HUMA 1200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Flapper
Document Summary
Gender roles were reinforced as women"s duties shifted in both world wars. Many continued to do traditional work, but some joined the armed forces. Femininity was in jeopardy of those who took on masculine jobs. Women had to return to former duties after the war. Doctors said that women were best biologically suited to be mothers. Women who didn"t stay home were blamed for alcoholic husbands, gay sons, etc. Domestic ideal: women"s role is that of being a mother/wife. Not being a flapper or working girl. Gov said that women were equal to men, so women joined the army. After the war, gov said that women needed to stay at home and be sexy. This was portrayed in various magazine ads. Sitcoms demonstrated that women needed to stay home. Women had mental problems if they pursued careers or resisted their femininity: post war women: 1945-60, domestic ideal: government, media, and commercial advertising.