WOMEN IN THE PRICE
Or . . . Marriage As A Career

"The Great Depression created a socio-political climate ruled largely by conservative gender norms where marriage and family were conceived as a full-time career commitment for women," argues author Mary C. McComb. ¹

"Should wives work?" was the title of an essay that appeared in the 1930s that Eleanor Roosevelt contributed to.

"Most women marry and work, and work will not be a career. The question put this way seems to imply that marriage itself is not a career. Anyone who believes that has no real understanding of marriage," Roosevelt said.

The article concluded by saying that "Just a few women who have special gifts, who have established careers before they meet the men they wish to marry might want to continue working after wedding."

Along these lines but a couple of decades later, comes a book of marriage advice to women. Here is its index:

How to Help Your Husband Get Ahead (1953)

Part One: The First Steps Toward Success

1. Help Him Decide Where He is Going
2. When One Goal is Reached - Set Up Another
3. What Every Wife Should Know About Enthusiasm
4. Six Ways to Raise Your 'EQ' [Enthusiasm Quotient]

Part Two: Fundamental Techniques of Morale Building

5. Learn to Listen Effectively
6. The Two Men You Married
7. When Things Go Wrong - Be a Believer!

Part Three: Four Ways to Give Him an Extra Boost

8. Know His Job - and Lend a Hand
9. How to Get Along with His Secretary
10. Encourage Him to Keep Learning
11. Be Prepared for Emergencies

Part Four: How to Be Adaptable

12. How to Be a Happy Rolling Stone
13. Overtime Work - and What to Do About It
14. How to Adjust to Unusual Job Conditions
15. How to Keep from Going Crazy if He Works at Home
16. Does Your Career Conflict with His Interests?
17. Don't Be the Girl He Left Behind Him

Part Five: If You Want Him to Get Ahead - Avoid These Pitfalls

18. Why Men Leave Home
19. Don't Be a Buttinsky
20. Don't Try to Make Him Over
21. Don't Be Afraid to Take a Chance

Part Six: How to Make Your Husband Happy

22. 'She Was So Pleasant'
23. Share His Interests
24. Encourage Him to Have a Hobby - and Leave Him Alone!
25. Have Outside Interests of Your Own

Part Seven: How to Give Him a Home, Sweet Home

26. 'Just a Housewife'
27. 'So Nice to Come Home to'
28. 'I Never Waste Time'
29. Say It with Shortcuts

Part Eight: How to Make People Like Him

30. Three Ways to Make Him Popular
31. Make Mountains of His Virtues - Molehills of His Faults

Part Nine: How to Conserve His Health and His Wealth

32. How to Live Within His Income
33. His Life is in Your Hands

Part 10: The Greatest Contribution of All

34. Let's Raise Our Standard of Loving

From "How to Help Your Husband Get Ahead in His Social and Business Life"

By Mrs. Dale Carnegie

www.missabigail.com

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¹The Great Depression and the Middle Class by Mary C. McComb