Life in the fifties, we can say, is different from what it has become today. Most couples married in their early 20s, had children, and “lived happily ever after.” Men went out and worked (instrumental role), their wages usually covered household expenses. Women stayed at home (expressive role), raised the children and took care of the house. Life was very simple. Over time, roles within the household began to change and more women entered the workforce. (Kunz 5-19) The three articles discussed present the surprising differences and similarities of past and present households. In May 1955, Housekeeping Monthly published an article titled The Good Wife's Guide. This article provided eighteen tips for women; what they should do at home and how to keep their husbands happy. “Make dinner,” “Clear the mess,” and “Don’t ask him about his actions…” are just three of the eighteen instructions. (Housekeeping Monthly) One of the reasons this article could have been so easily accepted was the simplicity of life at that time. Women rarely expressed their opinions or challenged gender norms. So the author's intention could have been: "let's give women advice on how to make their husbands happier and keep order in the household." However, taking into consideration the gender norm of the time and comparing it to that of the 21st century certainly raises a host of issues when you consider that the majority of families today are dual income earners. From its author, we can only assume that it was a male. It would be difficult to imagine that a woman, at least according to the current definition...... middle of paper ... will likely experience several other changes in the world of work, in the household as well as in our legal system . We will see many more articles similar to these three. However, one thing is certain, the woman will always be considered the housewife while the man will be the breadwinner. Works Cited Kunz, Jenifer. Think about marriages and families. Boston: Pearson, 2011. Print.Laquer Estin, Ann. “Reflections on the Golden Anniversary: ​​Changes in Marriages After Fifty.” Family Law Quarterly 42.3: 333-52. Family study summaries. Internet. March 2, 2011. Rampell, Catherine. “As layoffs increase, women may overtake men in the job market.” The New York Times. February 2009. Web. March 2011. “The Good Wife’s Guide.” Home page of J-Walk & Associates. Internet. Mar. 2011. .