1950s

The 1950s triggered the turning point of American life. As peace rapidly spread
throughout the nation, people were eager to start achieving their dreams. Society's definition of
the American Dream was simple - a job and a family. After World War II ended, job
opportunities began to open up for civilians, and despite all of the struggles that occurred during
the war, people were able to move past them and work towards pursuing their own American
Dream. It was a prosperous time for America. Since the nation suffered through the Great
Depression as well as a major world war, this decade differed tremendously from any other.
Although America was undergoing a transitional period, the American Dream was accessible to
anyone if they worked hard enough and put in the effort to achieve it.
In this era, the post WWII racial discrimination sparked the will to improve society. After
serving for ones country, many expected a warm welcome home reception but instead, still felt
the harsh racist sting of our segregated race environment. This injustice started the Civil Rights
Movement; a period of time where a group of brave African Americans gathered together in
search for change. The Civil Rights movement was a set of non-violent protests, which were set
to change the law and in result lead to the Civil Rights Act. The 1950s was part of a huge
transformation in the lives of black men, women, and children. The help of heroes such as Martin
Luther King, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X and many more paved the way for equal rights for the
black society. With this movement, blacks were able to diminish the Jim Crow Laws that took
away the rights of citizenship from African Americans in the South.
Life during the 1950s was different than a lot of eras. This decade was followed by World
War II, which had an astronomical impact on economic life in the 1950s. After America fought
and won the war, the United States had more money than it had in a long time which made the
American Dream accessible to just about anyone. The 1950s is regarded as ...one of the most
prosperous economic times in American History (Brohl 2001). Population size was growing so
there was a higher demand for housing. Houses were made more affordable so more people
could live in their own home. Many changes were happening in the 1950s and the American
Dream at that time consisted of owning a home and starting a family. The dream during that time
was quite simple than those of today. Today, people have all these materialistic dreams such as
having the better car and bigger house than someone else, back then it was all about family and
just allowing yourself to be content where you were. The 1950s is also known as one of the
luckiest generations of all time (Ronk 2015.) One of the reasons this time period is said to be
lucky is teenagers/young adults were working and often times would start working during early
teen years. According to Liz Ronk, teens could work at any job they chose because many
opportunities were given. (2015.) People back in the 50s, especially young adults, didnt get
things handed over to them, they had to learn everyday what it meant to work for yourself and to
be independent. Back then it was all about work and becoming independent at a fairly young age,
whereas today, teens often wont work as hard or at all because they know their parents will be
there to provide for them.
The Fifties was a time when the man was the head of the household, and the woman was

to return to her traditional duties of a loyal wife. Her role was to fulfill the wishes of her
husband's. A single mother was outside the norm and contradicted greatly with mainstream
standards. Given the fact that it was frowned upon to live outside these standards, any other
American Dream that went in a different direction was difficult to make a reality. The constraints
of society made becoming a wife and a mother a role that each woman was expected to fill. In
fact, the home economics class taught to girls in an article titled How to be a good wife that
women were raised to be a convenience (cooking, cleaning, and birthing children), rather than a
person who has an option on how they wanted live their lives. They were deprived of the
decision to fulfill the roles that women today give themselves, which would eventually lead to
the Feminist movement of the 1960s. The Home Economical writing piece states catering for
his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction emphasizing the belief that if a
woman pleased her husband, she would, in return, be content with herself. Her own dream was
not available to her for it was already predetermined.
The accessibility of the American Dream differed between race, gender, social class, and
where you were born. Mary Hedderson, a white female who lived in New York City, was given
many job opportunities, unlike other women, due to her education and position in society.
Unlike Ollie Beene, a black male who grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, had a rough time
finding a job due to his race, which made it more difficult to reach his dream. Additionally, Eva
Portella, a Brazilian female who immigrated to New York City, faced trials as a single mother
and as a woman, finding it difficult to support her children and herself in America.
Its not difficult to see that the American Dream in the 50s was considered by most a
small and simple one. However, the personal aspirations and journeys lived by these three
outstanding people, tell otherwise. Opportunities may have differed from person to person, but
each individual had their own desires in life. America was at a prosperous time when Ollie,
Mary, and Eva came of age, and despite the struggles they faced, they still relish in the life they
have lived.

