Teens Today vs. Teens in 1940s

387 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: 1950's america fashion

Teenagers; everyone has been one, is one, or will be one. They are adventurous and silly; they try to be as grown up as possible, yet it never seems to work. Through out each decade, the teenager seemed to evolve into the teens we see today. How have they changed? Are they at all the same? What is so different about the teenagers of today and those of decades past?

During the 1940's, American teens separated themselves from adults. They had their own dance; the jitterbug. They had their own style; saddle shoes, oversized multi-print skirts, zoot suits, and wide brimmed hats. They went to clubs that served oversized menus and soda. At the clubs, they would listen to the greats of their time; Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong. They would go dancing in ballrooms, go for a walk outside, and just enjoy life.

Teens today do things a lot differently. Girls wear clothing that shows more skin. Guys wear oversized pants and oversized shirts. A lot of today's teens like to party, so some will get fake ID's so they can get into 21 and over clubs. Here, they can get alcohol easily. They can even get their hands on illegal drugs. Their taste in music is much different as well. There is a wide variety of styles now, many of which include, rock, pop, dance, R&B, and rap. Today's teens also have technology all around them. They can play video games, computer games, go on the internet, watch television and talk on their cell phones, while the teens of the forties could listen to the radio and talk on the phone. Teens were raised much differently in the forties than they are today. In the forties, girls were taught how to cook, clean, sew, and they were taught that their life was centered around the family; when they got older they had to stay at home and raise kids. During the mid forties, women began to learn trades that were for men. The guys were taught a trade and expected to be the breadwinner. Many of them wanted joined the USA Military.

There is another difference; If a teenage girl were to get pregnant in the forties she had two options. Option one: She could have a secret abortion. Or option two: She would have to get married to the guy who got her pregnant.

Show More
Related

  • The Great Gatsby: America in the 1920s

    2392 Words  | 5 Pages

    Also known as the Jazz Age and the Roaring Twenties, the American people felt that they deserved to have some fun in order to forget the emotional toll and social scars left from the war. The Jazz Age was appropriately named due to the illegal activities and good times, which included music, parties, and flapper girls. Jazz was a new style of music that originated out of the New Orleans area, where one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time – Louis Armstrong – began his career. The energy of jazz was a very new and almost uncomfortable style for the very traditional, rigid family of the 1920s. Young people in particular seemed to enjoy this new music the most, as it made them feel carefree. The energy of jazz was symbolic of the era’s trans...

    Read More

  • The Teenager Emerges: Canada in the 1950s

    936 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is important to learn how Teenagers were in the past to take advice from the good of it, and reject the bad, today. We could look at how much less teen pregnancy was back in the 50’s and learn, and we can reject all the exaggerated rulers there were for teenagers during the 1950’s.

    Read More

  • The Roaring 20's And The Jazz Age

    958 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although there are countless names for the 1920’s the main terms are “The Roaring 20’s” and the Jazz Age. Jazz Clubs were a popular hangout spot for many of the teenagers, as well as adults. Movies and Speakeasies were fairly new during this time and that is where most of the public spent time together while having their entertainment. The Roaring 20’s was the era of romance, excitement, and remembered as the time of America becoming modern. One of the things that transformed was dancing. During this, the Charleston, the Tango, and the Shimmy became popular amongst the teenage community (teens.lovetoknow.com). This type of dancing was looked down upon for many centuries, however eventually became quite ordinary to the community. Cars were also transformed by the Model T- Ford car. This car was

    Read More

  • Youth Rebelliion In The 1950s

    1042 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the 1950’s there was significant social change taking place in America. Young people were dissatisfied with certain conservative aspects of society and their conduct reflected this. They embraced the rock and roll culture, the new style of music and also the new styles of dancing and dress that were associated with it shocked the older more conservative people. Young people were also quick to protest against the controversial issues of the 1950’s. Civil Rights, the Vietnam War and general politics provided fuel for an already blazing fire. Mass production meant cheaper motorcycles and cars, providing the young people with freedom that was previously not with in their reach. A barrier formed between the older and younger generations due to a lack communication. This was extended by the media’s inaccurate portrayal of the young people. All of these factors left the older generation trying to understand their children’s behaviour.

    Read More

  • How Rock and Roll Changed America

    1919 Words  | 4 Pages

    Before the big evolution of rock and roll, the United States was heavily involved in World War II. In this era, teens were expected to grow up at a very early age. Going to school was not one of the main priorities for these young adults during this time, and because of that "teens were expected to take life seriously. [Meaning,] the young men were expected to join the military or go get a job to support their family or their future families, while the young women were taught to take care of the household and prepare themselves to be a dutiful wives and to take care of their [future] children," (Cox). Even though they were expected to grow up early, “teens had very little economic power, freedom, independence, and input into [many of their own] decisions" (Cox).

