Chapter 6: Suburban Utopia: The Postwar Middle-Class Fantasy
- Key point: The postwar economic boom and growth of new suburbs seemed evidence that middle-class lifestyle was a reward available to all after years of struggle
- The American Dream would be realized through a happy home life, rather than expansive wealth
- After the War’s end celebrity magazines highlighted domesticity: happy marriages, beautiful children, and modest yet comfortable homes that seemed attainable for all Americans
- Female celebrities stressed their deference to their husbands’ careers and wishes, challenging the images of feminist independence during wartime
- Once considered the biggest cheerleader of American values, Hollywood came under suspicion by the House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