Aijah Jones
An American dream exists for everyone, but it is up to that person to push and achieve it
on their own. Ollie Beene, a strong brave man who went through many struggles to get to where
he is today; a man full of happiness. With these struggles pulling him in different directions, he
kept his head held high and continued to sway back and forth with the amazing flow of what he
calls, life.
As a young boy growing up in a small town in Milwaukee, Ollies life mainly consisted
of working on a farm for just a couple of dollars. He remembers a particular moment on a
Monday morning when a smile grew on his face while he felt sweat dripping down his brown
skin, as the sun beamed on his head while he spent time planting, picking, and raising cotton. He
patted himself on the back because he knew he was working hard. The only time Ollie did not
have to work as hard was when it would start to rain. A look of happiness would rapidly appear
on his familys face because when the rain grew heavier, puddles and puddles would surround
the field, so it would be too wet to work for the day. While the rain began to pour down, Ollie
and his family would get on their two knees and sing, Rain rain rain. Rain more, rain heavy.
When the rain would clear up, everyone returned back to their daily routine. Working in the field
was a way to make a living for himself and his family. They were able to make enough money to
support each other. Although he came from a low class family, he never went a day without food.
Whenever he was craving a taste, he always could rely on his long field filled with yellow corn
and tasty greens. He and his family also raised hogs and cured the meat which lasted all year
long, so Ollie rarely had a reason to starve. However, blisters grew rapidly on the hands of Ollie
every day and night as he milked cows so that he and his family would have something to drink
the next morning. All the hard work that Ollie was so determined to accomplish, distracted him
from what was really important, his education.
Unlike most children, Ollie did not have an opportunity to receive a good education, due
to the fact that he was only able to attend school 2-3 days a week. The remaining days of the
week, Ollie dedicated his time to farm work. He looks back on his life and wishes that he could
have learned a lot more and possibly have attended college. Unable to complete 8th grade, Ollie
continued to take in as much information as possible. Ollie was more than excited to attend his
math class; as he stared at his teacher while she taught him about fractions, time seemed to flash
before his eyes. Just as soon as class started, it soon ended, forcing Ollie to return to the field to
work.
It is typical to see that unlike today, the American Dream in the 50s had a different
meaning. For Ollie especially, it was harder to achieve his American Dream because he was still
tackling issues as big as racial discrimination. Children in 1950s had different lives compared
to young people today. Most left school much earlier, with many starting work at the age of
fourteen and fewer people had the chance to go onto further education (mylearning.org). It is

disappointing to come to the realization that not everyone in this decade had the opportunity to
obtain a decent education. Whites usually were found to have a better educational system than
African Americans. But, the schools for African American children were usually extremely poor
and didn't provide them with the necessary learning they truly needed.(123helpme.org). Many
people during this time wished they would have been able to go to school and learn something
but most of their spare time was spent working. Housework was not as easy as it seems for a
family who comes home to dinner ready on the table with everything nice and clean. The reality
was that during this time, housework was way more difficult. According to (mylearning.org),
People did their washing by hand, instead of a machine, and without fridge-freezers, food had to
be bought daily. It was less common for women to work and many took on the childcare and
housework, while their husbands were working. The amount of work you had to do for one
simple house duty, was so much more difficult than it seemed to be.
As Ollie grew older and began to become wiser, he realized he did not want to spend the
rest of his life in pain from working on a farm. In result, he eagerly joined the Army. His first
option was to join the Navy, but when they inducted him, he was automatically sent to the army
where he began his training. During his training, the second World War had erupted. He had
spent five long years battling for his country. He was able to travel to England, France and
Germany while fighting in World War II. A vivid moment he could never forget was the fear of
dying as the fire of the German guns burst into the sky. But for Ollie, all of this fear was put
aside. He did everything he could to remain not only a calm, but a strong soldier as well. He was
able to encourage those around him to push through the hard times despite everything they have
gone through. One death, two deaths, three deaths and many more to come, he was eventually
numb to the idea that death was just the cost of war. He realized that it was important to put his
emotions behind him and remain a courageous role model for the rest of the soldiers. As hard as
it was for him to step up and be a brave soldier and deal with the many tragedies that were
occurring, he had to face the fact that this is how it was and how it always would be.
When Ollie discharged from the army, he felt as if he was sitting on top of the world
because he now had what he always wanted, free time. He was able to take a break from the
world and relax for a few months. In these few months, Ollie thought hard about his transition
into civilian life again. What was he to do now that the war was over?
