In a display device utilizing ferroelectric (e.g., chiral, smectic C material), a stabilizing electric field perpendicular to the cell surfaces forces the molecules to orient themselves in one of two states both of which are parallel to the cell surfaces. A particular state is selected by a switching electric field also oriented perpendicular to the cell surfaces. The stabilizing field has a half-cycle time shorter than the switching time of the ferroelectric material, whereas the switching field duration is longer than or equal to the switching time of the material. The invention enables the use of relatively thick (e.g., .gtoreq.2 .mu.m) ferroelectric cells.