About the book
Throughout World War II, when Saturday nights came around, servicemen and hostesses happily forgot the war for a little while as they danced together in USO clubs, which served as havens of stability in a time of social, moral, and geographic upheaval. Meghan Winchell demonstrates that in addition to boosting soldier morale, the USO acted as an architect of the gender roles and sexual codes that shaped the “greatest generation.”
Combining archival research with extensive firsthand accounts from among the hundreds of thousands of female USO volunteers, Winchell shows how the organization both reflected and shaped 1940s American society at large. The USO had hoped that respectable feminine companionship would limit venereal disease rates in the military. To that end, Winchell explains, USO recruitment practices characterized white middle-class women as sexually respectable, thus implying that the sexual behavior of working-class women and women of color was suspicious. In response, women of color sought to redefine the USO’s definition of beauty and respectability, challenging the USO’s vision of a home front that was free of racial, gender, and sexual conflict.
Despite clashes over class and racial ideologies of sex and respectability, Winchell finds that most hostesses benefited from the USO’s chaste image. In exploring the USO’s treatment of female volunteers, Winchell not only brings the hostesses' stories to light but also supplies a crucial missing piece for understanding the complex ways in which the war both destabilized and restored certain versions of social order.
Editions of Good Girls, Good Food, Good Fun
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807832370
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469624211
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469606194
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807887264
- EBook
- ISBN 9798893132861
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890882080
Read an Excerpt
Throughout World War II, when Saturday nights came around, servicemen and hostesses happily forgot the war for a little while as they danced together in USO clubs, which served as havens of stability in a time of social, moral, and geographic upheaval. Meghan Winchell demonstrates that in addition to boosting soldier morale, the USO acted as an architect of the gender roles and sexual codes that shaped the “greatest generation.”
Combining archival research with extensive firsthand accounts from among the hundreds of thousands of female USO volunteers, Winchell shows how the organization both reflected and shaped 1940s American society at large. The USO had hoped that respectable feminine companionship would limit venereal disease rates in the military. To that end, Winchell explains, USO recruitment practices characterized white middle-class women as sexually respectable, thus implying that the sexual behavior of working-class women and women of color was suspicious. In response, women of color sought to redefine the USO’s definition of beauty and respectability, challenging the USO’s vision of a home front that was free of racial, gender, and sexual conflict.
Despite clashes over class and racial ideologies of sex and respectability, Winchell finds that most hostesses benefited from the USO’s chaste image. In exploring the USO’s treatment of female volunteers, Winchell not only brings the hostesses' stories to light but also supplies a crucial missing piece for understanding the complex ways in which the war both destabilized and restored certain versions of social order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Good Girls, Good Food, Good Fun about?
Throughout World War II, when Saturday nights came around, servicemen and hostesses happily forgot the war for a little while as they danced together in USO clubs, which served as havens of stability in a time of social, moral, and geographic upheaval. Meghan Winchell demonstrates that in addition to boosting soldier morale, the USO acted as an architect of the gender roles and sexual codes that shaped the “greatest generation.”
Combining archival research with extensive firsthand accounts from among the hundreds of thousands of female USO volunteers, Winchell shows how the organization both reflected and shaped 1940s American society at large. The USO had hoped that respectable feminine companionship would limit venereal disease rates in the military. To that end, Winchell explains, USO recruitment practices characterized white middle-class women as sexually respectable, thus implying that the sexual behavior of working-class women and women of color was suspicious. In response, women of color sought to redefine the USO’s definition of beauty and respectability, challenging the USO’s vision of a home front that was free of racial, gender, and sexual conflict.
Despite clashes over class and racial ideologies of sex and respectability, Winchell finds that most hostesses benefited from the USO’s chaste image. In exploring the USO’s treatment of female volunteers, Winchell not only brings the hostesses' stories to light but also supplies a crucial missing piece for understanding the complex ways in which the war both destabilized and restored certain versions of social order.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Good Girls, Good Food, Good Fun?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Gender studies, gender groups > Gender studies: women and girls
Where can I read a sample of Good Girls, Good Food, Good Fun?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807832370
How long is Good Girls, Good Food, Good Fun and how many pages does it have?
Good Girls, Good Food, Good Fun has 272 page(s)
Is Good Girls, Good Food, Good Fun part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Gender and American Culture
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Good Girls, Good Food, Good Fun?
Meghan K. Winchell
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Good Girls, Good Food, Good Fun is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807832370) and paperback(ISBN 9781469624211) and ebook(ISBN 9781469606194) and ebook(ISBN 9780807887264) and ebook(ISBN 9798893132861) and pdf(ISBN 9798890882080)
Where can I buy Good Girls, Good Food, Good Fun online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Good Girls, Good Food, Good Fun from below
Where can I buy Good Girls, Good Food, Good Fun?