1950's Social Roles

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"Something which we think is impossible now is not impossible in another decade." Constance Baker Motley was quoted to have said this after becoming the first black woman to be a Federal Judge in the United States. With the popularity of topics such as feminism, progressive thinking, sexual harassment, and the views of women in the workplace, it is clear that the social role of women has changed. It is important to know what is a ‘social role.’ A social role is the way a social individual interacts with their social circle, which often entails negotiated duties and personal rights . The 1950’s is a perfect example of a time period where the contrasting ideas of the social roles of women can be compared to. When looking at the role of women in the 1950’s, it is important to remember the background of World War II and the effect that it had on the American household. When the war was in full swing, the women that had stayed at home were responsible for…show more content…
Birth control was relatively unpracticed and the bigger the family, the better in the eyes of the American people. This is telling of the fact that women were supposed to be faithful wives and expand their families. In the late 1950’s, birth control hit the market . However, the contraceptive pill’s availability was negligible compared to the options that women have now. With access to more reproductive health, it can be observed that this side of healthcare respects the fact that women have the choice to be something other than a wife or a mother, finally recognizing her as an independent human with hopes and dreams that may surpass her household. The idea that women should be at the mercy of a pregnancy that she may not want is considered old fashion with the medical and social developments of the 21st

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