Should women find their happiness inside or outside the home? In the United States people used to believe the saying, "A woman's place is in the home." But now both women and society are changing. More than fifty percent of American women continue their work even after they are married. What has brought about these changes? What is happening to the American family today?Up until the 1950's a typical American woman got married in her early 20's. In those days she quit her job andbecame a mother. "A woman's place is in the home" was a popular saying. Most women felt that taking care of their home and family was their full-time job.But times have changed. Women are getting married later these days and more have chosen to stay single. Others get married but decide not to have any children. Today more than fifty percent of all married women work full-time. Many others run businesses in their homes.What has caused these major changes? One reason is economic necessity. It may be that the husband has lost his job and the wife must support the family. Or even if the husband is working, some families say they can't survive on only one paycheck.But probably a more important influence has been the "women's liberation movement." Women are being told in many magazines and TV programs: "You can be successful on your own. Don't be satisfied with just being a wife and mother. Use your intelligence and talents to do something bigger. And you should be paid as much as a man."No doubt this movement has accomplished much good. But it has also contributed to a selfish "me first" attitude that is breaking up many families. Sometimes women who are happy staying at home feel that working women look down on them.There are no easy answers to these problems. But certainly women's influence will continue to grow in business, education and politics.
1. It is obvious that the major influence that has brought about a change in women's role in society comes from ……….
A. the women's liberation movement B. magazines and TV programs
C. women who chose to stay single D. men who are unemployed or underpaid
2. In the US nowadays, women who continue to work after they get married ………..
A. are in minority B. account for more than half of all women
C. are doing so unwillingly D. because their husbands want them to
3. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Up until the 1950's, "A woman's place is in the home" was a popular saying.
B. The American women who continue to work after marriage are more than fifty percent.
C. People used to believe that women should work as hard as men and be paid as much as men.
D. It seems that women's influence and role in American society will increase in the near future.
4. According to the passage, the women's liberation movement ………..
A. encourages a "me first" attitude which may threaten to break up the family
B. looks down on women who don't work
C. has less influence than it once did D. has succeeded in solving social problems