1950'sTeenagersNMNF

11/16/11 Humanities II Mrs. Lamanteer
 * Postwar America Teens in the 1950's**


 * Fashion**

Fashion in the 1950's spread several different and unique styles of clothing. Many women's appearances changed by the type of clothing they wore. Teenage girls started to dress with bright colors and high waist skirts. The 1950's trends consisted of button- up sweaters, fitted blouses and full knee- length skirts during the more relaxing times. Many teenage male clothing consisted of a "greaser" type look. Greasers wore denim jeans and leather jackets. The different types of fashion styles were mostly influenced from many celebrities from the 1950's.


 * Entertainment**

Not only did the celebrities of the 1950's bring style to clothing, but also entertainment. Some of the popular celebrities were Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball and others. These celebrities were role models to many teenage lives. The American sitcom, ILoveLucy, was the most watched show in America during the 50's. The main star of ILoveLucy, Lucille Ball, was looked upon as a funny entertainer and role model. Not only were TV show ratings going up, but so was music. Music expanded tremendously by the famous king of rock, Elvis Presley. He had a great impact on rock n' roll and teens loved listening to his music and watching his insane dance moves. Although, the parents of teens listening to his type of music worried. They thought Elvis Presley was a bad influence and thought their children might turn "bad" or into juvenile delinquents.


 * School**

School for teens in the 1950's was very different from today's time period. In school, students used phonographs for playing records, used type writers and even got to go home for lunch. Teenagers didn't live by many rules back then especially when smoking became a daily habit. The on- screen smoking in movies and by many celebrities made teenagers curious. They thought since their doing it why can't they. The most important rules teenagers had to follow in school were dressing appropriately, having their hair a certain length and females were not allowed to wear long pants.


 * Family Values and expectations**

The normal family lifestyle in the fifties was to be married to either a breadwinner husband, a homemaker wife and several children living in a steady home in the suburbs. Teenage males were taught to go to the military or needed to find a good job to support his family. Some jobs were work in factories by making supplies, restaurants or worked for small family business' that were most common. The males were always expected to support the family with a good paying job. Not only did the males have to do all the supporting, but female teens had to support by doing multiple household chores to prepare themselves when becoming an adult.


 * Social/ Dating Environment**

Teenage dating increased dramatically through the 1950's. They were just looking for a good time and with someone to spend it with. The most popular dating places were ice cream parlors, pizza parlors, drive-ins, bowling alleys, coffee houses and record shops. The most common date spot would be drive-in movies. When teens were in a relationship, it usually meant they would be "going steady" with one another. "Going steady" was used more commonly with relationships meaning to have a commitment with one another already at an early stage. It also meant couples would start taking higher levels of sexual activity feeling more closer to each other.


 * Primary Documents**



Elvis Presley was known as the king of rock'n' roll. Elvis was a handsome man with a lot of dance moves that was spread throughout the whole world. He was a role model to most teenagers in the 1950's. Although, parents did not approve of the kind of music he sang and danced to. Teens went behind their parents backs still listening to his music. Although, Elvis Presley did many drugs which caused him to have problems that he thought might ruin his career. Some teenagers got the idea of smoking and taking drugs by watching other celebrities doing it such as Elvis. When Elvis died, there was a huge uproar of commotion that changed people's lives. He was a main superstar of the 1950's that changed many people's lives.



The television show, ILoveLucy was a great American sitcom of the 1950's. This was a from of entertainment that brought many families together every night a new episode came on. The main cast of ILoveLucy were big celebrities at the time that changed many people's lives. A lot of the shows had meaning to them and also brought a lot of humor to their time period. Teenagers got many of their styles from watching this entertainment.

My research on teenagers lives back in the 1950's does show the loss of innocence and emergence of identity. All teens wanted to do was fit in with others and look up to famous celebrities. Teenagers became curious about different music, relationships, drugs, jobs and rules. Teenagers didn't know any better then to just do anything they wanted so they would break rules. They would change their appearance by wearing bright colors or looking like greasers. Kids would like different kinds of music such as rock'n roll by Elvis. Parents were so strict with their kids on just how they might turn out to be, but they were really just trying to find who they really are using different methods and ways. These teens in the 1950's did not no better, so they just based their life on what surrounded them.

"Teenage Dating in the 1950s." //UMD Honors - Current Students - University Honors Courses//. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. .
 * Work Cited**

"Teenage Life in the 1950’s - Fifties - The 1950s." //Fifties Sixties Fashion, TV, Movies, Hair, Food, Cars, 50's 60's Facts and History about 1950's and 1960's - Clip Art and Information//. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. .

Brody, Jane E. "Teen Smoking - Nicotine - Addiction - Tobacco - New York Times." //The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia//. 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. .

Simpson, Paul. "Photos : Elvis Presley 1950s." //Elvis Presley Music - His Music, Concerts, Movies and Life in Video and Audio - Elvis Presley The King Of Rock 'N' Roll Music//. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. .