"A woman's place in public is to sit beside her husband, be silent, and be sure her hat is on straight"

In this quote, Bess Truman is revealing the traditional social expectations for females in public spaces. She recommends that a female's role is to be a helpful companion to her partner, staying quiet and not accentuating herself. The reference of guaranteeing her hat is on straight might signify the need for women to maintain a specific look and uphold societal standards. This quote shows the gender roles and expectations that were prevalent during Bess Truman's time, where females were frequently expected to be subservient to their other halves and conform to societal requirements of womanhood.