Snapshots of a Daughter-in-Law

Penned in the 1960s, “Snapshots of a Daughter-in-Law” was written at a time when the rise of the women’s liberation movement and second wave feminism in the United States. The 19th and 20th century saw the first wave of feminism, which focused on acquiring equality in legal rights for women—specifically voting rights, the heart of which was formed by the women’s suffrage movement. Second-wave feminism, however, looked not just at ensuring equal legal rights for women, but also equal opportunity and the ability to exercise personal freedom. It addressed all aspects of a woman’s life: from her place in and the effect upon her of politics, to her work, family, and even her sexuality.

The rise of second-wave feminism was fueled by events and circumstances following World War II. The war warranted a burst in invention, particularly in technology, and post-WWII, this translated into household equipment simplifying homemaking. Further, there was growth in the social sector and demand for jobs requiring a host of abilities not restricted to physical strength. However, while the environment was primed with opportunities for women to enter the work force and more significantly contribute, outdated cultural attitudes about a woman’s work and her place being at home prevailed.