Cultural Conformity and Challenge (55-63)

Question 1

How did the suburbs show conformity post-WWII?

Answer 1

• Men who returned from the war immediately replaced the women that took up their jobs (traditional gender roles were reaffirmed)
• TV provided households shows like ‘Father Knows Best’ (affirming traditional family values)
• Churches preached importance of traditional values

Question 2

What did Congress add to the currency, 1956?

Answer 2

‘In God We Trust’

Question 3

How did advertisements follow conformity post-WWII?

Answer 3

• Idealised conformist lifestyles
• Showed all members of the family enjoying all the luxuries of modern life
• Reinforced idea that men sought to impress their bosses, and women desired to be wives and mothers

Question 4

How did teenagers challenge conformity post-WWII?

Answer 4

• Post-war baby boom were reaching their teenage years during 50s
• They were raised in a time of growth and conspicuous consumption
• 50s saw a growth of juvenile delinquency (arrested for car theft, acts of violence)
• Increase in car ownership - move around freely and away from their parents
• Rock ‘N’ Roll - believed to have inspired a culture of rebellion

Question 5

What was ‘Beatnik Culture’?

Answer 5

• Self-termed group, desiring self-liberation from the monotonous suburban life
• Didn’t want to reform society, but to live their own lives in pure freedom

Question 6

How did Film and TV challenge conformity post-WWII?

Answer 6

• Films became experimentally violent and rebellious in the 50s (Rebel Without a Cause)
• Shows like ‘Rock Around the Clock’ attempted to introduce parents to Rock ‘N’ Roll and reassure them of its safety - didn’t fully succeed