The transformation of women’s role in society took a long time, but feminist movements gained special strength in the twentieth century. The end of the twentieth century saw a dramatic drop in the number of marriages, driven by the expansion of professional options for women, changing marriage laws, greater financial freedom, and a shift in the perception of the role of the family. The 1950s are associated with the controversial ideological promotion of the value of women in the framework of domestic activities and the focus on maintaining the family, which did not reflect the real state of affairs and the continued expansion of the range of women’s activities.
In the second half of the twentieth century, there was a transformation in the representation of the role of women in family relations. Toward the end of the twentieth century, there was a dramatic decline in the number of marriages among Americans. This phenomenon resulted from women’s greater focus on careers, the transformation of ideas about family and marriage, and greater gender equality. If, in the middle of the century, household chores were the main responsibility of women, and individual happiness was not a priority in marriage, then by the end of the century, this view had changed (History of feminism, n.d). This process was the result of greater financial freedom and expanded fertility control options, so “many women also asserted their equality in marriage” (May 2009, p. 51). Thus, a significant number of women postponed or refused marriage by the end of the twentieth century. The focus on individual values and equality in marriage forced a more careful approach to choosing a partner, and financial independence supported this trend.
By the end of the twentieth century, professional development and careers became more accessible and preferred by women as a life choice option for women. May (2009) notes that in the mid-twentieth century, women still faced gender discrimination in the workplace. However, “despite obstacles, women continued to enroll in law and medical schools, become architects and scientists and run successful businesses” (May 2009, p. 20). Additionally, women began to take over occupational areas previously dominated by men. African American women also gained greater access to career options, which greatly improved their financial and social status. Such changes may have been one of the reasons for the reduction in the number of marriages, as women gained more financial independence and expanded social rights.
Changes in labor patterns also led to transformations in divorce rates and the position of married women. In particular, in the middle of the twentieth century, the number of divorces among Americans increased significantly (May 2009, p. 23). It is also important that married women and women with children were able to abandon exclusively domestic duties in favor of full-time jobs. The wage and education gap between men and women began to decrease, which led to an increase in the economic position of working women. In the second half of the twentieth century, they became able to provide for their own needs and make large purchases. These aspects largely led to changes in their perception of marriage and divorce. Women became less dependent on their husbands and everyday life, having gained more independence, which could have affected the decline in the number of marriages.
The 1950s, with its idealization of the concept of stay-at-home-mom, represented a turning point rather than an anomaly in the trends of women’s entering the workforce. May (2009) emphasizes that the position of women in the mid-twentieth century was controversial, as the media promoted domestic lifestyles and values, but more women entered the workforce at the same time. In this case, the view of the female role as raising children and running the household reflects ideological trends but not the real situation. For women after the war, the need to marry, have children, and care for their families was promoted. Marriage and the family at that time were seen as a guarantee of calm and peace, which are necessary for post-war society. Thus, this ideology of an ideal family and a woman’s role was more of an illusion than a reality that did not reflect the real state of affairs in the country. The growing problems in the social and economic sphere forced women to rely more and more on the need for work rather than family values, which is especially true for members of racial minorities.
The process of decreasing marriage rates was also actively supported by changes in law, not only in relation to work conditions but regarding marriage and divorce. This was facilitated by women’s easier access to education in law schools and an increase in the number of women in law-related positions. As the century progressed, women also became actively involved in the country’s political life, occupying seats in government bodies and promoting women’s civil rights activist movements. In particular, at the end of the twentieth century, “legislatures took an increasingly liberal approach to marriage and cohabitation” (May 2009, p. 177). Additionally, common law marriage practices have become freer in many US states and have made it possible not to marry in the usual way. The cohabitation of partners without marriage has also become more legal and socially acceptable. May (2009) emphasizes that many employers also offer certain benefits to unmarried couples. Thus, the refusal to marry gradually became not a social deviation but an individual choice.
Taken together, these factors resulted in a decrease in the number of marriages in America, and this trend is observed today. Women are in no hurry to get married, preferring to build a career, as they have expanded job opportunities and financial freedom. Increasing the importance of individual happiness as the goal of marriage and increasing the role of a man in building and maintaining a family play an important role. Additionally, changing perceptions of the concepts of family and marriage, in general, continue to become more liberal. The transformation of laws regarding divorce and marriage has also given women more flexibility in choosing a partner and life path. The decline in marriages at the end of the twentieth century is dramatic, but the trend continues to this day. This factor is due to the fact that at the moment, women are opening up an increasing number of different areas, actively participating both professionally and in spiritual and intellectual spheres.
The expansion of social and economic freedoms and opportunities for women occurred throughout the United States throughout the twentieth century and continues to this day. At the moment, there is less and less gender discrimination and social inequality, including in relation to marriage and family. In the 1950s, in the post-war period, family values and the importance of domestic life for women were ideologically promoted. Additionally, having children and caring for a husband, even in an unhappy marriage, were seen as priorities. This factor was controversial because, against the backdrop of a general economic decline and social difficulties, women actively participated in the workforce. The feminist movement has succeeded in bringing changes to the global hierarchical structure due to a shift in perception and behavior (Kanter, 1976). Thus, even under pressure, women’s needs allowed them to expand their rights, which identifies the need for these transformations.
References
History of feminism. (n.d). Wikipedia. Web.
Kanter, R. (1976). The impact of hierarchical structures on the work behavior of women and men. Social Problems, 23(4), 415-430. Web.
May, M. (2009). Women’s roles in twentieth-century America. Greenwood.