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Changes in American society wrought by World War II
Changes in women's role since 1945
Impact of World War 2 on American society
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Recommended: Changes in American society wrought by World War II
There is a huge difference between life in the United States as it is today and in the 1950s/1960s. The greatest change is the way in which people lived back then verses how they live today and there are many things that influence these changes. For example, after World War II ended, there was a large increase in childbirth throughout the United States. As a result of this, many Americans moved to the suburbs in hopes of a better life. This would create not only more job opportunities, but some leisure as well. There also has been a significant change in the roles that both men and women played in society in the 1950s/1960s verses today. For instance, women are no longer looked upon as just a “House Wife”. Back in the 1950s/1960s, after a woman started a family her main job was to take care of the household while the men …show more content…
The popular television culture both reflected and influenced the nation’s lifestyle. America, as a nation also believed that it was on the nuclear war edge. Americans were happy that they overcame the Second World War and put it behind them. In 1950, there were about twenty-four million children in America and by the 1960s that number had risen to thirty-five million. The increase in the rate of childbirth hyped the need for more houses, as larger families desired spacious residence. Most preferred the spacious residence as it provided enough room for their children to play in. In 1950, about 1.5 million new residences were established in America with most of them being located in the suburbs. Most people wanted to live in the suburbs as they thought there were better schools than in the city. Americans of today still prefer living in the suburbs verse city living. The major difference of today is the fact that city living now offers some of the same qualities you would have gotten in the suburbs. Such as spacious apartments for bigger families, better jobs and
One of the greatest transformations to American society was the mass migration of families from the inner cities to the suburbs. This was thought to make for a better quality of life and a stronger nuclear family. The migration led to the rebirth of American religion, which was associated with suburban living. Less than fifty percent of Americans belonged to specific churches before the onset of World War II, but by the middle of the 1950, this number grew to almost seventy-five percent. Families spent more time together due to the distance from other families and recreational facilities.
Like stated earlier, gender roles in the 50’s were very strict and narrow-minded. That being said, women were extremely limited in their role in society. First of all, women were expected to be homemakers. By homemaker, I mean the women w...
The 1950s seemed like a perfect decade. The rise of suburbs outside cities led to an expansion of the middle class, thus allowing more Americans to enjoy the luxuries of life. The rise of these suburbs also allowed the middle class to buy houses with land that used to only be owned by more wealthy inhabitants. Towns like Levittown-one of the first suburbs- were divided in such a way that every house looked the same (“Family Structures”). Any imperfections were looked upon as unfavorable to the community as a whole. Due to these values, people today think of the 1950s as a clean cut and model decade. This is a simplistic perception because underneath the surface, events that took place outside the United States actually had a direct effect on our own country’s history. The rise of Communism in Russia struck fear into the hearts of the American people because it seemed to challenge their supposedly superior way of life.
With the beginnings of the cold war the media and propaganda machine was instrumental in the idea of the nuclear family and how that made America and democracy superior to the “evils” of the Soviet Union and Communism; with this in mind the main goal of the 50’s women was to get married. The women of the time were becoming wives in their late teens and early twenties. Even if a women went to college it was assumed that she was there to meet her future husband. Generally a woman’s economic survival was dependent on men and employment opportunities were minimal.
Music throughout time has not only reflected the feeling of the musician but rather the feelings of a group of people at any one time It is important when learning about a period of time to look at the music of the period because it most likely shows the mood of the people and current events of the country. One time period specifically music greatly reflected the political and social culture of the time is the United States of America in the 1960s. One artist during this time was Bob Dylan. His most widely known song was called, “The Times They Are A-Changin”.
As World War Two came to a close, a new American culture was developing all across the United States. Families were moving away from crowded cities into spacious suburban towns to help create a better life for them during and after the baby boom of the post-war era. Teenagers were starting to become independent by listing to their own music and not wearing the same style of clothing as their parents. Aside from the progress of society that was made during this time period, many people still did not discuss controversial issues such as divorce and sexual relations between young people. While many historians regard the 1950s as a time of true conservatism at its finest, it could really be considered a time of true progression in the American way of life.
