Following World War II, women living in small towns and on farms across the Midwest woke every morning, packed their lunches, and headed out for a long day of work in a nearby factory. Many of these women never envisioned themselves as industrial workers, but the political and economic changes after World War II offered new opportunities and experiences for hundreds of women.
How did this transition into industrial work affect a woman’s sense of self? How did this new workforce change the dynamic of families and communities? While women choosing to work outside of the home may seem to have been a mundane decision, it caused tremendous change within families and with household roles. These alterations in daily life rippled throughout midwestern culture and society, even changing the landscape of small towns into decentralized industrial centers.
“Author and history professor Coreen Derifield dives deep into the everyday lives of women. . . . examining how the decision to work outside of the home transformed their sense of self, family dynamics, and even the environment of their towns. . . . illustrating a monumental rise in the autonomy, community, and working power of American women, as well as its inherent limits, a dichotomy essential to the development of feminist history and culture.”—Minnesota History
