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Women in the USA 1917-80 - Coggle Diagram
Women in the USA 1917-80
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The impact of WW1
Women started to smoke in public, drive cars, and take part in energetic sports. Changed peoples mindset.
Ideas shifted towards those of the 'compassionate marriage' which called for greater equality between the sexes.
Women in the Bible Belt did not adopt new ways of life, neither did older women. These women were extremely traditional and were against this new generation of 'scandalous' women.
Growth of Flappers- they cut their hair, smoked in public, wore short dresses, etc.
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By the 1920s, married women constituted 40% of the workforce.
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The impact of WW2
1940 Selective Training and Service Act trained women, preparing them to fill mens places when they went to war.
'Rosie the Riveter' was a propaganda campaign aimed at getting women to join the war effort by working during the war.
1941 Lanham Act provided childcare for women working in war industry. By 1944 there were 130,000 children in daycare. This was incredibly important as it allowed women to work.
In 1946 federally funded daycare centres shut down, 50% of women left their jobs in favour of returning men. Industry also shifted away from war-time industry to other industries where women were not trained, as this led to an initial dip in employment.
By 1945 over 6 million had entered the workforce. 200,000 women served in the Women's Army Corps and the navy equivalent, they did not fight but served as typists, drivers, clerks, etc.
In 1936, 82% of people thought married people should not work. By 1942 it was 13%.
Suburbia
The explosion of 'Levittowns' due to the increased lure of home ownership post war. America emerged from WW2 as a global superpower, and the house buildings and improvements led to these towns.
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Women were very isolated. They didn't see people, they stayed home to cook, clean etc. Housewife expectations- a revert back to traditional gender roles. There is no cosmopolitan social life. Created a subset of women with too much time on their hands, and many women were disappointed with their way of life and the social constraints.
Gender inequality was rife- 18 states did not allow female jurors, many schools expelled pregnant students and fired single pregnant teachers. Women were constantly surrounded by the expectation of conformity.
Betty Friedan published 'The Feminine Mystique' which called suburban living 'comfortable concentration camps'. Asked the question 'is this all?'.
She conducted research with suburban housewives, and researched psychology, media, and advertising.
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Status of women in 1980
40% of marriages now ended in divorce. New atitudes to work, sex, familly, and personal freedom.
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