The decade of the 1970s impacted the United States and left the economy in ruins. The stock market was a mess and people didn’t really want to have anything to do with stocks. The stock market lost about forty percent over a period of 18 months, that is a large sum considering how much money goes into them. Furthermore, in the Energy Crisis & Economic Collapse, the United States had to pay twelve dollars for a barrel of oil instead of the usual of eight. On the other hand, the impact happened through famous people, even through music and fashion. The 1970s hold people like John Travolta and three of the United States presidents: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and James Carter. The 1970s was also the decade where punk rock and disco was made. Some of the fashion was even affected by the music styles. Everything that happened in the 1970s still holds an effect on us today, especially the economy.
‘Do the closing years of the 1960s deserve their reputation as a revolutionary period and if so, how?’
After working for the First World War women started actively trying to get basic rights and started to get jobs. Flappers was the common term for these women going against society wanting to be treated as equals. They commonly had shorter hair, showed more skin, and acted with the purpose of enjoying themselves and not entertaining men. These women were showing their disdain for what was considered acceptable behavior through enjoying themselves. During the 1950’s though women started gaining way more support for their progress for basic rights which is why the difference is way more dominate for these time periods. The 50’s had way more stay at home wives because of the baby boom that took place. These housewives did not sit around all day talking care of the children though instead they were both work and do house work. Women were conceded to be more equal to men having the ability to vote and have a voice in politics unlike in the 20’s were women still had to fight for this right. According to lecture notes in the 50’s divorce rates were higher than they have ever been. The reason for this was “people got married before the war and after the husbands were completely different affected by the war in some way or in other case they married people they didn’t even know”. The 50’s were more forgiving to these women having many states changing the laws to a more liberal outlook. Women were able to have their
The 1950s was a time when American life seemed to be in an ideal model for what family should be. People were portrayed as being happy and content with their lives by the meadia. Women and children were seen as being kind and courteous to the other members of society while when the day ended they were all there to support the man of the house. All of this was just a mirage for what was happening under the surface in the minds of everyone during that time as seen through the women, children, and men of this time struggled to fit into the mold that society had made for them.
A thirst for equality, a decade of transformation, and an emerging civil rights movement, these were the people searching for a change. People were determined to achieve their aspirations despite the stigma that would come with their beliefs. African Americans wanted equality, women wanted equality, but who was to tackle the discrimination? African Americans were treated inadequately; women were to fit stereotypes. The persistence that the citizens had is made the change. The 1960s was a decade that is full of remarkable history; countless courageous people helped spark a fire to make the change. Betty Friedan was a woman whose name would go down in history. Her writing and speaking on women’s issues in the 1960s built the foundation for the second wave of feminism that became the National Organization for Women, and was a starting point for the equal rights amendment.
“It was a decade of extremes, of transformational change and bizarre contrasts: flower children and assassins, idealism and alienation, rebellion and backlash. For many in the massive post-World War II baby boom generation, it was both the best of times and the worst of times” (The 1960s). The 1960s were a period declared famous in the book of history. Life people thought they knew, would change forever. Life as a woman was promised a brighter future. After interviewing Sharon Rigelman and Barbara Hukill, who were in their mid teens to twenties during this time, they described how life was back then. Being female had an influence the jobs women were allowed to have, their salaries, getting married at younger ages, and having thoughts about their futures. The 60s and 70s will always be remembered as a time for women to be freed from their standard responsibilities.
One of the most changing topics in the 1930’s was the role of women in society. They started to work more because their work during the war was being recognized. Divorce became easier to achieve and many women divorced their husbands. Even though, the women were starting to gain more freedom, most of them were housewives and
The 1960s and 1970s were a thunderous time. Many women, African Americans, Native Americans, gays and lesbians, and other marginalized people continued to fight for their equality. Many Americans during this time also joined the protest against the ongoing war in Vietnam. In other ways, a new right mobilized in defense of political conservatism and traditional family roles. By the end of the 1970s, these divisions and disappointments had set a tone for public life that is still with us today. These sexual revolutions of the 1960s and 1970s both strengthened and weakened Cold War notions of gender and sexuality.
The first reason the present day is better than the 1960s is because people are accepted better now than they were back then. African Americans were fighting for equal rights because society was segregated based off your skin color. “In the 1960s, African Americans were fighting for equality. People like Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks were fighting for African American civil rights. “ (Winn) This states that African Americans were fighting for equal rights in the 1960s. Women also were not seen as equals in the 1960s.Women couldn't vote, they weren't seen as equals to men. “In the early 1960s women were discriminated against in the workplace until the Civil Rights Movement barred it.” (Winn) This quote from the article shows that women were discriminated and not treated as equals in the 1960s.