
Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era

government and military leaders as well as the national media went to great lengths to promote visions of strong men and weak women.
Elaine Tyler May • Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era
The vast number of married women in the paid labor force called into question the assumption that they should be responsible for all household chores when they, like their husbands, came home after a hard day at work.
Elaine Tyler May • Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era
Marriage remained a popular institution, but it began to look different.
Elaine Tyler May • Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era
The youth culture, as well as the booming economy, encouraged them to be risk takers in ways that their security-oriented parents found unthinkable.
Elaine Tyler May • Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era
They formed consciousness-raising groups all over the country, challenged the gender division of labor in the home, demanded reproductive rights, and railed against the sexual double standard.
Elaine Tyler May • Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era
Creating a sense of security after the attacks of September 11 was virtually impossible,
Elaine Tyler May • Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era
enormous difficulties if they hoped to combine a career with marriage.
Elaine Tyler May • Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era
Nevertheless, domestic gender roles remained resistant to change. The evidence suggests that although men began to “help out” more with domestic chores, women still suffered from double duty and remained responsible for the lion’s share of child care and housework.30
Elaine Tyler May • Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era
Divorced women often experienced an immediate and sharp decline in their standard of living.