1950's Gender Roles Essay

“The way to a man’s heart, so we’ve always been told, is a good working knowledge of a pot, pan and mold.” –The Brides Cookbook, 1956. This quote is from a cookbook, which was made especially for newlywed women (Brides Cookbook, 1956). This is one example of the gender roles that was expected during this time era. Many women during that time period were expected to stay home, cook, clean and take care of the children, while the man of the house would work. The quote also continues “A juicy red steak, or a tender fish fillet, done to a turn, in a bright copper skillet, And leaves the man happy, content and drooling” (Brides Cookbook, 1956), It states that the meals the women makes will leave him happy, and during this time era, women did all the work in the house (Brides Cookbook, 1956). Even television shows during this time era make is acceptable to be a house wife, such as I love Lucy and Leave it to Beaver.
These shows had ethos in it. The 1950s is viewed as a period of conformity, with strict gender roles with society’s expectations. Such as the male will work all day, while the female’s will stay home, take care of the children, clean house and have dinner on the table on time for the male to get home from work. Some tv shows during
I love Lucy was a hit tv show during the early 1950’s, showing the average woman during that time they were capable of being a house wife and could do it with a smile. Lucy made many attempts throughout the tv show to get a job, but it never worked out. During this time many women stay home, until it was World War II and they had to fill the empty spaces that the men filled at the factories. Having to deal with gender specific roles on a daily basis must have been extremely hard during the 1950’s and having to deal with all the expectations that being a house wife came with. Especially having to be happy while making sure the house is cleaned, husband and kids were taken care