Overview

From Beatniks to Sputnik and from Princess Grace to Peyton Place, this book illuminates the female half of the US population as they entered a ""brave new world"" that revolutionized women's lives. After World War II, the United States was the strongest, most powerful nation in the world. Life was safe and secure -- but many women were unhappy with their lives. What was going on behind the closed doors of America's ""picture-perfect"" houses? This volume includes chapters on the domestic, economic, intellectual, material, political, recreational, and religious lives of the average American woman after World War II. Chapters examine topics such as the entertainment industry's evolving concept of womanhood; Supreme Court decisions; the shifting idea of women and careers; advertising; rural, urban, and suburban life; issues women of color faced; and child rearing and other domestic responsibilities. A timeline of important events and glossary help to round out the text, along with further readings and a bibliography to point readers to additional resources for their research. Ideal for students in high school and college, this volume provides an important look at the revolutionary transformation of women's lives in the decades following World War II.

Full Product Details

Author:   Nancy Hendricks (Independent Scholar, USA)
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Imprint:   Bloomsbury Academic
ISBN:  

9798216439790

Pages:   328
Publication Date:   22 January 2026
Recommended Age:   From 7 to 17 years
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Primary & secondary/elementary & high school ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Educational: Primary & Secondary
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Timeline of Events Glossary 1. Domestic Life Children Teenagers Adulthood Relationships with Men Marriage Family Sexuality Rites of Passage 2. Economic Life Advertising Consumerism Race Rural Life Suburban Life Urban Life 3. Intellectual Life Communication Education Health and Healthcare Literature Medical Advances News Media Popular Culture Science 4. Material Life Automobiles Clothing Food and Drink Housing Possessions 5. Political Life Government and Law Politics 6. Recreational Life Exercise and Sports Movies Music Television Theater and Dance Visual Arts 7. Religious Life Female Presence in Religion Religion and Secular Life Appendix A: Books Cited in Literature Section (Chapter 3) Appendix B: Bestselling Books of the 1950s Appendix C: Award Winners of the 1950s Appendix D: Most Popular Entertainment of the 1950s Bibliography Index

Reviews

Recommended for high-school, undergraduate, and public libraries serving students with an interest in mid- to late-twentieth century his/her-stories. * Booklist * Recommended. General readers through faculty. * Choice *

Author Information

Nancy Hendricks holds a doctorate in education and is an award-winning author of such books as Notable Women of Arkansas: From Hattie to Hillary, 100 Names to Know, which was represented at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC, USA.

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