15 everyday Expectations for Women in the 1940s That Would Be Unacceptable Today

Looking back at women’s rigid roles in the 1940s reminds us how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.

It’s easy to glance back and nostalgically sentimentalize earlier decades as having been easier days, but for women in the 1940s, life was governed by an unforgiving framework of expectation that would feel completely alien today. While progress has been made toward gender parity, there’s still a long way to go.

According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report, the gap has closed by 68.8%. However, at the current rate of progress, it will take another 123 years to achieve full equality.

Marriage Was Practically Mandatory

A lone woman in the 1940s would have to suffer social shame and economic insecurity, so marriage was not really a love affair, but more of an economic one.

The unmarried woman was viewed with suspicion by society and was asked what was “wrong” with her. Today, women’s growing economic independence has completely changed the game. The Pew Research Center shows that 61% say changing gender roles has made it easier for women.

The Home Was a Woman’s Only Domain

In the 1940s, a woman’s job was easy: managing the home. This meant cooking, cleaning, and childcare as her non-paid, full-time career.

Very few women had paid work, and if they did, they tended to be single or of lower socio-economic status. Fast forward to today, where shared domestic duties are becoming the norm in many households, and women make up nearly half of the workforce.

Career Options Were Very Limited

For the women who were employed, career options were minimal. Most jobs were in domestic work or professions considered “feminine,” such as nursing, teaching, or clerical work.

The massive entry of women into the labor force during World War II, with over 6 million women entering the workforce between 1940 and 1944, was a wartime aberration. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women constitute 47% of the U.S. labor force, and their labor force participation rate remained steady at 57.5%.

Men Were the Designated Guides

Advice columns and social norms of the 1940s assumed men were the smarter sex, and they occupied their rightful position as the natural teachers for women’s education, social lives, and even their own thoughts.

A wife’s social life and intellectual pursuits were often determined by her husband. Luckily, this attitude is now overwhelmingly disavowed.

Fixed Beauty and Fashion Requirements

1940s movies and magazines incessantly showcased a single beauty ideal: an hourglass shape, perfectly styled hair, and bright red lipstick. This strict ideal placed gigantic pressure on women to appear perfect at all times. Presently, there is a firm backlash against such unrealistic representations.

Public Conduct Was Enforced with Severity

Women were to be feminine, lovely, and agreeable in public, avoiding any manner that would ring assertive or opinionated. “Disarmingly” feminine behavior was the goal, and assertiveness was disapproved of.

Today, women who lead with assertiveness are not only accepted but admired.

No Control over Reproduction

For the majority of women in the 1940s, having children was not a choice, but a necessity. Birth control was severely restricted or actually prohibited in most societies, and women had very little control over their own fertility.

According to the World Health Organization, family planning allows individuals and couples to attain their desired number of children and determine the spacing and timing of their pregnancies. 

Advanced Education Was discouraged

In the past, women rarely viewed higher education as a necessity or even a desire, as it was often seen as incompatible with traditional domestic responsibilities. Attending college was more about finding a spouse than building a career.

Today, that perspective has shifted entirely. In North America, women now surpass men in tertiary education enrollment, reflecting a profound transformation in societal norms and opportunities.

Politics Was a “No Women Allowed” Club

The politics of the 1940s were, in effect, largely free of women. Public office was a man’s job, and women had no voice when it came to policymaking. While there is still much to be done, the landscape has undergone a revolution.

According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the global proportion of women in parliament reached 27.2% as of January 1, 2025, marking an increase of 0.3 percentage points compared to the previous year. 

Volunteering Was the Sole “Proper” Public Role

For women from middle- and upper-class backgrounds, public life often revolved around volunteering for civic initiatives or supporting the arts.

This was considered a proper use of their time and energy, as it maintained their secondary status to men outside the home. Women today are economic giants.

Motherhood Was the Ultimate Goal

Culture and media in the 1940s depicted motherhood as a woman’s greatest calling and most significant achievement, a message reinforced by such traditions as the national observance of Mother’s Day in 1942.

While motherhood remains a valued role for many, it is no longer considered a woman’s sole purpose in life.

No Protection Under the Law for Workplace Discrimination

If a woman working in the 1940s was discriminated against or harassed at work, she had close to no protection under the law.

These issues were often overlooked and downplayed, leaving women in helpless and vulnerable positions. Today, though, the workplace is a much different environment.

Financial Dependence Was the Norm

Without a husband or father, a woman in the 1940s had limited economic autonomy. Most women could not obtain credit, open a bank account, or own property in their own right, and were hence entirely dependent on men.

Today, economic independence is a top goal for women. Fidelity International’s annual Women and Money study reveals that more than half of women feel financially independent – the highest level in three years.

An Emotional Supporter, Not an Emotional Being

Women were meant to be the emotional support of their husbands, supportive and downplaying any feelings of emotion. To be angry, frustrated, or ambitious was “unladylike.”

Beyond Blue emphasizes empowering women to achieve mental well-being and a balanced life by providing information on factors impacting their mental health, thereby fostering empowerment through knowledge.

Social Circles Were Limited and Regulated

A woman’s social circle in the 1940s was generally confined to local community gatherings, such as church events or socials within the community. Her circle of life was small and highly regulated, with hardly any access to wider cultural or professional groups.

Today, women are not only participating in these networks but also leading them.

Conclusion

Looking back on the 1940s is a reminder of how far social norms have shifted in a few short generations. What was once considered standard practice is now rightly regarded as unacceptable. While the struggle for actual equality continues, the strides made allow society to challenge old assumptions and create a fairer and more equal world for everyone.

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