Many people in the world have dreams, dreams as big as going to the moon or becoming
a millionaire. But Ollie? His dreams were less complicated. All he wanted was just one job to
provide for himself, this was his one and only American Dream. After he got out of the Army, he
had his free time, but he would think to himself, I need a job. He was happy to be free but was
he really free? He had money that he received from the Army, but it wasnt enough. Also, his
race had an effect on his ability to exceed in life. When asked what race he was, Ollie described
himself as, Some say colored, some say Negro and some say Black. Im all three of em. With
his head down and tears running down his cheeks, Ollie grew angry because he strongly felt,
with all his heart, that this was the exact reason why it was so hard for him to get a job.
Discriminated each and every day was a challenge he had to face. He still clearly remembers the
day where he went into town to receive a flu shot where he saw whites at the front of the line but
all of the blacks, including him, were sent to the back of the line. This hit him hard because he
knew that he had a disadvantage because of his race. He never knew life could be this unfair.

It is disappointing that it was like this, but segregation issues made it harder for some
people to achieve their American Dream. Blacks were not allowed to marry, use the same
bathroom, or even be near a white person. The average African American male wasn't given as
many job opportunities as others. The ones that were given to them were jobs that didn't make
very much money. But Whites had various amounts of job opportunities to chose from after
WWII. On the other hand, middle class families had many advantages available for themselves.
After high school, many middle class men and women had a variety of job opportunities to chose
from and their own personal version of the American Dream which was the dream of a big house
with a white picket fence, a hardworking husband and perhaps two children that are able to
receive a good education. Some people just wanted simple dreams, a house and enough income
to make a living. The 1950s was also an era of great conflict. For example, the nascent civil
rights movement(http://www.history.com/topics).
During this period of time, segregation was definitely a huge issue. It is important to understand
that segregation did not begin in this decade, it is an issue that has always been around. Although
segregation took a toll on this decade, the 50s was when more opportunities were offered to the
people, but just not accessible to everyone.
Through all of his difficult times, Ollie finally found peace within himself. He was able to
come home and surprisingly, lift his arms into the sky to thank God for all he has done because
he was now blessed with the opportunity to get his first job, washing dishes. Little did he know
that he would later be promoted to a cook. Going to the army was a gateway for opportunity and
a step to achieving his American Dream. He achieved his dream, but it took a very long time.
This wasn't anything new to him because he understood that Americans will never be treated
equally simply because everything depended on how much money you had, your race, and where
you came from. Not having as much money, Ollie would always see people with more than him
as the type who could achieve big dreams, and people with less, would struggle. By saying this,
he was specifically talking about those of color. If everyone was equal, so many innocent young
black males wouldn't get killed. Racism is still alive and always will be, said Ollie as he gave a
look that was slightly discouraging.
While there were many rough moments in Ollies life, one memory will forever be
engraved in his heart. Looking back on all he has been through, he had a flashback to a special
day, the day he was born. His mother told him that as she was carrying his precious body in her
stomach, the doctor told her that Ollie wouldnt make it. Despite all of the negative outcomes
that could have happened, his mother overlooked them and birthed him anyway, and here he is
today, a strong ninety one year old man. This was only one of the few times someone doubted
him. There were times where he doubted himself as well, patiently waiting to escape from his old
life. In the end, he proved not only others wrong but himself also. Yes, he accomplished his main
dream of getting a job, but he also achieved an even more beautiful dream. Ollie is now enjoying
life more than ever. He is having a fantastic time because he is still alive and feels that he has no
reason to complain. Ninety-one years old, Ollie feels blessed with the opportunity to be able to
move around and walk on both feet. He is still able to communicate, love and appreciate his
family. He is proud to have children and even grandchildren and is thankful for the opportunity
to have a chance at life. This was his definition of the perfect American Dream. It was what he
spent his whole life waiting to achieve, and that is exactly what he did.

