1950s+Teenager+AAAK

1.School- Schools in the 1950’s were very different for teenagers then nowadays. Schools enforced strict rules, and many students were reprimanded by expulsion. Rules such as chewing gum, raising your hand, and having neat hair, for boys cut above your ear, were strict rules back then. After High School teens were encouraged to attend college and seek a successful career. School were still much divided as well, African Americans were still looked down upon. Because of the Baby boomer generation of a million students were able to call themselves the first “Teenagers”. The biggest issue in schools was the segregation of whites and blacks. Until 1954 a policy of “separate but equal” gave blacks an opportunity at educational experiences. This segregation also started Brown vs Board of Education; a very popular Supreme Court case. Schools would usually not have dancing because it would encourage boys to hold hands with a girl while dancing and the adult society did not approve of the Rock n’ Roll music that would have been played. 2.Fashion- The 1950’s was a good time of fashion, people began being risky and going of their comfort zones. Teenagers began to become influenced from magazines like Vogue; which focused on fashion alone. Teenagers were divided into Preppies (girls) and greasers (boys). Greasers wore leather jackets and denim jeans, which was influenced by Rock n’ Roll idols such as Elvis. Greasers had to have hair cut above their ears. While Preppies wore full skirts with large appliqués or pleaded skirts. Girls usually always had a neat look. The sailor girl was a popular outfit as well. With skirts on the bottom Preppies wore scoop neck blouses, cardigans, or tight polo shirts. Some preppies tried to be even riskier by wearing a white quarter sleeve shirt with a scarf. Trends such as the over sized sweaters and turn ups were also big during this time. Teens going to special events wore narrow ties, and always appeared groomed before leaving the house. Teens looked at fashion of a new way of expressing themselves much as we do today. 3.Leisure Activity- the 1950s was a huge time for leisure activities. Parents began having shorter work weeks, and more money to spend on leisure. Leisure activities became a huge million dollar industry in America. Popular activities for teen included drive in movies, bowling, watching sports games, teens also began going on dates. Sports such as football, and baseball started to become bigger and many Americans started playing on teams for fun. Television shows such as “I love Lucy”, “Cisco Kid”, and “ Amos and Andy”. Movies showed in drive-in included “ Lady and the tramp” and “East of Eden”. Roller skating also became popular for Teenagers during this time. Teenagers also enjoyed going to Rock n’ Rolll dancing though it was looked down upon in the adult society. 4.Family Values- During the 1950’s in the suburban area teenagers attended church on Sundays with their parents. Though adults and teens usually fought when out in public teenagers had to respect their parents. Teenagers were expected to come home for family dinners made by mom. The 1950’s was a time of the model family which included a breadwinner father, homemaker mother, and several children. Teenagers also began getting married at 18, to start a family. Girls were expected to be abstinent and no birth control existed yet. Family values meant and held a family together in the Golden Age. 5.Restriction on teens- Teenagers had many rules. John McKeon recalled"What I remember most about the 50s were rules. Rules, rules rules...for everything...."During the 1950s curfew, when it became dark, was expected to be followed by teens.Teens were expected to look neat and proper anywhere they went. They had strict rules about telling parents where, who and when they were going somewhere.Girls could not wear pants, and dress shows were required to attend school. Boys had to have their hair above their ears, and girls could not wear makeup. Teenagers were not allowed to drink, curse, or take part in anything that portrays a bad message. Licenses were given at 17 by taking a test similar to how todays process is. Primary Sources

This Primary source is an ad towards teenagers to get them out and participate in a new leisure activity introduced in 1956. The ad was released in 1959 and shows a high fashion girl with roller skates on the ad. The fashion and quote at the top " for fun and figure" drew people out to participate in this leisure activity. As discussed before during the 1950's the leisure activity industry was now booming like the rest of America and ad's like these help get it known through our knew media, magazines. This Primary source represents the Teenagers of the 1950's very well, showing fashion of a pleaded skirt and swoop neck blouse, while participating in leisure activities which many teens got involved in. This Primary source the model family mentioned in the family values section. The family consist of the breadwinner father( first in line), homemaker mother( next to the father), and the kids attending church on Sunday something expected by society in the 1950s. "Find the strength for your life" showing the importance of family and church during the Golden Age.This ad placed in magazines and around towns shows the importance of the model family and family values in the 1950's.

The 1950's was known as the Golden Age and boosted America as we know it. Teenagers were a big part of the 1950's and through my research I learned this group had found its own identity. While years involving war were long, and structures the 1950's was a time where America let loose and new things emerged. Teenagers recieved their name during this time and after the the word teenager was coined the identity began to grow and become the Golden Age as we know it. Teenagers now had their feelings somewhat expressed through Rock n' Roll music. They enjoyed listening to this music because many could relate to the issues being written about while the older generations were not found of the music.Teenagers while having many rules, also had freedom to go out with friends to drive-ins and rollerskating rinks to have some fun. Their identies also began showing through their clothing, many teens now had things to choose from and create their own style to fit in schools. With baby boomers on the rise at this time it was only natural that the amount of teenagers grew and the identy emerged. WIth the loss of innocence from the war slowly fading away the identity of the teenagers began to develop and ideas began to expand. By the late 1950's you could already see the identity growing with teenagers on television and in movies, and fashion. The identity could now grow off the values of the age, going to church on sundays and being proper when around adults. Teenagers' identities had grown with the time, teens started having freedoms and we finally know now that it was the leisure activities, and values given which give me the very name of a teenager.While along with the structure we needed fashion and music to express ourselves in our own identities. Though freedoms of leisure activities, family values, and restriction the teenage identity had emerged in the 1950's and has only grown and changed since.

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