Happily Ever After

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Recommended: Gender roles in the 1960s

Happily Ever After How important is the gender role in a happy marriage? Does the man have to be the bread winner and financial supporter? Does the woman have to keep the house and take care of the children for the marriage to succeed? Research has shown that “it is essential for both members of the couple to understand the gender role expectations of themselves and their partners throughout the course of the marriage” (Gender). This would indicate that even if the roles are not traditional, gender roles do play an important part in marriage. This might explain the fact that in the late 70‘s we experienced our highest percentage of divorce.(Hughes). At this time gender roles were changing at an unprecedented rate. Television plays a large part in how people identify with their own lives and what goes on in their households. Such shows as “The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet” and “Leave it to Beaver” in the 1950‘s, portrayed the so called, perfect family structure. The upbeat husband, sitting down for a quick breakfast his wife just whipped up, then off to the office, while his dutiful wife stays home, gets the kids off to school, then settles in for a day full of housework, concluding the day with a full course dinner on the table by 5pm. Of course all this is done while in a form fitting dress and high heels. The 1950‘s was a time when gender roles were structured, men and women knew their position in the family or relationship and didn’t question it. Television in the 1950‘s said this is what made a happy home, and statistics show fewer divorces in that era. When gender roles in the 1950‘s were well defined, the divorce rate was a meager five per one thousand women as compared to the 1970’s peak of twenty-three div... ... middle of paper ... ...ships." MissouriFamilies.org. University of Missouri Extension, 20 Aug. 2008. Web. 07 Apr. 2010. Hurley/The New York Times, Dan. "Divorce Rate: It's Not as High as You Think." Smart Marriages Listserv. Divorce Statistics Collection, 19 Apr. 2005. Web. 11 Apr. 2010. United States. Census Bureau. Fertility and Family Branch. Table MS-2. Estimated Median Age at First Marriage, by Sex: 1890 to Present. U.S. Bureau of the Census, 15 Sept. 2004. Web. 11 Apr. 2010. . United States. National Center for Health Statistics. Health Research, Statistics, and Technology. Advance Report of Final Divorce Statistics, 1979. 2nd ed. Vol. 30. Supplement. NCHS Monthly Vital Statistics Report. National Center for Health Services, 29 May 1981. Web. b10 Apr. 2010. .

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