Housekeeping and raising a family were considered ideal female roles during the 1950s, although that standard was less rigid than in previous decades. With marriage and birthrates booming, women were becoming wives and mothers at unprecedented levels. But more women were entering the work-place as well.
During World War II women by the millions took factory jobs to make up for the domestic manpower shortage. After the war the number of working women dropped and the returned back to the job of a housewife.

Women dressed smartly in the Fifties. Good grooming and a tailored look were prized.
Acting and looking "every inch the lady" was taught from birth and wearing a dress was a given.
As you can see in the above picture although it is a picture of a housewife you can see that she has a dress on and her hair and make up is done, the only way the viewer can tell she is a housewife is because of the apron.

The picture I have posted is from the 50's TV show I Love Lucy. The character of Lucy is married to a Cuban band leader Ricky Ricardo and to Lucy, Ricky's career and days seemed so much more exciting than her days of cooking and cleaning. She desperately wanted to be a star and constantly tried to get into Ricky's act. Ricky wanted his wife to stay home and complete her homemaking duties.
In one of the episodes they switch roles, Ricky and Fred think doing housework is much easier than earning money. Lucy and Ethel feel the opposite. So the boys try doing the housework while the girls attempt to hold down a job at a candy factory. Problems soon arise on both fronts. Ricky and Fred cause a huge mess in the apartment by burning the clothes with irons and wrecking the kitchen. Lucy and Ethel find themselves fighting against a speedy belt of chocolate.



Throughout this century, the role of women within society has changed, and the majority of people feel that this change is for the better. More women work than ever before, and it is accepted in Western culture that many women now have careers.

Today we are being allowed to acquire education and also permitted to venture out of doors in search of work, she is also expected to fulfill the roles of a subservient wife and the self-abnegating mother.

The dress code for women today is different from the previous picture. Women can wear skirts or trousers with the "suit" style.

My second picture is of the character Lynette Scavo for the show Desperate Housewives.
When the series began Lynette is near to breaking point - stuck at home alone with four kids at the end of the series her husband Tom quits his job to become a stay at home dad and Lynette goes back to work at an advertising agency.
Throughout the show Lynette comes up against many obstacles that many women face today. She has trouble with her job due to her age, then she discovers she has Cancer and then after all that becomes pregnant with twins, which she has to hide from her boss for as long as possible. The whole family start to struggle with money problems with the childrens college fees and just surviving in general.