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<\/a>Stereotypical woman doing chores in the 1950s<\/em><\/p><\/div>After the United States had overcome the desolation of World War II and the Great Depression, many americans desired to rebuild the American society to its affluent manner. Even though women were expected to be wives and mothers, they made up a lot of the postwar labor force. Because so many males were drafted into the war, women had taken their spots, but upon their return many of them were replaced. Most women want to keep their jobs, which like I mentioned, is why they made up one third of the peacetime workforce.<\/p>\n Post-war prosperity was skyrocketing, leading many Americans to the \u201cAmerican dream,\u201d especially women. After war, America was going through a baby boom. Even throughout that time period, \u201capproximately forty percent of women with young children, and at least half of women with older children, chose to remain in the workforce.\u201d (Khan Academy) The proportion of women in the labor force as a percentage of women of working age (15-64) increased from 45.9% in 1955 to 51% in 1965. Despite the increase in labor, women were still only working as \u201csecondary workers.\u201d<\/p>\n Pop culture had a lot to do with conformity in the 1950s, social standards set the pace for the stereotypical American family. I Love Lucy, was one of the shows that set the tone for the roles of women in the home. \u201cLucille Ball\u2019s zany I Love Lucy, which aired from 1951 to 1957, became the greatest television hit of the fifties.\u201d (Dunar 235) Going for job opportunities or interests that took place outside the household never went her way. But her doing that, showed that women were unhappy with where they were at. Lucille Ball was a role model to women because even though her character was a stereotypical housewife, in reality she was a very successful actress.<\/p>\n The post-war advancements women made ultimately led to the 1960s Feminist Activities. \u201c1960s feminists inspired political action and changed many women\u2019s lives.\u201d (Napikoski) All of what happened in the sixties for women branched from the fifties, and for that we can thank fifties women. Dunar, Andrew J. America in the Fifties<\/em>. N.p.: Syracuse UP, 2006. Print<\/p>\n Napikoski, Linda. \u201c1960s Feminism: Examples of Activities of the Movement.\u201d ThoughtCo, www.thoughtco.com\/1960s-feminist-activities-3529000<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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