Abstract
Eileen is an English major from a military family near Fort Devens in Ayer, Massachusetts. Her interest in vintage fashion led her to research representations of women in early 20th century advertisements for the Maidenform bra for her Composition II class. Impressed by the beautiful artwork she discovered in these depictions, Eileen was intrigued by the portrayals of women in roles that were traditionally held by men. Her essay explores how “these ads fed women’s desires for the gender norm dictates of that post-war time in America [and] went beyond these norms by depicting aspirational scenarios.” Eileen lives in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and works full time as a legal specialist in the financial services industry. In her spare time you will find her enjoying photography, biking, historical biographies and music.
Recommended Citation
Riley, Eileen M.
(2026)
"It All Begins With A Dream,"
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition: Vol. 1:
Iss.
1, Article 6.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/undercurrents/vol1/iss1/6
Included in
Creative Writing Commons, English Language and Literature Commons, Rhetoric and Composition Commons