Pre-Colonial Gender Roles

The people of California in the Pre-Colonial period consisted of nearly 500 different tribes of Native Americans.  The colonists hadn't yet settled in the area.
Women in pre-colonial California sometimes held high positions of power, they were respected,they looked after the family, kept house, made clothing and tools, and cooked whatever the men brought home from a hunt.  They may also work as the doctors or spiritual leaders of the tribes.  They were seen as equals in the tribes.
The men of the tribes were the hunters and warriors.  They protected the rest of the tribe from invaders and the brought home food for the tribe after long hunts.

Popular Culture in the 1950s

• The Barbie Doll was introduced.
• Game shows were becoming popular.
• TV industry was booming with more and more homes purchasing TVs. 
• Rock n' Roll music came out.
• Radio stations started playing music instead of talk shows and soap operas.

Work Life

2014- Median household income: $58,869
2013- Child Poverty: 25.3
2013- Unemployment rate: 9.9%
2014- Labor force percent: 49.68%
2009-2011- workforce percent change: .4%

Gender Roles in the 1950s

• Post World War II propaganda persuaded women to stay at home, have kids, and settle down
• They didn't want women joining the work force anymore
• Only a small number of women sought a higher education
• The women that did go to college only went to learn domestic skills and to look for a husband.
• Men went to college to get an education and get a better job
• Women were expected to spend their lives raising a family
• Men went out to find jobs and support the family
• in 1950 29% of the American workforce was female and increased as the decade went on