The term identifies a widespread discontent among middle-class American women in the post-World War II era. This feeling manifested as a sense of emptiness, lack of fulfillment, and a yearning for something more than the roles of wife, mother, and homemaker, despite societal messaging that these roles were inherently satisfying. It described a societal assumption that women could find complete fulfillment through domesticity and child-rearing alone, a concept that often left many feeling stifled and unfulfilled.
This concept’s significance lies in its role as a catalyst for second-wave feminism in the United States. By giving voice to the previously unspoken frustrations of many women, it challenged the prevailing social norms and paved the way for advancements in women’s rights, including greater access to education, employment, and political participation. The acknowledgement of widespread dissatisfaction among women prompted critical examination of societal expectations and limitations placed upon them.
