1950s+Teenagers+SCHR

=**1950's Teenagers**=
 * ====Male teenagers were expected to help their families by either getting a job, or joining the military. They had to find a way to have an income and be prepared to support a family as they become adults. Females were also preparing themselves for the future. They began doing household chores and the entire task that a wife would perform. Both males and females were supporting their families and getting ready for what their adulthood had in store for them ====


 * ====During the 1950's rock'n'roll was invented. This type of music became widely popular for all teenagers. Many parents opposed the spread of rock and roll for they thought it was a bad influence on their children. It was considered "devils music" and later became banned. The created of it, Alan Freed, and the king of Rock'n'rock, Elvis Presley, were both condemned. This did not stop teenagers from attending his concerts and listening to his records. Rock'n'roll was music dedicated for teenagers and it was what gave them their freedom. ====


 * ====Teenagers began to develop fashion based on the rock'n'roll style. Teenage girls started to wear bright colors in their high waisted skirts, making them stand out on the dance floor. They also wore capris or pedal pushers with ankle socks. Based off the movie, The Wild One, teenage boys began to wear jeans, leather jackets, and white t-shirts. This gave them a rebellious punk look to complement their attitude. Along with females, males were also influenced by rock and roll. Some teenage boys wore side burns and pony tails inspired by Elvis. They also wore bright colored clothing. ====


 * ====Dating became widely popular in the 1950s. It was expected for a teenager to go on at least one date per week. With the rise of teenagers in this time, dating began to change. Before the war, teenagers would date with the knowledge that they will eventually get married. Teenagers changed the term "going steady" into meaning only a short term commitment instead of a life time deal. In place of wedding rings, girls put a collar on their ankle to show that they were gong steady with someone. It became a popularity factor in schools, if teenagers had dates at social events. Many teenagers would take their dates into an automobile for privacy. "Necking" and "petting" began to be expected in this stage. ====


 * ====Teenage population grew by 50 percent during the 50's. These kids had money to spend on items like cars, clothes, movie tickets, and records. They began to stick together in fashion trends. Schools were strict rules that forced teens to dress appropriately. Boys were not allowed to have hair touching their ears, and girls were not allowed to wear pants. These rules restricted teens from individualizing themselves, and forced them to rebel.Parents were frightened by the idea of this and worried about teenagers becoming juvenile delinquents. ====

=**Primary Sources**= //BOYS// ACADEMIC HIGH SCHOOLS AND HUTCHINSON-TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS //Note:// The apparel recommended for boys should be worn in standard fashion with shirts tucked in and buttoned, and ties tied at the neck. Standard of dress for boys, while in school shops or laboratories, should be determined by the school. //GIRLS// ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS
 * Recommended:**
 * 1) Dress shirt and tie or conservative sport shirt and tie with suit jacket, jacket, sport coat, or sweater
 * 2) Standard trousers or khakis; clean and neatly pressed
 * 3) Shoes, clean and polished; white bucks acceptable
 * Not Recommended:**
 * 1) Dungarees or soiled, unpressed khakis
 * 2) T-shirts, sweat shirts
 * 3) Extreme style of shoes, including hobnail or "motorcycle boots"
 * Recommended:**
 * 1) Shirt and tie or sport shirt and tie
 * 2) Sport shirt with sweater or jacket
 * 3) Standard trousers or khakis; clean and neatly pressed
 * 4) Shoes, clean and polished; white bucks acceptable
 * Not Recommended:**
 * 1) Dungarees or soiled, unpressed khakis
 * 2) T-shirts, sweat shirts
 * 3) Extreme styles of shoes, including hobnail or "motorcycle boots"
 * Recommended:**
 * 1) Blouses, sweaters, blouse and sweater, jacket with blouse or sweater
 * 2) Skirts, jumpers, suits or conservative dresses
 * 3) Shoes appropriate to the rest of the costume
 * Not Recommended:**
 * 1) V-neck sweaters without blouse
 * 2) Bermuda shorts, kilts, party-type dresses, slacks of any kind
 * 3) Ornate jewelry
 * 4) T-shirts, sweat shirts
 * ====This shows the dress code for a New York school district and it was made in 1956. This code was to restrict teenagers from juvenile behavior that was feared by the public. It forced students to follow conformity and maintain a good attitude toward school.====
 * ====This picture taken in 1953 shows one of the fashions during this time. It represented that teenagers were single or taken. If a girl was going steady with someone, they would wear a collar on their left ankle.====

====In my research, I defended the loss of innocence and emergence of identity that was experienced by many teenagers in the 1950's. It shows all the ways that teenagers began to rebel, losing their innocence. An example of this would be how they began to start dating and having sexual contact before marriage. Before this time, it was not common for people to date if they did not have the intension of getting married. Teenagers became identified by the new type of music, rock' n' roll. This was music strictly for kids, and they began to lie to their parents just to listen to it. They expressed themselves with music, as well as the clothes they wore. Most of these outfits were banned from schools due to the fear of delinquency. The loss of innocence and rebelliousness in the 1950's was what gave teenagers their identity.====