Beth Bailey (historian)

Beth Bailey is an American historian specializing in the history of the United States from World War II to the present, with a particular focus on social, cultural, and military history. She is recognized for her work on the changing nature of American courtship, marriage, and family life, as well as the social and cultural impact of the military on American society.

Bailey received her Ph.D. in American History from the University of Chicago. She has held teaching positions at various institutions and is currently a Foundation Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Kansas.

Her published works include:

• From Front Porch to Back Seat: Courtship in Twentieth-Century America (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1988) - This book examines the shift in courtship rituals in the United States during the 20th century, tracing the transition from public, family-centered activities to more private, peer-driven dating practices.

• Sex in the Heartland (Harvard University Press, 1999) - This work explores the changing attitudes and behaviors surrounding sex in the Midwestern United States, focusing on the period after World War II.

• America's Army: Making the All-Volunteer Force (Harvard University Press, 2009) - This book examines the origins and development of the all-volunteer army in the United States, analyzing its social, political, and cultural consequences.

• Reagan's Army: Gender and the Military in the 1980s (Harvard University Press, 2021) - This study analyzes the evolving role of women in the U.S. military during the Reagan era.

Bailey's research has contributed significantly to the understanding of American social and cultural history, particularly in relation to gender, sexuality, and the military. She is frequently sought out as an expert commentator on these topics.