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The 1950’s

The 1950’s. Learning Targets. I can explain what life was like for teenagers. I can evaluate the effects of the changes in diet and food in the 1950s. I can describe changing roles of women in the 1950s. I can analyze the effects of planned obsolescence on society.

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The 1950’s

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  1. The 1950’s

  2. Learning Targets • I can explain what life was like for teenagers. • I can evaluate the effects of the changes in diet and food in the 1950s. • I can describe changing roles of women in the 1950s. • I can analyze the effects of planned obsolescence on society. • I can describe the growth of suburbia.

  3. Life as a Teenager • Boys’ hair touching the ears wasn’t allowed, punishable by expulsion from school. • Most girls weren’t allowed to wear pants, and boys weren’t allowed to wear jeans. • People worried about teens dating and “heavy petting.”  No one talked about sex. • Dancing to rock & roll music was often banned, with school and teen dances shut down.

  4. Birth of Fast Food Restaurants • Burger King – 1954 • Dunkin’ Donuts – 1950 • McDonald’s – 1955 • Pizza Hut – 1958 • BUT most people didn’t eat it regularly. • At the same time, the quintessential 50’s meal involved red meat—usually steak.

  5. “Unnatural” Things in Foods • Chemicals or man-made things start to appear in foods more frequently. • High Fructose Corn Syrup – invented in 1957 • Hydrogenated Oil (trans fat) was becoming widespread • Saccharin (artificial sweetener) became very common (such as Sweet’n Low in 1957) • Lots of pesticides used on food

  6. Changing Role of Women • 60% of women dropped out of college to marry. • Average women’s size shrank from 1930s – 1950s. • First Playboy magazine was in 1953 and featured Marilyn Monroe.

  7. LIFE – Dec. 24, 1956

  8. Planned Obsolescence • Companies make products that won’t last long on purpose so that you buy more! • Began in the mid-1950s, even worse today.  • Result = changes in consumption patterns Like stereos, appliances, and cars! Break sooner Like clothes and cell phones! Go "out of style" Like computer operating systems! Can't be used anymore

  9. Levittown & Suburbia • Began in the late 1940’s • Cookie-cutter uniformity • Very cheap! • $8,000 for a house (equiv. of $70,000 today) • $10 deposit! (equiv. of $85 today) • Assembly line process for building • Had restrictive covenants (i.e. all white). Levittown Home

  10. Building of Levittown

  11. Design of the Homes • Bathroom and kitchen share plumbing. • Still had the feel of urban living. • Center of focus is the front of the house. • Kids played in the front, not the back.

  12. Transition to “Suburban Life” • Focus shifted from urban to suburban life. • Design of homes “flipped” to make the backyard to focus. • People were isolated from the front.

  13. Aerial View of Levittown

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