The Changing Role of Women and Its Effects on the Modern Family

            In her 1963 book Fascinating Womanhood, Helen Andelin provided her readers with a list of dos and don’ts for women who want to be an ideal, loving wife including the advice:  “Do be a Domestic Goddess.  Don’t let the outside world crowd you for time to do your homemaking tasks well” (“How to Be a Good Wife”, 2013).  Fortunately, Andelin’s advice went out of style in the last 50 years due to several important advances in the role of the modern woman.  Now, a woman’s place in our society is no longer restricted to the domestic sphere.   American women have experienced growing roles in both politics and the work place that allow modern women to participate both in the family and domestic realm and in the broader society in which we live.  Through their involvement in politics, education, social reform, and the economy, women are redefining their role in both the family and the world at large.  While many conservatives argue that the women’s movement has destroyed family values, in reality, many of the changes in women’s lives are actually leading to better conditions in both societies and families.  Now, being a wife and a mother are only one part of being a modern woman.

            Historically, women were not treated as equals to men.  Early religious doctrines frequently portrayed women as intellectually and physically inferior to men.  For example, many Christian Bibles still dictate that a woman should obey and serve her husband.  Women were considered to be less developed intellectually than men.  Physically demanding jobs were only filled by men.   In fact, according to the author of the article “Women’s History in America”:  “During the early history of the United States, a man virtually owned his wife and children as he did his material possessions” (1995).  Women were traditionally denied many rights in our country including the right to own property, the right to vote, the right to pursue an education, and even the right to make decisions regarding her own body.  Thus, historically, a woman’s role was limited to being a wife and having children (“Women’s History”, 1995).

            The conservative, historic role of women met its first organized challenge from the Progressivism of the 1920’s when women started to form suffrage groups.   As Dumenil explains in “The New Woman and the Politics of the 1920’s,” America experienced “changes in the family and sexual mores, women’s participation in the work force, and the political activism of these newly enfranchised citizens” (2007).   In the late 1800’s women increasingly began to take jobs outside of their homes in factories, textile mills, garment shops, and domestic servant positions (Dumenil 2007).  As the economy worsened leading up to the Depression, more and more women and children were forced into the workplace to help support their struggling families.  Then, in the 1920’s, women began to organize and fight for workplace rights and labor laws both for themselves and their children.  They adopted the causes of social reform movements such as the end of the Jim Crow Law and the beginning of many social welfare programs that would not only benefit individual families; many of these reform movements also made progress toward a more equal American society for all Americans where all human beings experienced the same access to the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (Dumenil, 2007). 

As they jostled for an equal position in society, early female activists met many challenges and setbacks, but the early stages of organization did start to open the door for women who wanted to step beyond the roles of mother and wife and become active in the worlds of work, politics and education.  For instance, women were very restricted as to what types of jobs they were allowed to fill in the past.  Women typically served in domestic positions or in nurturing roles like elementary school teachers.  Positions in the professions such as law, medicine, and business were still dominated by men (“Women’s History”, 1995).  Additionally, as time passed, women’s growth in political influence and representation met with challenges such as lack of unity between women’s groups, lack support from men in power, and ideological opposition during the Red Scare (Dumenil, 2007).  However, women’s influence began to slowly grow in the political realm as they fought for social reforms such as prohibition, the end of WWI, voting rights, and working rights (Dumenil, 2007).

            Despite early setbacks, the spirit of social activism in the 1960’s revitalized the women’s movement.  The civil rights era fostered a sense of new activism among many Americans.  Federal legislation such as The Equal Pay Act of 1963, The Civil Rights Act of 1964, and a Presidential Executive Order in 1967 started to level the playing field for many minority groups—including women.  With additional voting rights and equal working rights, a woman’s role in both society and the family began to change again.  During the early 20^th century:  “More young women than ever were going to school, working both in blue and white collar jobs, and living by themselves in city apartments” (“Women’s History”, 1995).  More women were pursuing secondary educations.  Even so, women during this time still carried the majority of the responsibility for taking care of the house and children.  Still, during the civil rights era, the feminist movement brought new hope and new opportunities to many women despite the conservative fears that this would lead to the demise of the family and home.