    Read More

  • Portrayal of Teens in the Media

    367 Words  | 1 Pages

    Have you ever met someone who acted just as teens are stereotyped? Not many people have because they do not exist. Real teens are poorly portrayed in the media and are the complete opposite of their stereotypes. Books and TV shows make teens out to be wild or crazy, irresponsible and out of control. One hardly ever hears about teen-heroes. Instead, newspapers and magazines are plastered with stories of teens and crime. And while looking at commercial billboards and other related media, the regular teen seems to be sex-crazed and image-obsessed.

    Read More

  • From the Roaring Twenties to the Depression

    1222 Words  | 3 Pages

    The end of the Great War saw the rise of a new age; The Roaring twenties, there were those that embraced the frivolous, fast paced decade, while others denounced it. A decade of tremendous growth and prosperity; the decade gave rise to a new a spirit, a spirit of youth and freedom. To the older generation this new age, was a culture shock of sorts and quite vulgar in ways. The twenties had major culture changes; the nation was prospering like never before; a decade...

    Read More

  • Rock and Roll: The Changing of American Culture

    1471 Words  | 3 Pages

    World War II ended and a new era began. Before the war, the culture viewed the span of a person’s life in two parts, child and adult. There was not a viewed time frame between them. The war was one of the things that began to divide childhood and adulthood. The term “teenager” was born. “In the 1950s, the Dictionary of American Slang subsequently pointed out, the United States was the only country ‘considering this age group as a separate entity whose influence, fads and fashions are worthy of discussion apart from ...

    Read More

  • The Theme Of The Columbine

    1123 Words  | 3 Pages

    enjoyed doing things other teens did, they had a job, were preparing for their futures, liked girls,

    Read More

  • The 1920’s: a time of autonomy and responsibility

    1440 Words  | 3 Pages

    The first area that will be discussed on this page is the social aspects of the 1920’s. Jen Manno specifically chose the areas of music, theater, youth, and the flappers for her concentration. The social aspects of the 1920’s strongly support autonomy and the ability to make your own decisions. The youth were governed by themselves and the "in" thing was to be independent and expressing your own personal attitudes. In the social realm, no one cared about being responsible, all they wanted to do was have fun and do whatever they had to do in order to achieve that.

    Read More

  • Fads In The 1920s Essay

    1498 Words  | 3 Pages

    The twenties were a time of excitement, World War I had just ended and it was hard for everyone to settle down. After being away from home for such a long time, Coming back and returning to the usual routine seemed too sedate. Young women and men set the stage for an unforgettable party era which was full of new and exciting experience. Some of these new ideas lasted and other and others were just fads that faded or became less popular.

    Read More

  • Teenage Dating in the 1950s

    3472 Words  | 7 Pages

    Teenagers in the 1950's are so iconic that, for some, they represent the last generation of innocence before it is "lost" in the sixties. When asked to imagine this lost group, images of bobbysoxers, letterman jackets, malt shops and sock hops come instantly to mind. Images like these are so classic, they, for a number of people, are "as American as apple pie." They are produced and perpetuated by the media, through films like Grease and Pleasantville and television shows like Happy Days, The Donna Reed Show, and Leave It to Beaver. Because of these entertainment forums, these images will continue to be a pop cultural symbol of the 1950's. After the second World War, teenagers became much more noticeable in America (Bailey 47). Their presence and existence became readily more apparent because they were granted more freedom than previous generations ever were.

    Read More

  • The Hippie Movement

    732 Words  | 2 Pages

    The hippies were not just a group of people from the 1960s with an unconventional appearance. They were a group of people who challenged the very beliefs upon which society was founded. Their legacy is everywhere, from colorful clothing, to the legalization of pot, and even to 17 states allowing same-sex marriage (with more soon to be hopping on the bandwagon). The teenagers of 2014 represent the hippies from the 1960s. They are filled with rebellion but are also filled with the need to please. They are filled with hate, but want to be loved. They are filled with a desire to change the world and be different, and nothing can stop them now.

    Read More

  • Teenage Subculture Essay

    1864 Words  | 4 Pages

    During the 1950’s the United States saw a post World War II economic boom. At the same time American’s saw a shift in culture due to teenagers breaking away from the same beliefs and social norms as their parents. By doing this teenagers created their own subculture, which meant different behaviors and specifically buying behaviors. Thus the emergence of a new teenage subculture in the 1950’s benefitted the economic boom. Markets such as clothing, fast food, makeup and music became increasingly appealing to teenagers through the decade as they came to sell products specifically for teens. Businesses took advantage of this by marketing to that demographic. As Stuart A. Kallen put it, “by [the] mid-fifties teenagers made up a very lucrative consumer

    Read More

  • Parent and Teenager Relationships

    837 Words  | 2 Pages

    Myths of adolescence are perpetuated because adults do not spend the time and effort learning about normal, expected changes during this period. It is much easier for us to put a label on people rather than to try to understand them. The teen years are truly "high speed, high need" years. Here are some concepts of conflict and some areas to look out for.

    Read More

More about Teens Today vs. Teens in 1940s

Open Document