If you are the main cook, arrange for healthy meals. Marriage advice from the 1950s that still applies today beth dreher the decade known for happy housewives and mad men husbands may not appear to offer much guidance for modern unions. The suburbs were areas near but not in the middle of city centers. A good wife is honest, loyal, and dedicated to her husband. I had seen that same article because my husband brought it home and thought i should read through it. But there are also certain elements that we seem to. In may of 1955, a magazine called housekeeping monthly ran a short pointform article called the good wifes guide. For the clean house part, i liken it to the good old days when my brother and sister and i had our chore lists after school, and we waited until about 5 minutes before our mom got home to get the list done. I have a copy of a book called the navy wife, from the early 1950s. It focuses on alicia florrick, the wife of the cook county states attorney who returns to her career in law after the events of a public sex and political corruption scandal involving her husband. I found an old book from 1954 that my grandmother actually used in her 1950s housewife days. A good wife honors her hubby by keeping a pleasant tone in her voice, a happy smile on her face, and a neat and clean appearance. Retro pics, vintage woman, aprons vintage, vintage books, 1950s housewife.
The following is from a 1950 s home economics textbook intended for high school girls, teaching them. Leading up to the 1950s the united states had more conservative and traditional views, although change was on its way in johnson, 1997. The article is unaccredited, but i am sure that like many other articles written in 1950s womens magazine, it was probably written by a woman. And heres the 1950s test that urges husbands not to be. A glimpse into marriage advice from the 1950s related articles this article features affiliate links to, where a small commission is paid to psych central if a book is purchased. See more ideas about the good wifes guide, good wife and vintage ads. The 1950s saw the emergence of literary lights including j.
In the 1950s, america underwent some major changes in the political and economic spheres, which in turn were responsible for its social makeover. I found an old book from 1954 that my grandmother actually used in her 1950 s housewife days. Images, retro pics, vintage woman, aprons vintage, vintage books, 1950s housewife. The good wifes guide from housekeeping monthly, may, 1955. This 1950s article must have been written by a man comments are closed.
The public sentiment was to live a peaceful and a less complicated life. How to be a good husband in the 1950s our everyday life. How to be a good wife to your husband 12 qualities a man. How to be a good wife according to a 1950s home ec book. The good wifes guide and advice for young brides the. It is called pictoral medical guide, and was published in 1954 with writings by 42 specialists at the time. The text and supposed scan of the article have been widely circulated via. Hospitality is not something our modern western culture is very used to. Salinger and jack kerouac, authors whose books questioned the status quo and the midcentury preoccupation with conformity. Gives wife ample allowance or turns pay check over to her. Heres the 1950s quiz that proves you are a terrible wife. The list was supposedly first published in the may th 1955 issue of housekeeping monthly. At least, when one thinks of the 50s housewife with all the educational, financial and cultural limitations of this role, one. I find there is a different reaction depending on the gender.
This is a way of letting him know that you have be thinking about him and are concerned about his. During the 1950s, the united states was the worlds strongest military power. Urban legends 1950s hoaxes feminism and history feminism and the family magazine. The following is excerpts from a 1950s home economics textbook intended for high school girls, teaching them how to prepare for married life. In case you were wondering just what it took back in the 1950s to qualify for good wife status, housekeeping monthly was kind enough to print a set of guidelines in their 1955 may issue. In may of 1955, housekeeping monthly published an article entitled, the good wifes guide, detailing all the ways that a wife should act and how best she can be a partner to her husband and a mother to her children. A list of ten steps on how to be a good wife comes from a 1950s u.
Top 10 books about women in the 1950s books the guardian. Mar 18, 2017 from a 1950s home economics textbook intended for high school girls, this excerpt of advice prepares young ladies for what to expect from. For instance, the book recommends making your home a place of. The typical 1950s wife stayed at home to cook, clean and take care of the children.
I became interested in the book because the idea of the book came about because of an article the author came across titled the good wifes guide supposedly published in 1955 by housekeeping monthly. Perhaps when measured against the great depression of the 1930s, the world war of the 1940s, the strife of the 1960s, and the malaise of the 1970s, the 1950s were indeed fabulous. Having a good job that provides health benefits and enough income to keep your family comfortable should be one of the top priorities. The 1950s and the 1960s were a crucial stage for the feminist movement, a stage were women sought to find their rights and be whatever they wanted to be instead of what the society ought them to be.
In may of 1955, housekeeping monthly published an article entitled, the good wifes guide, detailing all the ways that a wife should act and how best she can be a partner to her husband. My copy has an inscription in the front it was given from one navy wife to another. In may of 1955, housekeeping monthly published an article entitled, the good wife s guide, detailing all the ways that a wife should act and how best she can be a partner to her husband. For a woman, were the 1950s and 1960s the best of times or the worst of times. The basics the following is excerpted from an actual 1950s high school home economics textbook.
