Gender roles in the Cold War

By Ayla Cifric

On Wednesday, during class, Mr. Colleta came in to discuss the Cold War. I learned many new things about it. Specifically, we learned about the gender role in the Cold War. After class, this topic seemed very interesting to me, so out of class, I did further research on the Cold War and how gender played a role in it. 

The Cold War was a period of political and economic rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, and it took place from 1945 to 1991. Post WW2, conflict arose between the US and the USSR. The US promoted democracy and capitalism, whereas the USSR advocated for communism. 

During the Cold War, gender roles were deeply influenced by the battles between the United States and the Soviet Union. After World War 2, women were told to let the men handle the real jobs and leave the workforce to be caregivers and take care of their families. The media made sure of this by advertising women in magazines at home, doing “womanly duties” such as the dishes or laundry, and in the media, women were only shown working at home while the husbands were out doing their jobs. While the women were practically banished to their homes, the men were cast as heroes and breadwinners, providers, and protectors. Even though the media emphasized women staying home and not working, the government was promoting women in the workforce and women's education. In contrast, the Soviet Union had the media as well as the government promoting women in the workforce, with powerful jobs such as scientists, or astronauts. The rigid gender norms of the Cold War slowly transformed as women today continue to fight for equality in the workforce and equal opportunities. In many different ways, the Cold War never really came to an end. Since it “ended,” it has mostly evolved with its cultural and political legacy shaping the modern world.