What We Really Miss About The 1950s In her essay, “What We Really Miss About the 1950s”, Stephany Coontz talks about the myth of the 1950s. She begins her argument by stating some reasons why the nostalgia for the 1950s exists. The main thing Americans miss about the those days is the stability. She acknowledges that this fallacy is not insane. She bases her information on facts and historical evidence. Coontz discusses that jobs, marriage, birthrate and education were at very high points in the 1950s. Jobs were secure and came with great benefits. Coontz describes that when one takes a closer look at the 1950s they will realize that comparing it to the 1990s or the 21st century is absurd. Coontz also explains that the social society during the 1950s was different than the social society we have today. Racism was also a huge factor that seems to be hid by the appearance of the 1950s. African American and Latino families received no support from the government. Discrimination was widespread. Coontz explains that the sexism …show more content…
Racial confrontations were present in the 1950s, sometimes escalating into full-scale anti-black riots. Most of white Americans in 1950s ignored larger patterns of racial and political repression. because at the time, the media was not responding to any of them, creating the ignorant culture of the 1950s remembered as innocent. That decade was built on illusion perpetuated by the entertainment media. Coontz states the fact that these humorous television programs did not reflect the reality, but rather what, at the time, was the should be style of life for the white family. Those programs were used as a parenting tool and shaped the American culture, even more that same culture brought a social atmosphere in favor of males and in disfavor of the females. As a final point, the media is responsible for the 1950s decade's image of the perfect American life, total
Those who grew up during the 1950s experienced one of the most influential decades in American history. After World War II, the 50’s was a calm and peaceful era and the society had no worries because the economy was rising which made it easier for people to be involved in the workforce. This was the decade that started rock and roll music, the introduction of the television, and transistor radios. The greatest long-term impact was the rise of rock and roll music. Rock and roll music allowed people to escape the seriousness of reality and get loose.
Many historians view the 1950s as an era of prosperity, conformity, and consensus, and view the 1960s as turbulences, protest, and disillusionment. I agree with many historians and their point of view to this era. Socially speaking, although the Civil Rights movement had started roughly around 1954, the 1960s was the period where the Civil Rights movement skyrocket. The 1950s were viewed as a prosperous and conformist for the reason of the development of the suburbs.
In Stephanie Coontz article title "What We Really Miss About The 1950s" Sourced by the book "Rereading America" she seeks to provide insight and critical analysis into why the 1950s are so highly esteemed today and why they are so missed. Coontz sees herself as being well equipped as well as suitably verse in the elements that configure the 1900s. She even goes as far as to use a personal experience from her life during that time to give the reader a deeper understanding into the societal norms that made up the 1950s. It is quickly made evident that Coontz takes her work serious and personal. In Coontz's analysis she used a multitude of factors surrounding the struggles as well as the triumphs experienced in the 50s and in doing so she gives a wide range
The 1950s gave rise to strict social norms, the civil rights movement, the Beat generation and McCarthyism. The 1950s and the 1960s were more prosperous for some more than others. With the economy booming people were more inclined to buy more goods.(Doc C) The Black community was barred from the same opportunities as white people. While whites moved into the suburbs blacks moved to the inner cities.(Doc B)
Nearly 30 years later, the characteristics of the 1920s are present in repeating economic, political, and even social circumstances in the 1950s. Many portions of American history were transformed throughout these two memorable time periods, as the saying "history repeats itself" states. Looking back on the flourishing 1920s, many were relieved that the war was over and that life could return to normal. What happened in the 1950s was no different. The postwar prosperity and civil rights movement are the most widely recognized periods of these times.
During the 1950s and 1960s, America was a stormy place to reside in. There were many major events that occurred, including the the rise and fall of two major leaders in the African American community, Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During this time period, America was involved in the Cold War, along with the war in Vietnam, and the Civil Rights Movement. In the Civil Rights Movement, two very influential men had two very different ways in which the country should be integrated.
Before the 1950s, there were issues that were not formally addressed beforehand. It could be stated that people ignored the truth that “they would have to someday work in the fields to secure food.” The food is the equality that was given to them by divine rule. However, that equality was yet an illusion as there were minorities who cried for civil rights movements. Issues of white supremacy around the US surfaced around the mid 1950s and scuffles took place.
2 It is essential to go back to the fifties to be able to understand the sixties historically and sociologically. The fifties brought relief since the Depression and war were over, and now “science was mobilized by industry, and capital was channeled by government as never before.” 3 This new affluence gave the United States the ability to create suburbia and conform to moving in. This affected the sixties because conformity resulted in people rebelling.
In the 1950’s the decade had provided the popular belief of “Leave it to Beaver” image of the era. That could be described as the peaceful, prosperous, and smooth sailing of the stereotypical characteristic of all people living in this time period. But, as stereotypes may be looked upon as facts, this was not the case at all. Though, the 1950’s may seem like a peaceful era, it was much more complex than that, the 1950s did not always match up with this popular image.
As World War II came to an end, the United States entered the 50s. This decade became a major influential time that brought many cultural and societal changes. Categories such as the economy, where a boom in new products increased, the technology world which incorporated new medicines and computers, entertainment when the television became popular and the overall lifestyles that Americans adapted to. All of these topics reshaped and created several advancements throughout society during the 1950s.
Some contrasts between the two would be along the lines of like schools in the 1950’s were segregated, but in today’s society not so much. Schools in the 1950’s were strictly for whites; no other races could integrate those schools. The other non-white children were put into different schools farther away from the ‘’privileged children’’. Meanwhile majority of schools aren’t segregated like they were back then. The quote ‘’ But union officials say conditions have become impossible.
The 1950s within the United States of Americas was categorized as a formalist and lucrative for numerous purposes. The United States was un-doubly the planet’s strongest military power. The initial and highly extensive of these reasons which led to such a glorious age was the postwar-baby boom. Following World War II, an abundant amount of Americans wanted to have children after the US obtained glory. They felt that the following years upon
During the 1950s and 60s, education was an extremely important aspect of American life and culture. Through education, women were able to do more than just take care of the housework. An education enabled women to break free from their traditional roles. It made it possible for them to play a part in the government. Women had more knowledge about the issues that were occurring around them.
The text states that the postwar era consisted of two distinct phases (Sivulka, 2012). The first phase known as the fabulous fifties lasted until 1953 (Sivulka, 2012). The war had just ended and service men returned home. Rationing had just stopped, and people made up for lost time by purchasing. The next phase is known as the atomic age.
In general economic terms, the 1950s was a comparatively stale and uneventful era, which helps to explain why the domestic economy did not experience any major difficulties or advances. There was some significant occurrences and trends that were important during the 1950s that were important then and as a contributor for future events. Even though the 1950s saw an uneventful era, the economy did see some gradual growth which led to the United States being at peak economic strength in the early 1960s (“1950s Economics,” n.d.). The impact of the 1950s monetary policy allowed the decade to be relatively stable and an uneventful era.