But we can all learn a little for reading about being a good housewife in the 1950s. The idea of the good life extends to the main cause of the 1950s perfect lifestyle. The good wifes guide housekeeping monthly may 1955. Being a 1950s housewife wasnt an easy job, to be sure. Bought the kindle edition of this book as part of a research paper i was working on for which i needed a good general knowledge of american cultural attitudes in the 1950s, especially in regards to sex and violence. Refer to the first four commandments on how to be a good wife that edward podolsky. The good husbands guide july 15, 2014 by sue nador 2 comments sue nador updates 1950s wisdom from the good wifes guide for todays husband or wife.
A reader recently sent me a forwarded email titled, the good wifes guide that supposedly came from a 1950. Illustrated with contemporary linedrawings, it contains advice by turns delightfully arcane and timelessly true, for example. Alfred kinsey published sexual behavior in the human male, and later in 1954 came its counterpart, sexual behavior in the human female. Living life by the 1955 good wifes guide real honest mom. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready on time for his return. These five marriage tips come straight from a 1960s homeeconomics textbook for real. Its economy was booming, and the fruits of this prosperitynew cars, suburban houses and other consumer goods. Marriage and homemaking in the 1950s by sheila hardy isbn. Some 1950s marriage advice is still really valuable. How to be a good wife according to a 1950s book the good. The good wifes guide is a magazine article rumored to have been published in the may. This 1955 good house wifes guide tells how to treat husbands. Cars were cooler, people spent more time with their families, and things were just simpler. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal on time.
Its a cosy middle class assumption, promoted by janet and john books that. The fifties history of human sexuality in western culture. Its quite interesting and sometimes funny to see the differences in the expectations of women in that time compared to now. While the book was helpful it only presents the barest summary of. This little guide was written for the middle classes of the 1930s who were reading one of the first modern selfhelp books. Mar 18, 2017 from a 1950s home economics textbook intended for high school girls, this excerpt of advice prepares young ladies for what to expect from married life. For five seasons, the good wife was one of the richest, most daring shows on television. This is a great book to have conversation about the good old days. While some of the advice is cringeworthy, there are a few tips and tricks that are applicable to modern marriages. I watch a lot of 50s british films and this book helps with the background of some of. Indeed, nothing was expected to detain, delay or divert the submissive and docile 1950s housewife from doing her job. While snopes was unable to determine the articles authenticity, it serves as a fun and infuriating read for todays modern women. The series was created by robert and michelle king and stars.
The good wifes guide is a magazine article rumored to have been published in the may, 1955 issue of housekeeping monthly, describing how a good wife should act, containing material that reflects a very different role assignment from contemporary american society. Read it out loud for your friends and see the expressions on the faces of both the men and the women. The swans of fifth avenue by melanie benjamin, the year of the bomb by ronald kidd, recipe for a perfect wife. Neat in appearance shoes shined, hair cut, suit pressed. Top 10 books about women in the 1950s ahead of international womens day on 8 march, the historian picks the best writing about an era when females were not.
Stereotypes of women in the 1950s 716 words bartleby. Things are very different form how there were in the 1950s. How to be a good wife according to a 1950s book the good wifes. A whole book on the social expectations for officers wives, specifically. From ingenious cleaning tips, rationbook recipes and home decor inspiration, the homemaking methods of the 1950s give an entertaining and poignant insight into the lives of 1950s women. The good wifes guide was originally circulated as a fax, and then became a widespread email which lists 18 bullet points that all good wives should keep in mind when preparing the house for the husbands return home from work. Family became a powerful unit, efficient enough to subdue the demons of war that were haunting the common man. I became interested in the book because the idea of the book came about because of an article the author came across titled the good wife s guide supposedly published in 1955 by housekeeping monthly.
I have observed many couples where one has decided to have a healthy lifestyle, the other doesnt, and in retirement years. Helping him to have a healthy lifestyle is a benefit to you, as a couple, bubash notes. Retro housewife fads, culture and the housewife in the. See more ideas about 1950s, vintage housewife, retro housewife. How to be a good wife according to a 1960s textbook. Each of these were compiled of thousands of interviews with american people and presented some shocking. The expectations placed upon them while traveling on the superficial highway of suburban white picket fences, jello molds, glazed pecans, and carved vegetables were quite high. You know, the thick card board type that wont bend. A 1950s housewife collects heartwarming personal anecdotes from women who embarked on married life during this fascinating postwar period, providing a trip. From the perils of courting to the inevitable list of wedding gifts to the household tips that any selfrespecting new wife should know, this book collects heartwarming personal anecdotes from women who embarked on married life during this fascinating postwar period, providing a trip down memory lane for any wife or child of the 1950s.
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