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You are watching a portion of the first episode from my six part television series Making Sense Of The Sixties (1991). This clip looks at social behaviors from the 1950s and how so many young people rebelled against them. The 1950s were marked by a post-war economic boom and a return to traditional family values. Social norms, particularly for teenagers, were largely conservative and rigid. Dating and Sexual Intercourse: Dates were chaperoned: In the early years of adolescence, dates were often chaperoned by parents or older siblings to ensure appropriate behavior. Men were expected to initiate: Men were expected to ask women out, pay for the date, and drive. They were also expected to be respectful and not push for sexual favors. Premarital sex was taboo: While not always followed, the rule was that sex was reserved for marriage. “Going all the way“ was generally not accepted in polite society. “Pinning“ and “Going Steady“: A boy would give his school or fraternity pin to a girl to signify their exclusivity - a practice known as “pinning.“ This was typically a step before engagement. Clothing: Conservative attire: Girls were often expected to wear dresses or skirts, and boys typically wore slacks and button-up shirts. Revealing clothing was generally frowned upon. Cleanliness and grooming: Cleanliness and grooming were seen as important. Boys were expected to be clean-shaven, and girls were expected to have neatly styled hair. Marriage and Family Life: Marriage was the expectation: It was assumed that teens would grow up to marry and have children. Singlehood or childlessness was often stigmatized. Homemaking for women: Women were primarily expected to be homemakers and caregivers, while men were the breadwinners. Working women often faced stigma. Heteronormativity: The social norm was heterosexual, and anything outside of that was typically not discussed and often harshly judged. General Behavior: Respect for authority: Respect for parents, teachers, and other authority figures was strongly emphasized. Gender roles: Men were expected to be assertive and strong, while women were expected to be nurturing and submissive. These stereotypes played a role in almost every aspect of social behavior. Conformity: Standing out or going against the grain was generally discouraged. The 1950s is often remembered as a decade of conformity, where fitting in and following societal norms was expected. if you found this of interest, search the words “making sense of“ on my YouTube channel and you will find many clips from the series including longer sections of the programs.
