The late 1940s and the 1950s marked the start of the Cold War. The Cold War and the ensuing fear of communism left a mark …show more content…
For example, a popular sitcom known as The Honeymooners focused on gender roles commonly found within working class families and couples of the time. The female protagonist was consistently scolded for “squandering” money by her husband and his frequent threats of violence towards her were played up for laughs. When the female protagonist got a job, which heavily insulted her husband’s pride as if it were evidence he could not provide for her without help, the sudden reversal in gendered duties around the house was portrayed as comedic. The television show also touched on the discriminatory hiring practices of the time, where married women were viewed as too risky of an employee to hire, as they were too likely to get pregnant and quit. The episode “Brother Ralph” spent a large amount of its time focusing on reassuring the male protagonist’s masculinity during difficult times, and the wife’s efforts to do something independent that she subsequently decided was not as good as working at