Impact of federal efforts to push women back into the home after WWII
Johnson discusses the pressure placed on women to return to the home after being drawn into the public sphere during World War II. In particular, she recalls hearing a government-sponsored radio program in 1947 that intended to make women feel guilty if they went to work rather than staying home with their children. While Johnson was outraged by these kinds of maneuverings meant to manipulate women, she argues that they were a huge part of women's retreat into the home during the 1950s.
Citing this Excerpt
Oral History Interview with Guion Griffis Johnson, May 17, 1974. Interview G-0029-2. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007) in the Southern Oral History Program Collection, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Full Text of the Excerpt
- GUION JOHNSON:
-
The government mounted a campaign, beginning in '47, perhaps in '46, the
last of '46 and '47. I remember the stories that would come over the
radio about how terrible it was for a mother to continue to work. She
was needed during the war, and it was patriotic . . .
- MARY FREDERICKSON:
-
Whereas five years before, they had been saying that it was patriotic to
work.
- GUION JOHNSON:
-
Yes. That's true. It was patriotic for her to work, but now the war is
over, our men are coming back and we need to give them employment and
it's patriotic now for a woman to leave her job and turn it over to our
war veterans. This was a concerted campaign launched by the government
and supported by many state agencies. And I remember so well when I came
back from my office one day in early 1947, Edward had the radio on and
here was this gory story being related about the mother who had worked
during the war and refused to give up her job, because she was now
having some pocket change for once in her life and she wanted this money
to buy extra things for the house. She really didn't need the money, but
she selfishly wanted a new carpet for her living room and was staying on
to work. And she suddenly had a telephone call, which said,
"Your son has been killed. He has been run over by an
automobile." And she rushed out and saw the mangled body of her
dear child, and she said, "Oh, why didn't I stay at home and
take care of my baby? Why did I, why was I so thoughtless and selfish? I
want all mothers in the United States to hear my tragic story and give
up their jobs."
(laughter)
I was furious.
- MARY FREDERICKSON:
-
Well, were you acquainted with anyone who was . . . you were in
Atlanta?
- GUION JOHNSON:
-
Yes, I was in Atlanta at the time?
- MARY FREDERICKSON:
-
And were any of the state agencies there supporting it?
- GUION JOHNSON:
-
Not that I know of. I was not aware of it if they were. I was working
very closely with all the social welfare agencies and I would have know
about it if they had. No, this was a federally sponsored program. But
the radio stations were carrying these gory tales. This was the
emotional pressure that was being placed upon women.
- MARY FREDERICKSON:
-
Very strong emotional pressure.
- GUION JOHNSON:
-
Oh yes.
- MARY FREDERICKSON:
-
I mean, it worked.
