Let’s Look Back at the Lives of Women in the 1950s

Women’s career choices in the 1950s were sharply limited. The most “acceptable” jobs were secretary, nurse, or teacher — professions seen as extensions of domestic skills. Once married, many women were expected to quit, reinforcing the idea that the workplace was only a temporary stop before homemaking.

Companies like IBM and General Electric heavily recruited female clerical workers, while typewriter brands like Remington and Underwood marketed directly to women entering offices. Despite this, pay was low, promotions rare, and opportunities capped, ensuring men held the power while women remained secondary earners.