The State of the American Woman

Then: "My first priority is my family and my husband's work," she told TIME in 1972. Looking back over 65 years in a marriage she describes as a "partnership," Lauretta Galligan wouldn't change a thing. She's proud of her six granddaughters, who have more options than she did: one has taught in Spain, another is studying in China, and a third has worked in Alaska and Africa. "They can do anything," Galligan says, but balancing career and family takes "good planning."

Now: 'It used to be that a man would be ashamed to be found in the kitchen ... Those old stereotypes have been buried forever. I think it's good that we got rid of most of them. I can't think of any that we'd want to hold on to.'

Watch the interview with Lauretta Galligan: