The Culture of the Baby Boom 1945-1960

1. The Culture of the Baby Boom1945-1960 • Textbook pages 151 to 159 1

2. Cartoon 2

3. 1930-2008 Births 3

4. The 1950s • During the 1950s, Canada experienced an economic boom • This prosperity brought with it 2 major changes • 1. The medicalization of childbirth • 2. A change in family structure 4

5. The Birth of Suburbia • Rapid population growth between 1945 and 1960 lead to the suburban culture we know today • After WWII, there was an immense demand for single family housing which triggered a boom in construction • Most of these homes were built beyond the existing city limits, hence the name “suburban” 5

6. The Suburban Ideal • Characteristics that are common in today's suburbs were created in the 1950s • Houses had garages, large lawns and backyards which reflected the opulence of the time • Curved streets, parks, schools, shopping malls, fast food restaurants • Proximity to the city was also key 6

7. Suburbia 7

8. Levittown 8

9. White Picket Dreams • This is a clip from CBC Radio in 1954 where the child centered values of the suburbs are discussed 9

10. Early Marriage Home Ownership Large Family The Security Triangle 10

11. Change in Social Patterns • Because the suburbs contained so many young families, many striking social patterns emerged • The birth of the Nuclear family • “Stay at home Moms” • Father seen as the “breadwinner” • Car Culture • Social organizations for children • Shopping malls • “The teenager” 11

12. The Child Centered Suburb • In the 1961 Canadian Census, nearly half the population living in suburbs were under 15 years old • The suburbs was an environment completely focused on children • Dr. Spock, leading child psychologist, echoed this trend when he noted that parents should “respect children because they’re human beings who deserve respect” 12

13. Dr. Benjamin Spock 13

14. Education and the Baby Boom • During the Great depression and WWII, very few schools were built, due to the small numbers of children being born in this period • By 1952, the first wave of boomers were entering elementary school, which triggered a boom in school construction 14

15. Education and the Baby Boomcont’d • By the mid to late 1960’s, this first wave of boomers were heading to University, to keep up with the increase in enrollment, the Canadian Government responded in 3 ways • 1. Enlarging existing Universities • 2. Building new ones like Brock and York • 3. Developing Community Colleges 15

16. Education and the baby Boomcont’d • The baby boom generation was educated quite differently from their parents or grandparents generation • Because of the economic prosperity of the time, there was a greater emphasis on post secondary education for the first time 16

17. Changes in Education • Earlier generations of children learned under what was called “authoritarian education” or teacher centered • Children were seen as empty vessels to be filled with knowledge • There was a strict code of discipline and behavior 17

18. Changes in Education • By the 1950s, with the help of Behaviorist Psychologists like Dr. Spock, schools were applying a method called “progressive education” which were ideas based on American educator John Dewey • Schooling was child centered • Developing lessons that would the keep the children interested in learning 18

19. The 1960s Counterculture • The first wave of boomers had reached their teens and were not only highly visible but also vocal about their opinions • Many teens were beginning to reject conformity • Many people believed that because of the influences of Dr. Spock, Dewey and others, the boomers had turned into “self-centered, long haired rebels” 19

20. The Counterculture Generation • This generation was the first to be heavily influenced by popular culture • Music played a huge role in these peoples lives • Music of the time was focused on rebellion against authority and protest • Freer attitudes towards sex and drugs were also important 20

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22. Social and Political Events of the 1960s • The Vietnam War (1954-73) • Expo ‘67 • Woodstock ‘69 • Pierre Trudeau (Trudeau-Mania) • The Pill (1969) • The Beatles (1960s) 22

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24. The Sexual Revolution • During the 1960s, the behaviors and morals began to change • More couples were living together before marriage and were also having premarital sex • Their was an emphasis on greater personal and sexual freedom 24

25. Technology and the Sexual Revolution • The birth control pill was introduced in 1961 • “The Pill” was widely available and a low price with a doctors prescription • The pill has many social effects on the Boomer society, especially women • Many argue that “The Pill” can be blamed for the end of the Baby Boom 25

26. “The Pill” • In this clip from CBC news in 1964, boomers are interviewed on the street about their thoughts on the pill 26

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31. "The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, they show disrespect to their elders.... They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and are tyrants over their teachers." 31