1950's+teenagers+UTJV

Teenagers in the 1950’s were trying to explore, experiment and create their own type of style. They were trying to define what and who teenagers were and wanted to be without all the rules. Many changes were taking place in the way teens talked, dated, activities, TV shows and they way they were raised are just a few. This was a big change for everyone during this era, even the parents who disapproved of the changing style and behavior. Slang in the 1950’s for teenagers was turning everyday words into slang. It gave the teens a little bit of freedom and space from their parents. For instance squares were nerds, cops instead of police, chick instead of girl, tight meant cool, threads meant clothes, pops meant dad, Big Daddy meant older generation, cat meant a cool or with it person, cube was a normal person. These are just a few examples of slang in the 1950’s. It let the teenagers of that time feel like they had something of their own that they created. Movies back then were big for teenagers on a Saturday afternoon or going to the drive-in on Saturday night. Soda shops and burger joints was another popular hangout where teens would gather together. Dance hops were also very big along with cruising which really meant nothing but driving around or up and down the main drag by the burger joint where everyone was hanging out so your ride could be seen. Most male teens had a basket ball net hung above their garage door so they could shoot hoops. They would also spend time working on their cars, fishing and would join a bowling league. Boys and Men were expected to ask the girl or woman for the date; he met with the girl’s family, opened doors, and paid for the date. Whereas girls were expected to be good, there was not the same degree of expectations upon boys. The boy could try to kiss the girl or more but he had to be prepared – he might get a slap by the girl for this. If a boy got a girl pregnant, it was considered the girl’s fault. The boy could be somewhat lifted in status, at least among his male peers. There were not as much consequences to the boy. However, sometimes the families made the boy marry. Still it was the expectation of society for the man to get married, and then to have children. In general in the 1950’s there was a lot less tolerance of the individual - this applied to children and to adults as well as teens. Children and teens had rules, duties/chores and church attendance - all to the purpose of teaching values, responsibility, and developing morals. People believed more in the greater good of society. Authority was respected and appreciated; this included the police, presidents, and teachers. Criminals were punished. There were a lot less rules for children (and adults too), but those rules (society and family) were enforced. On the other side people helped one another. The welcome committee was active in neighborhoods. Kids were encouraged to join in organizations such as 4-h, scouts - learning good citizenship. The two big morals (the golden rule: "Do unto others as you would be done to", "treat your neighbor as yourself"). This applied to adults, and to all. After the Second World War, teenagers became much more noticeable in America. Their presence and existence became readily more apparent because they were granted more freedom than previous generations ever were. All these sources show how this teenage generation in the fifties was important not only in altering dating, fashion, and dance but in all aspects of their lives. After the Second World War, teenagers grew a voice and became more publically visible. They drove cars and had money to spend. They were a new source of power, independent from their parents and ready for a change. Teenagers in the 1950's 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, poodle skirts, greasers, 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 by the media, through films like //Grease // and //Pleasantville // and television shows like //Happy Days //, //The Donna Reed Show //, and //Leave It to Beaver //, American Band Stand. 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. Their presence and existence became readily more apparent because they were granted more freedom than previous generations ever were. Teenagers like these were unique. They were given a chance to redefine the ways things were done in America. Crew cut (buzzed over one length), the tapered haircut with side part and wave in front, flat top (hair standing up at top and close cut on sides), pompadour (long on top and sides), pompadour with DA, DA is a duck tail: sides brushed back and hair comes together at the backside forming a vertical edge- like the tail of a duck, flat top with wings (flat on top long on sides with a DA in back sometimes). Men took along time in the 50’s to do their hair.
 * __1950 Teens__**
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 * __ Dating in the 1950’s: __**
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 * Hairstyles of boys and men in the 1950s: **

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Elvis Pompadour Hairstyle was one of the popular hairstyle for teen males in the 1950’s. Buzz cuts were also a favorite of the 1950’s. Males spent a lot of time on their hair.

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ohiovalleylivemusic.com
 * 1950 ** 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959. Jan 1958 17 year old **teen idol** Ricky Nelson **...**

__Dating & Drive-Ins: __

**They would double date and make out in the car during the movie. **
coreyspooner.com
 * 1950's Drive **-in **Movie** Theatre, One of the First


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Works Cited **

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman,times,serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">1) sombat, windy. "teenage dating in the 1950's." //the beat begins; america in the 1950's//. John Hopkins University, 2000. Web. 15 Nov 2011. []. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman,times,serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">2) cox, erika. "teenage life in the fifties." //rewind the fifties//. rewind the fifties, 2009. Web. 15 Nov 2011. []. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman,times,serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">3)cassalaqua, caroolyn. "1950's history ." //boomers-fifties-pinups//. carolyn passalaqua, n.d. Web. 16 Nov 2011. <http://boomers-fifties-pinups.com/1950_history.html>.