Rachel Lynn Geiger
December 13, 1996
AMST 205 Sec. 0201
Project 3

The effects that the cosmetic and skin-care industry had on the women of Greenbelt stretched far and wide. From the vain to the practical, these women each had reasons for "doing the routine" every morning. And whether those reason were of great importance or not by our standards today, they shaped the lives of the ladies and girls of this emerging town.

Just like most women around the country during this time, there was a need for glamour and stardom in the lives of the women of Greenbelt. Everywhere they turned there was a poster for Claudette Colbert or Greta Garbo. Magazines praised these women for their innovative "fresh" looks. What women would not want to look just like them, be just like them? The women of Greenbelt felt the same and according to the general public, the best way to emulate your favorite star was to buy the type of clothes she wore and the makeup she applied.

Magazines also dictated the norms of the decade as well. They told our Greenbelt women how to be the perfect wife, mother--how to be a perfect WOMAN. Not only did such qualities apply to subjects such as etiquette, parenting, and civic duties, as you might expect, this idealism was felt in the realm of fashion and cosmetics as well.

On a more local level, the women of Greenbelt were yearning for these codes and ideologies. As a whole, the women who helped create the roots of this community were originally from a harsh life in the post-Depression era. They were used to working as well as being a homemaker, a mother, and a wife. She learned very quickly how to make do with what she had and to never complain about her predicament. All of the sudden these women were taken out of their element. No longer were they forced to work, on the contrary, they were encouraged to do the opposite-- stay at home to raise the children and keep the home. After the initial euphoric response, the ladies of Greenbelt began to feel useless and bored.

To alleviate their own boredom they formed consumer groups, became newspaper writers, and as a whole became the eyes and ears of the community. They were able to discuss things that mattered to them and make a difference with the information they discovered. The cosmetic research was only the tip of the iceberg. Angela Willard further explores the "coming of age" experience in her exhibit on the Women in Greenbelt. She focuses on the Women's Club of Greenbelt, but also explores other organizations that lent to the expansion of women's roles in the Greenbelt community. As the women of Greenbelt began to carve a niche for themselves in the community, their roles and responsibilities augmented as well. The expansion of women's roles are also discussed in Dee Campo's Women's Roles Outside of the House in Greenbelt, Maryland between 1937 - 1945. In her exhibit, Campo explores women's involvement in activites such as the local schools, politics, as well as various clubs and orginizations. As these women settled into their new environment, it became quite evident, early on, that they were destined to do something great--something wonderful--something for themselves.