The late 1960s were a time of radical change in the United States. Young people—and, in particular, baby boomers (see entry under 1940s—The Way We Lived in volume 3), who were the middle-class offspring of the veterans of World War II (1939–45), and who had grown up amid the prosperity and conformity of the 1950s—were questioning the preordained paths their lives were supposed to take. It was assumed that males would complete college, find high-paying jobs, marry, and live in the suburbs (see entry under 1950s—The Way We Lived in volume 3) while commuting to work and supporting their wives and children. The very nature of their manhood depended on their being "good providers" for their families. Meanwhile, their wives would remain at home raising their offspring. For a woman, a career—and financial independence—would be out of the question. In order to fit...