As time progressed, conservative fears about the decay of family values were heightened by the sexual revolution that accompanied the social revolution of the 1960’s.  When the FDA approved the oral contraceptive known as the Pill, women’s liberation took on a whole new meaning.  For many women, they found a new control over their bodies and sexuality.  While opponents of the Pill argued that the Pill would it would lead to promiscuity and adultery, advocates stressed that the Pill had the potential to strengthen the family by helping them limit the number of children that they had and thus, lessen the financial burden of having a large family.  Still, many religious groups such as Catholics argued that:  “Sex, even within marriage, was immoral unless aimed at having a baby” (Gibbs et. al., 2010).  However, as women redefined their role in both the home and the world at large, they also re-envisioned their sexuality.   Sexual relationships, particularly between married couples, actually strengthened many bonds between men and women because couples found sexual expression as a way to communicate their love and caring for one another (Gibbs et. al., 2010).  Thus, the controversy surrounding birth control became part of the movement for women to have a changing role in America both in the family and outside of the home.

Despite the controversy, increasing numbers of women found the birth control pill as a way for them to stay in school longer, further their careers, and to have lives outside of the domestic sphere.  They felt a sense of freedom from being constantly expected to be home raising one child after another.     In the article “Love, Sex, Freedom, and the Paradox of the Pill,” Gibbs et. al explain that:  “By the 1970’s, the true impact of the Pill could begin to be measured, and it was not on the sexual behavior of American women; it was on how they envisioned their lives, their choices, and their obligations.”  Contrary to what the critics expected, women were still very family focused; however, family structures did change.  For example, women were starting to marry later and have smaller families.  A woman’s role was no longer limited to that of a wife and mother, and women began to envision a more well-rounded and fulfilling life that included an education, a career, and family.  The “sexual anarchy” that conservatives feared actually promoted stronger family relationships.  The Pill turned out to be a way for women to advance themselves in their education and profession and to help provide for their families.  Moreover, by waiting until they were slightly older and more matures, many mothers felt more confident bringing a new child into their marriage.  Likewise, in many ways, the additional income and shared financial responsibility actually strengthened marriages and families (Gibbs et. al, 2010).

The benefits of women receiving an education and marrying into an equal partnership have only grown through the decades.  Modern women no longer mark “passage into adulthood” with marriage and childbirth (McCardle, 2013).  Instead, women in their 20’s are increasingly seeking post-secondary educations and looking for ways to establish themselves before they settle down and get married.  In her article “What Are You Waiting For,” author Megan McCardle explains:  “Marriage used to be…the cornerstone of an adult life.  Now it’s the capstone, the last thing you do after all the other foundations are in place” (2013).  By building stable foundations for their families, middle-class American families have benefited enormously from later marriages.  Harvard’s Kathy Edin calls this the development of what she calls “superrelationships” Edin explains that spouses who wait longer to marry and financially establish themselves not only have greater combined incomes, they also experience “high levels of rapport and satisfaction.”  These couples can share the financial burdens and pool their resources.  Together, they can build their assets more quickly, plan for long-term expenses, and save for large purchases.  In a time when our economy is experiencing high levels of unemployment, having two partners with stable incomes provides more financial security in the event of a job loss or layoff.  Married couples in stable committed relationships also experience better physical and mental health.  Studies even show that they live longer.  Moreover, people in marriages that are based on an equal partnerships experience lower divorce rates.  Likewise, studies show that “a long-term stable relationship…is the best environment to raise children in” (McCardle, 2013).  Today, families thrive when they consist of two working parents. 