During this decade, not only were people searching for equality, but many Americans
were eager to start a family because the idea of a life full of peace and prosperity was stuck deep
in their minds. This time was known as the Baby Boom. During the Baby Boom, rates of
unemployment and inflation were low, and wages were high. Middle class people had more more
money to spend than ever and because the variety and availability of consumer goods expanded
along with the economy, they also had more things to buy (history.com). Ollie Beene shared in
that same experience. As a participant in the Baby Boom era, Ollie also felt the pressure to start a
family of his own. Once he started a family, he knew he had to step up to the plate and be a man,
which meant becoming independent. He now had to do everything he could to provide for his
loved ones even though money was tight.
Along with having to be an independent person, Ollie knew that there would be many
factors that can differ his path from the mainstream American Dream version.The men were the
ones who were expected to work outside of the house and provide for the family, while a
majority of the women did housework. So Ollie definitely had a hard life not only as an African
American, but also as an African American man. But he pushed through his struggles and got
what he always wanted from life. It took a while, but he was still able to make it happen. He
looks at how far hes come, and with a huge smile on his face, can say that he has lived a life
with absolutely no regrets.
There are many situations that can distract oneself from achieving their American Dream.
Both Ollie, Mary Henderson and Eva Portella, despite their differences, had many similarities
that allowed them to achieve their American Dream. Both of their dreams had a specific level of
simplicity. In 2015, most people have dreams of gaining wealth, having a large house, kids, and
attending college, but it was way different for people during the 1950s. The two of them, Ollie
and Mary, wanted one job and wanted a family of their own. World War II had a negative and
major effect on Ollie and Mary. Although World War II scared them with nightmares, on a
positive note, the war was able to teach them to never settle for less. Finding a job was their main
dream and they both were able to pursue it.
The American Dream in the 1950s was simple, but so precious at the same time.
However, many opportunities that were offered, depended on your race and wherever you come
from. Anyone can achieve their American Dream, whether it's simple or complex, but the
question is, how hard are you willing to work for it? With the perseverance and dedication, Ollie
believes that anyone can achieve their own American Dream.
Mia Schummer
Mary Hedderson, a strong, determined 94 year old woman, had always dreamed of
getting married and raising a family. That was her personal American Dream. It was the common
dream for people to want to get a job and start a family. For a white female in the 1950s, that
dream seemed very accessible and almost easy to reach. Though, Mary did have to go through
difficult times that came along with the aftermath of World War II, Mary Hedderson has found
herself living in a state of peace and feeling as though she has accomplished her biggest dreams.

Born and raised in the busy city streets of New York, Mary Hedderson started working at
the age of 18. She was ecstatic and could feel the triumph of getting her first job as a secretary.
Graduating high school was her turning point; she became independent. She could feel the
weight of having to get things done for herself. Long days and tired eyes were soon to come her
way. Mary had earlier taken a business class that well prepared her for working in this type of
environment. Though there were plenty jobs open in New York when she was 16, Mary was
already dealing with huge amounts of stress while getting through WWII which made it difficult
for her to handle a job at the young age of 16. Mary describes the war as a horrid time and her
most difficult challenge in life. As her friends moved away and the men were off fighting in war,
she felt a wave of sadness take over. She could feel the emptiness of her closests friends leaving
her and feeling alone. She knew she had to work even harder to achieve anything that she
wanted. Since all the men were gone, job opportunities were flooding through the streets.
Women started working during the war and started providing for themselves. The usual image of
the wife staying home to cook and clean for the children was starting to change. Women started
to gain more respect from working and taking care of their own families. Mary noticed this
change first hand; she was part of it. She admired the way women were putting forth their
strongest effort to accomplish the jobs that were associated with men. Women were able to strive
for bigger and better because they were starting to become needed in society with all the men
gone. As women started to work, this was when Mary realized her reality; the American Dream
wasnt given to anyone, you had to work for it. Luckily for Mary, she was eager to start working.
As the days continued to pass, Mary felt the rush of working and she knew that she was
working towards her dream of having her own family someday. Everything started to feel real
and the adult life was starting to become her reality. Not ever having a job before, this was a
whole new world for Mary. She had to develop her own style of managing the everlasting stress
of the war and the responsibility of working and going to night school. She did get through it
well enough; pulling through with an associate's degree which could open a lot more doors for
Mary. Even with all these opportunities, she did not push herself further to try to achieve an even
bigger goal of hers; to become a doctor. She often wishes that she would have strived for more in
her life. She was on the right track with having a steady job as a secretary and attending college,
but Mary never quite achieved that one goal. She knew that she could have became a doctor if
she worked towards it but since women back then had a tendency to settle for less, Mary found
herself falling into the same pattern of most women at that time. Though the regret doesnt hold
Mary back, she still looks at her past and the regret is still there.
