In 1962 Norah wonders about the choices Melanie will have as she grows up. Norah reflects on her own limited choices: having a career that dead-ends as the steno pool supervisor, or a wife and mother. Norah chooses the wife and mother life, viewing the choice of steno pool supervisor as no choice at all.
She ponders why Flossie, a college-educated African-American, chooses to work as a housekeeper. In 1962 career choices for black women were even fewer, limited to teaching or nursing in racially segregated, often substandard facilities. Not that working for a white family would be preferable, but there just weren’t that many choices for any female.
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Like most families, television is central to life in the Adams’ household, with Birdie often making the decisions about what to watch. In the morning Birdie watches “Captain Kangaroo” on the black and white television with rabbit ears.
Just in case you don’t know, rabbit ears are the old fashioned antenna used to improve reception before tall outdoor antennas crowned every roof, or satellite dishes sprouted like mushrooms from the eaves. Continue reading…
Welcome! Here’s where you’ll find resources to enhance your Bombshells reading experience. Whether you’re interested in more historical information about the Cuban Missile Crisis, or want to download a playlist of great music from the early ‘60’s, this is the place. You’ll find those great Jackie Kennedy inspired fashions and hairstyles as well as reminders of the great films and books of this rich period in America’s modern culture.
