The Momentus Social Change in American from 1955 to 1975

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From 1955 to 1975 the United States was full of tension and violence but also momentous social change. It was a volatile period for our country. During this time period there was a push for social, racial and gender equality. After the end of World War II in 1945 our country started to experience such change but between 1955 to 1975 was when people started to really recognize the change that was happening. Of course not everyone wants change so inevitably there was violence and there certainly was tension. During the early 1950s Americans didn’t question anything about the “ideal” society, where women stayed at home to take care of household chores and the children while the men went to work and provided for the family financially. They conformed to the rules of society. Young people and older people didn’t have separate ideas or hobbies. Younger people just followed in their elders footsteps and that became traditional. I believe that the media contributed to this belief of a traditional society. There were shows in the late 1950s that gave this idea of the perfect family such as Leave it to Beaver that started to air on television in 1957. There was the family that ate dinner together and talked about their day. There was a hot meal on the dinner table by the time the father came home and when the children came home from school mother was already preparing dinner and doing laundry. People who watched those kinds of shows believed that’s how all families should be. A number of movements challenged the idea of a traditional society such as the Women’s Liberation Movement in the 1960s and the Civil Rights Movement. Within the “traditional” society women were expected to dress a certain way, not wearing anything to ... ... middle of paper ... ...sult of women’s movement and their fight for equality in the past women are now more independent than ever. There are women in every field of work. Women are no longer expected to stay at home while their husbands work, though some may choose too it’s not as typical as it once was. Prior to 1955 women and men got married and started a family after high school and now it’s quite the opposite. In today’s society both genders attend college whether it’s for four years or more and then get married and start a family. As for African Americans, civil rights movements made it so segregation is unconstitutional all across America. There is now race and gender equality. Though people may be judged based on their gender and race, everyone has the same rights and without the movements that sought to change the “traditional” norms of society we wouldn’t be where we are today.

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