Kōrero: City history and people

For most of the 20th century, the stay-at-home mother was a shining emblem of suburban life. While many mothers were happy with their lot, by the 1960s a growing number were not. This was particularly true in new suburbs on city fringes, which often lacked the social amenities and diversity of older settlements. Some women found mothering a burden and felt trapped in their homes – a condition known as suburban neurosis. Some found an escape in alcohol or prescription drugs. In this 1971 film clip, a young Wellington mother expresses a longing for adult company and the stimulation of paid work.