However, women still face discrimination when they are not married or are single parents.  Oftentimes, women are at a financial disadvantage despite legislation like the Equal Pay Act of 1963.  On average, women today experience proportionally lower salaries than their male counterparts and also receive fewer promotions and high-ranking positions.  New Republic writer Rebecca Traister explains that “women now graduate from colleges and universities at higher rates than their male peers, but are far less likely to make it to the upper ranks of their professions.”  Moreover, many women are still pushed into more traditional women’s fields such as clerical work, retail sales, and service jobs (“Women’s History”, 1995).  Cases of sexual discrimination continue to become headline news, despite the Title IX protections that were created to ensure workplace equality.  Thus, woman are at a disadvantage if they are not married and do not have anyone to share their financial burden with (McCardle, 2013).  For example, many single and divorced women find it difficult to secure credit, and therefore, have increased difficulties buying a car or house (“Women’s History”, 1995).  Thus, despite the advances women have made since the early 1900’s, women today still are tied to the role of wife and mother.

For single mothers the problems compound because, as McCardle explains, “Single parents report higher levels of stress, in part because of the financial hardship, but also because they get no relief from the pressures of parenting.”  With less resources available to single women, single mothers often struggle as the single source of income for their family.  The demands of individually earning the income, raising the children, and running the household put additional stress and strain on the woman.  Unfortunately, studies show that the children of single parents are more often held back academically and socially than children who are raised by both biological parents.  However, if women are treated as second class citizens if they are not married, it will be harder for them to successfully raise their children (McCardle, 2013).  Thus, our society still has room for improvement when it comes to the dual-role that single mothers must play everyday. 

Still, progress is being made in building an American society that observes more egalitarian gender roles.  No longer are women treated as legally inferior.  No longer are they expected to be subordinates to their husband.  Their roles in both society and the family have increased respect for women in both spheres.  Since women’s roles in the family are changing, so too are men’s roles.  Families have the potential to be more balanced and more rewarding for both parents and their children, too.  Men are now becoming more involved in parenting which is strengthening the American family.  It is becoming more common to hear of a stay-at-home dad or a single father who is raising his children alone.  Being nurturing and being caregivers are no longer reserved for women only.  Now, instead of only girls taking home economics class and learning to sew and cook, boys and girls together are enrolling in family and consumer science classes.  In her article, “Kitchen Controversial,” Traister asserts that:  “Making men central to the economic and emotional well-being of their families would provide them a sense of self-worth” (2014).  Thus the changing role of women in families has the potential to offer men a new role as a parent, too. While women still carry the burden of the majority of the household responsibilities in American families, attitudes toward the more traditional role of women are changing (Traister, 2014).

American women have come a long way in the past 150 years toward establishing themselves as equal citizens.  Women are no longer viewed as being required to be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen.  Instead a woman’s role in both her family and society has evolved into more of a balance between the requirements of work and family life.  Through persistent efforts, women have been able to gain influence in the political and professional worlds.  Our society and our family structures have grown and evolved alongside this changing role that the woman underwent.  Contrary to the fears and expectations of critics, the women’s rights movement and the woman’s new role in society have not destroyed family values.  Instead, the evolution of women into equal citizens whose voices are heard, whose opinions are represented politically, who are educated, and who can earn a living outside of the home has only strengthened our families and our society.  Social reforms for women have led to women having a more respected role in politics, the work-place, and the family.

“You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.”   ~Brigham Young

Works Cited

Dumenil, Lynn. "The New Woman and the Politics of the 1920's." Organization of American Historians Magazine of History July 2007: 22-26. Organization of American History. Web. 15 July 2014.

Gibbs, Nancy, Deirdre VanDyk, and Kathleen Adams. "Love, Sex, Freedom, and the Paradox of the Pill." Time 2010: 40-47. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 July 2014.

"How to Be a Good Wife." Snopes. Urban Legend Reference Pages, 18 Sept. 2013. Web. 16 July 2014.

McCardle, Megan. ""What Are You Waiting For?"" Newsweek Global 2013: n. pag. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 July 2014.

Traister, Rebecca. "Kitchen Controversial: Why Feminists Should Embrace Home Econcomics." New Republic 2014: 5-7. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 July 2014.

"Women's History in America." Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia. Women's International Center, 1995. Web. 16 July 2014. <www.wic.org/misc/history.htm>.