The American Dream included things for people of all types. For men, it was ideal to get a white-collar job, or clerical, managerial, or professional occupations. Unlike blue-collar jobs, white-collar workers tended to work in sales and advertising. White-collar jobs also paid more. However, this financial security came with a price. Businesses do not like creative thinkers or rebels. This created a loss of individuality for individuals.
For women, the role of a homemaker and mother was glorified in the 1950s. It was the dream of many women to work at home and become the "keeper" of the family. However, this led to dissatisfaction among some women. The boredom of being at home and the lack of fulfillment in their lives caused more and more women to work outside of home. Even so, jobs for women outside of the house were limited to nursing, teaching, and office support. Women were also paid less for the same amount of work.
In addition to creating ideals for men and women, the 1950s introduced teenagers to the world. With the conformity of life and the increased usage of television, young adults deviated from the ways of their parents and formed a culture of their own. With icons like James Dean, Marlon Brando, and Elvis Presley, teenagers popularized rebelliousness, having fun, and rock 'n' roll.
Of course, culture of the 1950s could not have flourished without the use of cars. During this decade, the creation of new suburbs made owning a car a necessity. This caused the automotive industry to flourish, stimulating production and providing jobs in related areas. Drive-in movies, drive-thru franchises, restaurants, and shopping malls became popular. However, this automania was also deadly. Car accidents increased every year, and traffic jams raised stress levels. The necessity of cars also created a wider gap between the middle class and the poor.
The culture of the 1950s was influenced by the need for conformity and economic stability. This caused men to want white-collar jobs, women to want to become homemakers and mothers, and teenagers to rebel from the conformity that their parents liked. All this is supported and emphasized by the availability of automobiles.
- Angela
- Angela
2 comments:
I liked how your explanation of the 1950's sufficiently covered what individuals were feeling at the time, while also discussing important industries that were a part of everyday life. To me, this is exactly what culture embodies.
Nice brief description of what happened int he 1950's. A few small grammar mistakes but nothing too grave. Some photos would complement this posting perfectly.
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