Times were hard living in the middle class at this time and she believes that women back
then didnt develop to their potential. Because jobs were offered left and right during and after
the war, women would just take any job at hand. Though women had the education and ability to
reach almost any goal of theirs, it was the norm for women to not push themselves as far as they
could. But rather than dwelling on what she could have done, Mary chooses to be content where
she is in life and the things she did well.

After what seemed like a lifetime of endless fighting and warfare, during the year of
1945, World War II was finally over. Things immediately began to change. The economy was
stronger and there was more money than ever before and plenty of opportunities for both men
and women. Mary described this time as the good times and the better life. Though many
people moved away during the war, and there was still a level of strain while getting over the
war, America was better than it had been in a long time. After the war, Mary found herself still
working hard and continuing to reach her dream of having a family.
Growing up with friends of mostly the same race and religion can often feel safe and
welcoming. You have a sense of security and dont have to worry too much about others judging
you because you are typically quite similar. That was Marys experience. All her friends were
mostly white and were all Catholic. They all had the same hopes and dreams- to raise a big
family and feel the joy of watching their kids grow up, get married to someone they love, and
live a long and happy life. Mary definitely reached her goal of having a big family. She has 13
grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren that she has loved like her own. Mary says that back
then it was very common for Catholics to have large families and thats exactly what Mary had.
To 94 year old Mary Hedderson, the American Dream was and is still along the same
lines since the 1950s; if you are willing to work as hard as you need to reach it, then you can.
Mary views the American Dream as more of a mindset. If you put in the hard work and have the
passion and dedication to your dreams, then anyone can achieve whatever it is they strive to do
in life and that hard work and determination can make the big difference. So if you are not
determined enough to reach a goal but you have all the opportunities given to you, you wont
achieve that goal. Mary also feels that jobs play one of the biggest roles in your American
Dream. She states that jobs control our lives, because you cant really do anything without a
good job. She also believes that getting the right education to be able to get a solid job is also one
of the most important steps in reaching any dream.
Starting a family and having a stable job was the same dream for pretty much everyone
no matter what race. Though the journey towards reaching that dream may have been affected by
race, the American Dream was still there for all and anyone could reach it. Not only race but
many other factors did play into someone achieving their American Dream, such as where you
come from. For Mary Hedderson, living in New York was a good place to pursue the American
Dream. Lots of jobs were available to people in New York because of the high population, which
made it easier to be able to provide for a family. In contrast, Ollie Beene grew up in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. There werent many opportunities available for him there which put a heavy strain on
trying to reach his American Dream. Though the American Dream was seen as very simple, there
was always going to be different challenges for everyone.
Where you end in life is all dependent on how much effort and work you put into your
goals and aspirations. Getting insight into Mary Heddersons life and all of her achievements and

regrets, the thing that everything came down to was how much work you put in. Mary reached
her most important dream of having a job by working hard in school and she reached her dream
of having a family because she was able to provide for them with her job. Mary still has regrets
of not pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor, but she knows now that she would have been
able to make that dream a reality if she had pushed herself a little harder.
Since the war was over and all the stress was released, people had a sense of peace.
Everyone was starting to become more grateful and happy for the simple things in life. The war
shaped the American Dream for everyone. A job and a family was all that anyone could have
asked. Family was valued more because the war showed that people can come and go at any
given time. There was a sense of unity during this era because everyone was doing what they
could to make life easier. Though experiences differed from person to person, the 1950s had a
big impact on people's work ethics. People started working harder and putting their full effort in
everything they did. Adolescents and young adults back then took on a lot more responsibility
than those of today because a lot of things are just handed to people. Mary still continued to
work towards her own dream despite the many struggles that the war brought on. She had a
dream that she wanted to accomplish and she did just that. Many people started becoming
independent at a pretty young age of 18 and even younger. People looked at family as the most
important thing in life rather than materialistic things. Mary Hedderson had a simple dream and
to her, a family was enough to make her happy.
