1. MEN’S AND WOMEN’S ROLES IN THE 1950’S

2.  Men’s Role  Complete school and college  Find a job to support wives and children  Public sphere  Earned money  Political, economic, and social decisions  Judged by how much money they made and what they had the power to purchase. GENDER ROLES 1950

3.  Women’s Role  Play a supporting role for their husbands  Housekeep  Cook meals  Raise children  “Home Manager”  Married young and had children early  Dr. Benjamin Spock  Mothers should stay home with their young children if she wanted them to grow up stable and secure.  Very frustrating!!!!!!! GENDER ROLES 1950

4.  Businesses Reorganizes  Time of great economic expansion and profit  GNP doubles- 212b to 504b  Per capita income- average income per person increased from 1,526- 2,788  Conglomerates are formed  Large corporations that own many smaller companies that produce entirely different goods and services  Ex. International Telephone and Telegraph bought Avis Rent-a-Car, Sheraton, Hartford Fire Insurance and Continental Banking  McDonald’s is formed!  2 brothers, 10 milkshake machines, and one entrepreneur LIFE IN THE 50’S

5.  Technology  Television  2/3 of all Americans owned a T.V.  4-5 hours a day  American Bandstand (MTV) Mickey Mouse Club, I Love Lucy, Father Knows Best  ABC, NBC, CBS  Computers  Early start in the formation of transistors; tiny circuit device that amplifies, controls, and generates electrical signals  Take large, slow machines and turns them into small, fast machines  Used to calculate the 1950 census LIFE IN THE 50’S

6.  Workforce Changes  World went from predominantly blue-collar to white collar  Salesman, clerk, cashier, etc.  Blue-collar wages went up and conditions improved  Formation and acceptance of unions  Suburbs and Highways  Baby Boom- returning war vets are having families  GI Bill- low interest mortgages to purchase new homes  William J. Levitt begins creating Levittowns  1956 Interstate Highway Act- 40,000 miles of highway LIFE IN THE 50’S

8.  Consumer Credit  Gas companies distribute credit cards to loyal customers  Easy and convenient  Diner’s Club Card, American Express, and BankAmericard (VISA)  Bank’s take on credit card idea  People willingly go into debt to purchase things they want LIFE IN THE 50’S

9.  Comfort and Security  Youth Culture  Young people are able to stay in school rather than have to work  Start going to parties, pulling pranks, frats/sororities, etc.  Conformity created by advertisements and movies LIFE IN THE 50’S

10.  Challenges to Conformity  Some kids reject the values of their parents  Young people sought a style all their own  Rock and Roll  Elvis Presley, Little Richard, the Comets, Chuck Berry  Adults disliked the new music  decrease in teen morality  Sound familiar?? LIFE IN THE 50’S