From Beatniks to Sputnik and Princess Grace to Peyton Place, this book illuminates the female half of the U.S. population as they entered a "brave new world" that revolutionized women's lives.

After World War II, the United States was the strongest, most powerful nation in the world. Life was safe and secure—but many women were unhappy with their lives. What was going on behind the closed doors of America's "picture-perfect" houses?

This volume includes chapters on the domestic, economic, intellectual, material, political, recreational, and religious lives of the average American woman after World War II. Chapters examine topics such as the entertainment industry's evolving concept of womanhood; Supreme Court decisions; the shifting idea of women and careers; advertising; rural, urban, and suburban life; issues women of color faced; and child rearing and other domestic responsibilities.

A timeline of important events and glossary help to round out the text, along with further readings and a bibliography to point readers to additional resources for their research. Ideal for students in high school and college, this volume provides an important look at the revolutionary transformation of women's lives in the decades following World War II.

• Spotlights individuals of diverse backgrounds throughout
• Includes a helpful introductory overview for each section that places it in historical context
• Presents cultural and historical highlights impacting women in an easy-to-follow timeline
• Underscores terms familiar to postwar American women nationwide in a glossary
• Leads readers toward other sources to broaden their understanding in bibliographical entries
• Contains academic references and suggestions for further reading