Kristen Tenanty
Its not my dream, its my reality. she said with a look of absolute certainty, wide eyed
and brave faced. Eva Portella was born on April 2nd, 1934 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. She grew
up told what she was capable of succeeding. She exceeded the expectations tremendously
through the woman she grew to be, the impact she had then, and the influence she is still having
now. Eva grew up in a strict household that lost its foundation when her father met the bottle.
She said that he drank the house, and lost it to gambling, with a melancholy look across her
delicate face. In 1954, she had to leave her home in Brazil to receive a serious skin graft back
surgery that could only be done in the United States. She had swallowed a needle at the dentist
and when she was getting the procedure to remove it, she got an x ray burn because the x ray was
left on her skin for two hours. After healing from her surgery, she met her husband at the the
Brazilian Consul and stayed in America. Her American dream was her reality, it was a back
injury and a lover, and now its home.
The dream Eva had was the opportunities she was given, the decisions she made.I
always had a choice. They were enough to make me a very happy and lucky person., she
explained, when speaking of her American Lifestyle and ambitions. She was given a say in what
she did, where she went. But that's not how it began. After growing up in a household that went
from picture perfect to a broken family, she lost a piece of herself. The idea of a perfect life was
one she couldnt find comfort in, because she no longer had hers. Her father loved the bottle
more than he did his wife and children. His affair was with alcoholism. Eva began to take her life
into her own hands, and relied on herself from a young age. Once she finished school, Eva
became a teacher. Up until her accident, she was truly happy with the life she lived and the

person she was growing into. Then, she hurt her back in a way that Brazilian medics still couldn't
fix. So she took all the money she had, and went to the famous New York City, to receive the
operation. She was wallowing in a hospital where conversation was a memory, and English was
her enemy.
Brazil was so far behind in so many ways compared to America. Therefore, her surgery
could only be done in the US, but that included her staying in a hospital bed for weeks, where
she was incapable of truly communicating with anyone besides the white walls that kept her
company. So she travelled all alone, and experienced a loneliness like never before. Eva
explained how she was unable to tell day from night in the city that never slept. The lights never
went out, the sun never went down, and she didn't understand it. Her arms couldn't move, but the
nurses dropped off her meals as if she was fully functioning. She didnt know how to ask for
help, so she didnt get any. She spent weeks lost in a reality that wasn't hers, that she didnt ever
want to be hers. When she was finally released from the hospital, she went to the Brazilian
Consul, where she was finally understood. Where everything was not, for the first time in weeks,
a stranger. Where she met her soon to be husband. She fell for him fast, or for the city. New York
was the lover that never left. He was a familiar face in an unfamiliar place. He shared a sense of
understanding, having been Brazilian, which brought them together. They were soon married
with three children, and one on the way.
Eva adapted to the role of a typical American housewife, as she was expected to. She did
her best to implement the influence of the US in all that she did every day, and complied with the
tasks meant to better the life of her husband. She dressed the way Americans did and cooked
American meals, and did everything that a maid would do in Brazil. But it wasn't enough for
him. Because that's when he left. He said that it was business, that it was just a trip, but he never
came back. Eventually after waiting on his return, the house got evicted and she relied on her
friend from church to take her in. Until she gave birth to her fourth child, she worked around
houses as a maid or nanny, sewed, and took care of children. She knew that there would be no
way she could afford to work and have a sitter for her children, so she contacted her parents and
with their support, moved back to Brazil. Her children stayed with her parents in their two
bedroom apartment. Their neighbour, a complete stranger, opened up her house to Eva and
allowed her to stay there for a few months. After a series of job interviews, she climbed her way
up the work ladder at IBM, a popular company back then. They lived in poverty, but happily. Eva
managed to get a scholarship, due to her financial state, for all four of her children to go to
private school where they got the best education they could. Two of her children went to an
American Brazilian school, and pursued college in the US. After a while, the other two decided
to follow the American dream, and its promising better economy. And so, with her pride and joy
overseas, she decided to go back and call America home once again, after she retired.
The dream that was, and still is Evas life, is carried out in America. Despite the fact she
may have not planned for her life to follow the road it did, she is full of appreciation for all that
she has done and all that she has. The truth is, her dream was never dreamt. Her dream is the life
she lives every day. She may not have described America as all that it is seen for, but she has
made it her home for decades. She made it the home for her children, and it will continue to
provide dreams for all of her family to come.
