Choosing a Career - The Romance Comic Book Way!
Romance comics are filled with stories of career girls -- actresses, flight attendants, nurses, secretaries. All glamorized occupations which promised readers not only a salary but perhaps a man as well. Charlton's Career Girl Romances took it a step further with a semi-regular text article entitled, "Choosing a Career." Written by advice columnist, Jeannette Copeland, these articles are straight-to-the-point and detail the various opportunities within the mentioned fields, as well as the education and training necessary for each.
Modeling is a rather "traditionally" female occupation and was often featured in romance stories as a ticket to freedom and style. Though a rather predictable career option to feature in a romance comic, this article has some good information concerning salary ($85 to $90 a week, approximately $470 in 2010) and fall back options for models -- typing and shorthand.
An article on modeling is to be expected, but how about an article on becoming a Female Sky Marshal? Bet you weren't expecting that! Do yourself a favor and read this -- it is terribly interesting from a historical perspective and a little eerie too, in light of the recent events of the past decade.
The final "Choosing a Career" article this evening (courtesy of Mykal Banta) presents two career choices that couldn't be more different -- Federal Architect and Entomologist. Though they may seem like random choices for one article, they both demonstrate ways in which educated women could enter into the ranks of Federal employment.
I was really excited to read these articles in Career Girl Romances as they are rather divergent from the usual sequential romance stories of working girls. Though a tad dry, Ms. Copeland and the gang from Charlton gave young women career ideas and options that provided alternatives to nursing, secretarial work, and other female-centric vocations.
If I find any more of these gems, I will be sure to share! They are such great snippets documenting attitudes of women in the workforce in the '70s, and I don't want any of you to miss out! Ya know -- just in case you were thinking of a career change!