The History of Women's Work and Domesticity 1920s-1960s

During the period between the first and second-wave feminist movements, women around the world faced the effects of post-WWI, the Great Depression, and WWII. All three events mark a time when the attitudes towards women working were in flux. Throughout history, particularly in the United States, the status quo has been that women’s place is in the home, leaving the working world for men. Both world wars, however, tossed this ideal to the side. The United States needed women workers during the times when the men were off fighting. Women were given the option to work, and in the case of WWII, encouraged. These moments in history not only had a rippling effect on society's view of women as workers but also, women began to realize what they were capable of achieving in the workplace. This temporary change in normalcy had a lasting impact on women’s continued fight for equality in the workplace, education, and even in the home. This page will explore the different events throughout the 1920s to 1960s and how each led to the view of women as workers today.