1. The Cold War brought anxieties to Americans, which they were only able to subdue with a return to a very conservative society. This meant that family was again the unit of stability and gender roles for men and women were strongly enforced. Conformity was key, both in demonstrating gender roles and “Americanness” as the nation was trying to weed out communists from its borders. In the family, it was considered a sign of maturity to dutifully accept one’s gender expectations; the men would bring... read more
