant achievement on reproductive rights. Previously, men were responsible for the reproductive health of both men and women. Furthermore, the state introduced a commission to safeguard the social profile of women. The judiciary further set a precedent on rape cases through the Rowe vs. Wade case, an eye opener on crimes discriminating against women. Similarly, women were against the unethical depiction of women through the pageant competition, established in the country.[Claudia Goldin, and Katz Lawrence F.. The power of the pill: oral contraceptives and women's career and marriage decisions. No. w7527. National bureau of economic research, 2000.] [Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 93 S. Ct. 705, 35 L. Ed. 2d 147 (1973).]
Some of the earlier works that critiqued the social roles designated for women later recognised the literary works as a source of inspiration for the women movement. Simone’s review of the second sex is a classic example of the inspirational literary works. Contrastingly, the society today views women differently unlike the past. Men today assist in domestic duties and account slightly above 10% of the single headed families in the USA. Women today are successfully balancing between careers and family life. However, some professions still disregard the value of procreation in a family setting. The difference exists in the class and race among women. Wealthy couples employ nannies to undertake domestic duties while underprivileged families are likely to spend more time on domestic duties. Furthermore, reports indicate Hispanic, and Black Americans are more culturally inclined to undertake domestic duties, unlike White Americans. Consequently, women liberation has beneficially improved the social profile of women in the society.[Simone De Beauvoir. The second sex. No. 2270. Random House, 2014.]
Education
The education system primarily enhanced literacy levels among women unlike skills adoption among men. The patriarchal society was against the advancement of education for women beyond secondary education. Men were afraid educated women were a threat to men and were considered rebellious. Few women enrolled in colleges unlike a large number of male students in colleges at the time. The initial liberation movement was spearheaded by educated women, an apparent confirmation of the men’s view of educated women. The movement advocated for more educational opportunities for women and stringent policies to support the initiative. The British implemented a class system of education where the middle class and wealthy attained opportunities to further studies in the colleges. The government adopted a tripartite education system, allowing the establishment of both private and public schools. However, the end of the war reduced the number of female middle-class university students.[Ruth Rosen. The world split open: How the modern women's movement changed America. Tantor eBooks, 2013.]
The state allowed for the marketisation of the education system, liberalisation of the sector, diversification, legal empowerment of the sector by the state and expansion of the industry. The state introduced welfare programs to enhance further equity in the education sector. The success of educated women in the society further emboldened the women liberation movement. Notably, Margaret Thatcher was among the few educated women in the British society at the time. Similarly, the appointment of Eleanor Rosevelt to the Commission safeguarding women’s rights was a precise indication the government was slowly accepting the liberation’s proposals. Furthermore, the national movement supported the education of women, as a general clamour for equalisation in the society at the time. Educated skilled professionals’ spearheaded the expansion and growth of economic activities in the USA. The implementation of the welfare system attributed to the influx of women students in colleges.
The society today rewards equally educated individuals, except a few rigid sectors. The community has fully embraced the education of women and the empowerment of women through education. Recently, Mitchele Obama reiterated the government’s commitment and other private partners to successfully educating women around the world. Education has enabled women to contribute financially, to the needs of the family unlike in the past. Most societies today view women as equal partners to men, a clear indication of the importance of education to the community.The education system in the USA today recognises the academic success of both genders respectively, unlike the previous generalization of both sexes. Consequently, educational roles have empowered women in the society today.
Employment
Employment and fair remuneration of women have been a controversial subject since time immemorial. The war forced women to take up job opportunities in the diverse sectors of the economy, devoid of men fighting in the war. Previously, men were employed in both skilled and unskilled capacities in most sectors of the economy. Job opportunities within the economy increased as the economy expanded. Therefore, demand for labour was high resulting in the employment of women. Companies employed women as low cadre employees and earned relatively less pay than men. Notably, women liberation organization such as the CLUW (Coalition for the Labor Union Women), CRH (Combahee River Collective) and the 9to5, advocated for equal pay and non-discriminatory employment opportunities. Women workers established unions to advocate further for working women rights. The movements supported the amendment on the Equal Rights legislation spearheaded by the national movement.
Demobilization of workers resulted in the clamour for recognition of feminism. The media was used to propagate propaganda on the importance of retaining ex-servicemen and laying off female workers. The marriage of women often resulted in the loss of employment. The government estimates that women employees accounted for 32% of the labour force in the USA. The reconstruction period was marked by the expansion of the economy, creating numerous jobs in the economy. Women took up employment in the services industry as waitresses and accounting clerks to escape from the widespread layoffs within certain sectors. Political leaders advocated for patriotism in employment, which was often ignored by employers. However, the changes afforded by the war to women resulted in legislation on non-discriminatory employment regulation. Furthermore, the state established commissions to safeguard the rights of women workers in the nation. Lower pay for women than men remained a thorny issue.[Sue Cobble Dorothy. The other women's movement: Workplace justice and social rights in modern America. Princeton University Press, 2005.]
Employment segregation on gender in the society is slightly less than in the past. Job groups, workers’ experience and level of expertise determine the level of pay for workers in most economies today. The importance of the liberation movement majorly highli...