time period
Fefu and Her Friends was first performed in 1977. While Maria Irene Fornes technically began developing the play in 1964, the bulk of the play was written in the 1970s, with the full script being completed only four days before opening night.
The world of Fefu is set in the 1930s--the decade in which Fornes was born.
Fornes said that her choice to set Fefu in the 1930s reflected her affinity for the period, particularly because it was "pre-Freud." She explained that people were more trusting of each other and did not always assume ulterior motives or hidden intentions that needed deep interpretations. "People accepted each other at face value," she said.
videos
This comprehensive video gives some context to the state of the world in the U.S. in the 1930s, particularly for women. After gaining the right to vote in 1920, and the era of the Flapper, the Great Depression further revealed the rampant sexism that still existed in the workforce and U.S. culture overall.
Sources
Fornes, Maria Irene. Fefu and Her Friends, New, Expanded Edition. PAJ Publications, 2017.