1. Suburbia Mr. Chojnacki US II Honors

2. Consumer Culture Middle Class Culture absorbed w/ consumer goods Advertising creates “Crazes” Fueled by growth of Consumer Credit –Credit Cards –Easy-Payment Plans

3. Examples of Crazes Automobile: Flashy styles and Advertising

4. Examples of Crazes Outer Space/Aliens Televisions Stereo’s Hula Hoop Anything Disney Fast Food

6. Suburbs Cars and Highways make commuting easier By 1960, 33% of population is in suburbs Builders stepped in to fill the Housing need Created Low cost homogeneous Houses –Many Young Families moved in –Levittown's

9. Why Burbs were Popular Provide larger homes at affordable prices Live with people who have similar: –Ages –Social Background –Race Cities become largely minority, Suburbs almost entirely White

10. Gender Roles Reinforced Professional Men work in cities Women increasingly isolated from jobs Men considered it demeaning for wives to have jobs Women developed role as full time mothers and caretakers

11. Dr. Spock Wrote : “Baby and Child Care” More child centered theory Role of parent was to help children realize potential Mothers own physical and emotional requirements are subordinate to the child's needs

13. Role of Women Changes As consumerism grows, many women must take jobs Second income was only way to keep standard of living Women still pressured to stay out of workplace –But their employment rates increased throughout the decade

14. Television 3 Networks developed from Radio –NBC, ABC, CBS Programming influenced by advertisers –Soap Operas Had Major impact on American Life –News, Sports, Escapism

16. Homogenization Program created a common image of American Life –White, Middle Class, Suburban Examples: –Leave it To Beaver and Father Knows Best Reinforced Gender roles and morals in the Household

17. Not all the Same The Honeymooners: urban working class family I Love Lucy: Multi-ethnic childless families Amos and Andy: Bumbling African Americans Programs conveyed these groups in warm and unthreatening terms –Turned cultural conflict into comedy