The role of middle-class Victorian women is the focus of Women and the World and Women and the Home. The wives, mothers, belles and virgins' only role and purpose in this era were to dedicate their lives to the needs of their husbands and families. "A woman is nobody. A wife is everything. This was the role that Victorians assigned to the female sex; these were the boundaries of female rights." (pg. 7, Filene) This less than satisfying life style led women to seek refuge by religious practices and/or female companionships, such as women's' groups. This way of life, with no other outlets then stated above, brought about such inner turmoil, that women suffered an illness labeled "nervousness". These times were hard for women and many women started taking control over their lives by limiting sexual intercourse, which led to the reduction of STD's and high birth rates.

This was also the beginning of labor saving devices for the home. In the making and use of modern appliances, to ease the burdens of housewives, they caused women to lose their hired-help and work long, tedious hours with no outside help. For the first time the "True Women" emerged outside the

The 1960's brought forth the children of the "baby boomers". This "new generation" shocked the country by their sudden assault on the "established cultural institutions and values". (pg. 191, Filene) "Sit-ins, freedom rides, marches and picket lines" were only the beginning of this generation. (pg. 199, Filene) For the first time in history a younger generation was questioning the existence of life. This younger generation believed in love not war. They questioned political issues, education and employment. Women were being seen and heard. Men were discovering themselves in their emotions, compassion and sexual preferences, by the 1970's. Men wanted their humanity back. Feminism, the men's movement, and gay and lesbian issues were the focus of debate and controversy. Even now, in today's world, these issues are still at hand and will most likely remain until real equality exists.

Women were leaving home and entering the world. A small percentage went off to college and started careers afterwards. Women were redefining themselves, personally and as a class. Divorce rates were increasing and the birth rate was declining. The "Crisis of Family" placed blame on the higher education of females. Of course, this threatened the ethical order of male society. This scared the male population, so in order to deter female rebellion, Congress tried to place emphasis back on the home by declaring a national holiday, " Mother's Day". This tradition started solely to redirect women's' priorities back to the home front: to encourage the "career" as homemaker, wife and mother. In reality it was a ploy to keep women in the home and under male ruling. Feminists saw this as an opportunity to fight for equal rights against the male society that enslaved and dominated women.

In Time of War focused on men finding an outlet for their frustrations. Spor

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Approximate Word count = 1258
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)