There were many differences between the Brazilian life Eva led and the American
lifestyle that she became accustomed to.When she left Brazil in the 50s, she avoided a period of

recession that began in the 60s. The recession occurred because the military dictatorship that
took place caused trouble for around twenty years throughout Brazil. The role she took when she
began her life in the US was the suburban typical housewife. She was expected to create an
environment that was positive for her husband in everything she and he did. In a reflection of her
position as a housewife, one woman described the ironic expectations she was meant to meet.
Life was seemingly carefree in the easy-does-it-beauty-without- buffing-self- polishing-washand-wear-fast acting-no-bending-no-stretching- no-scrubbing-no-rubbing- magically-carefreepush-button world that was the American housewifes world, she felt like a Queen. The
American housewife in the 1950s was strictly home and family oriented. Women were expected
look and act as their husbands and other expected. Her job was to bare children, mother them, be
a good wife, and care for the house. Most men are hungry when they come home and the
prospect of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed, according to an essay included
in the Home Economics High School Text Book from 1954 titled How to be a Good Wife.
From childhood, women were told what they were meant to do and how they were expected to
act. They were a part of a man's world, and they should behave that way. Evas spoke of her
duties as a wife in a way that all surrounded the happiness of her husband, as well as his well
being. Her idea of a marriage was redefined in her move to America. Everything that was normal
no longer existed. Brazilian households were much less dependent on the role of the wife and her
duties. She recalled having been surrounded by maids her entire upbringing, and expected to rely
on them when the time came for her to become a wife. Although the outcome was not as she
imagined, Eva was raised to please a man in Brazil. The things she was told to do in America
may have been different, but she wasn't brought up to believe in herself. She was raised to
believe in men, and do what it took to ensure husband's happiness Her experience was different
than she expected it to be, but she complied to her new life and followed the guidelines
implicated by the American lifestyle.
Brazil, although it was beautiful, was somewhat behind in the 1950s. American influence
was everywhere and became a huge contribution the world Eva Portella grew up in. She may not
have been directly in America as a child, but the role it played in Brazilian culture was enough
for Eva to understand that Brazil was not as advanced as America. She lived in wealth, which
was completely different than the wealthy life of an American . As she grew up, she was very
privileged to be in the upper class that existed in Brazil. Before her father lost their house, life
was s. When her injury caused her to go to America, she realized just how lucky she was, and
gave thanks. It was like a whole new world... new people, new everything. Although there was
an abundance of wealthy people in Brazil, the wealthy class of Brazil was not the wealthy class
of the Americas. She said that the Cities of Brazil were like small towns, when compared to the
cities of America. In Brazil, the lights went out when the sun did, and the city was asleep. In the
US, everything was always alive and moving. Lights spread across the night's sky in a way that
was foreign to Eva. After she was released from the hospital, she was finally able to taste the new
things around her. Wonder filled her eyes as she looked into the past to explain how foreign the
tall buildings and city lights were to her. It sounded like more of a dream and less a reality. She
said that the whole setting of the United States made her more vulnerable to romance. New York
was her City of love.
Maybe she was in a trance and more in love with the city than with the man. She had
jumped into what seemed an alternative reality, so she didnt leave. She put up her hair and got to
work as the typical housewife America expected her to be. Making the home fit for the man,

rather than the reality. She became someone she wasnt in a world that wasn't hers. When
explaining her responsibilities, she mentioned keeping the children quiet and feeding the
husband, as well as other roles that she was foreign to filling. Just a few of the responsibilities
that she was expected to always follow through with, day in and day out. Despite the mask she
put on, it didnt seem enough. She didn't feel enough. So when her husband left her, she began to
prepare to go back to Brazil, back home. Despite the lens that the American life is perceived
with, she wasnt capable of living under the guidelines laid out to her by society. The wife she
should have been was not the person she was, and therefor Eva took her four children back to
Brazil. What brought her back was not the dream, but rather her children. She returned to the
land of the brave because her children set out to achieve the dream for themselves, and she was
there to support them along the way. America may not of been her ideal dream, but to this day, it
is her home.
The America that welcomed Eva with open arms is the same America that she came back
to. It has been there for her throughout all her times of struggle and need, some times more than
others. Eva Portella came here and intended for it to all be temporary. She now has made
America a friend and a home. She never meant to fall in love with the City lights or the busy
streets, but now they are all she knows. All she wants. America. Her home. Her decision.