Special for Women

Special for Women (also known as Purex Specials for Women) is a drama/documentary anthology series broadcast on NBC from 1960 to 1965. It dramatized problems faced by everyday women, including menopause, sexual dysfunction and the feminine beauty ideal, followed by a discussion of that episode's topic with a panel of experts.

DocumentarySoapDrama

Seasons

1. The Cold Woman

Air Date: 1960-10-14

Leora Davis confronts her sexual frigidity with her husband, Charles.

2. The Trapped Housewife

Air Date: 1960-11-10

Wilhemina Ross realizes she is dissatisfied with her life as a housewife when she leaves a note for the milkman that reads 'Help.' She confronts this with her husband, Mike.

3. The Working Mother

Air Date: 1960-12-08

Laura Tyler has been accused of child neglect simply because she works a job in addition to raising children. With her husband, Ross, she confronts the existential issues around working women in society.

4. The Single Woman

Air Date: 1961-02-02

A troubled single woman is torn between a single man and an affair with a married man.

5. Mother and Daughter

Air Date: 1961-02-03

A mother and daughter, Ruth and Jeannie Evans, confront their mutual resentment of each other.

6. Change of Life

Air Date: 1961-04-13

As Minna Borden goes through menopause, she reflects on her life, her regrets and her missed opportunities.

7. What's Wrong with Men?

Air Date: 1961-10-19

Henry Fellow is dissatisfied with his office job and life in general. He confronts this with his wife, Helen.

8. The Glamour Trap

Air Date: 1961-11-16

Five women at a beauty salon face society's pressures to conform to the feminine beauty ideal.

9. The Lonely Woman

Air Date: 1962-01-08

Martha Sloan is married and has a full social life on the surface of things, but secretly, she deeply fears loneliness.

10. The Indiscriminate Woman

Air Date: 1962-02-01

A couple break off their engagement after the woman's promiscuity comes to light.

11. The Problem Child

Air Date: 1962-04-19

Reports that a nine-year-old has been pushed down a flight of stairs by his father leads to intervention by a social worker. Conflicting stories are heard in a Rashōmon-esque fashion, including from the mother. Investigations reveal that a wide range of social problems are at play.

12. A Child in Danger

Air Date: 1964-10-28

A female lawyer reluctantly defends a male client accused of child molestation.

13. The Menace of Age

Air Date: 1964-12-10

After she suffers a stroke, Barbara Lawson is suggested by her doctor that she and her husband Joe live with their daughter's family.

14. Just a Housewife

Air Date: 1965-02-26

Jacquie Hunter is sick of being thought of as 'just a housewife' and wishes to leave her husband Matt to work for a career-oriented woman.

Select an episode to start watching

Rating

6.3/10

Release Date

1960-10-14

Episodes

14 (1 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast

Production Companies

Universal Television