Roles of Women in the 1950s

In the 1950s, men came back from the World War II, and women were encouraged to return home and do household chores instead of working out side of the houses. They were expected to be perfect mothers, obedient wives, and diligent housewives. As perfect mothers, they had to stay home to take care of children. As obedient wives, they had to agree with their husbands and comfort them. As diligent housewives, they had to prepare dinner right on time when husbands arrived at home from their work.

Here was a women's daily routine during the 1950s
1. Wake children up, cook breakfast for them, and send them to school
2. Clean the dishes with minimum noise and do laundry
3. Prepare dinner for their husbands and make sure that their husbands were the main focus of the evening







There was the expectation that women would always stay home because it was the men who went out to work and had real jobs. Women eventually were able to have real jobs but earning total respect took a long time. Now women have the freedom to choose whatever they want to do.

In the 1950s, patterns, especially checks and flower pattern dresses were in vogue. They wore long dresses to emphasize femininity. It was because of women's duty at home and men were the ones who went out to work and wore pants.