As her relationship with Michael progresses, Gloria concludes that her father is wrong about a lot of things and sides with her husband's liberal beliefs.

[3][4] With Michael attending college, initially for a bachelor's degree and then continuing for his master's, Gloria works full-time at a department store.

[1] The Stivic marriage is tested after Gloria engages in an affair with Bud Kreeger, a college faculty colleague of her husband.

Gloria confesses this affair to her parents, while remaining silent about sleeping with him, during Archie and Edith's Christmas visit to California.

Eventually, Michael abandons his wife and son to join a commune with one of his students, betraying a promise he makes to Archie before leaving for California that he will always take care of Gloria and Joey.