The advancements gained by women in the workforce were suddenly undone when the men returned from World War II. Previously believed to be the sole purview of men, women have assumed positions in areas such as aircraft manufacturing during the war. However, most people believed that their efforts were only short-lived. Strong media campaigns, bolstered by television's growing popularity, encouraged women to return to the home as the country transitioned back to peacetime. Those who made an effort to maintain their newly formed professional identities faced severe criticism. Career-focused women were even disparagingly referred to by psychiatrists, psychologists, and popular writers of the day as "lost," "suffering from penis envy," or "man-hating." In order to characterize their contributions as social rather than professional, many women were quietly coerced into less visible or politically sensitive roles, such throwing Tupperware parties. The second wave of feminism was later fueled by a growing undercurrent of unhappiness that was exacerbated by this forceful push back into domesticity.
The LGBTQ+ group was brutally suppressed at the same period. In the public discourse, homosexuality was not even completely accepted as a term or identity; instead, same-sex activity was criminalized and labeled as abnormal. Men who committed these "illegal and perverted acts" were subject to harsh penalties: a first violation carried a six-month jail sentence, while repeat offenses frequently resulted in state prison terms that occasionally included coerced "treatments" like lobotomy or castration. Public humiliation came quickly and brutally; media exposure led to the loss of employment, social status, and financial security. Early activists started to organize in response to this restrictive climate. By establishing the Mattachine Society, one of the first groups dedicated to enhancing the lives of gay men via discussion groups and covert activity, Harry Hay, for example, became a trailblazer. Following the arrest of founding member Dale Jennings, who was later freed following a hung jury, it became evident that the community needed safe public areas. In addition to offering support, these early initiatives set the stage for later legal changes and increased social acceptability.
The United States' 1950s were characterized by a return to conventional, patriarchal attitudes that aimed to undo the brief era in which women had actually participated in the workforce. Mass firings and social pressure swiftly pushed women back into traditional home responsibilities, even though many of them expressed a wish to continue working after the war. This re-domestication was a cultural strategy as well as an economic and political one, supported by advertisements, television programs, and a variety of public discourses that emphasized the idealized house. However, the climate of criminalization and repression extended beyond gender norms, impacting the identities of LGBTQ+ individuals and forcing them into clandestine communities and activism out of need.
Historically, movements for change have been triggered by these times of extreme social tension. Career women's unhappiness at being called "unlovely" for pursuing fulfillment outside the house gradually transformed into the critical mass required for the second wave of feminism. In a similar vein, the cruel treatment of gay men—and later of the LGBTQ+ community as a whole—started a wave of activism that would oppose legislation that discriminated against them and encourage the creation of publications, advocacy groups, and safe public areas. Even though these initial actions were small and frequently dangerous for the individual, they ultimately resulted in significant cultural and political changes that still have an impact on our world today.
Sources:
“Women and Work After World War II.” American Experience. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/tupperware-work/
American Psychological Association. (2017, July 21). A brief history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender social movements. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbtq/history
“MissRepresentation”. Youtube. Chris Gatt. 21 April 2012.
The LGBTQ+ group was brutally suppressed at the same period. In the public discourse, homosexuality was not even completely accepted as a term or identity; instead, same-sex activity was criminalized and labeled as abnormal. Men who committed these "illegal and perverted acts" were subject to harsh penalties: a first violation carried a six-month jail sentence, while repeat offenses frequently resulted in state prison terms that occasionally included coerced "treatments" like lobotomy or castration. Public humiliation came quickly and brutally; media exposure led to the loss of employment, social status, and financial security. Early activists started to organize in response to this restrictive climate. By establishing the Mattachine Society, one of the first groups dedicated to enhancing the lives of gay men via discussion groups and covert activity, Harry Hay, for example, became a trailblazer. Following the arrest of founding member Dale Jennings, who was later freed following a hung jury, it became evident that the community needed safe public areas. In addition to offering support, these early initiatives set the stage for later legal changes and increased social acceptability.
The United States' 1950s were characterized by a return to conventional, patriarchal attitudes that aimed to undo the brief era in which women had actually participated in the workforce. Mass firings and social pressure swiftly pushed women back into traditional home responsibilities, even though many of them expressed a wish to continue working after the war. This re-domestication was a cultural strategy as well as an economic and political one, supported by advertisements, television programs, and a variety of public discourses that emphasized the idealized house. However, the climate of criminalization and repression extended beyond gender norms, impacting the identities of LGBTQ+ individuals and forcing them into clandestine communities and activism out of need.
Historically, movements for change have been triggered by these times of extreme social tension. Career women's unhappiness at being called "unlovely" for pursuing fulfillment outside the house gradually transformed into the critical mass required for the second wave of feminism. In a similar vein, the cruel treatment of gay men—and later of the LGBTQ+ community as a whole—started a wave of activism that would oppose legislation that discriminated against them and encourage the creation of publications, advocacy groups, and safe public areas. Even though these initial actions were small and frequently dangerous for the individual, they ultimately resulted in significant cultural and political changes that still have an impact on our world today.
Sources:
“Women and Work After World War II.” American Experience. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/tupperware-work/
American Psychological Association. (2017, July 21). A brief history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender social movements. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbtq/history
“MissRepresentation”. Youtube. Chris Gatt. 21 April 2012.