They Called Us Girls: Stories of Female Ambition from Suffrage to Mad Men

In mid-twentieth-century America, women faced a paradox. Thanks to their efforts, World War II production had been robust, and in the peace that followed, more women worked outside the home than ever before, even dominating some professions. Yet the culture, from politicians to corporations to television shows, portrayed the ideal woman as a housewife. Many women happily assumed that role, but a small segment bucked the tide―women who wanted to use their talents differently, in jobs that had always been reserved for men. In
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