1968
Most people living during this time period expected conformity and feared anything that went against their perception of normality. During the late 1960s, many groups challenged these perceptions. Many like the Hippies, women, and anti-war protesters were the ones under the most scrutiny. With the Hippies, they threw out many norms and expectations that most middle-class Americans held so close. In a time where most individuals were on the straight and narrow, Hippies were notorious for their drug intake and their go with the flow attitudes. Most individuals during this time were working trying to make ends meet. They had to work so hard to pay off their homes, get their kids through school, and be able to retire. Hippies on the other hand were not working to the degree that their parents were. During this time, women were making a larger uproar than before. Women in the 60s were expected to be perfect little housewives. They were expected to cook, clean, take care of the kids, and anything else that was needed to take care of the home. One of the biggest things they were protesting was reproductive rights. In the 60s, the birth control pill was under heavy criticism from many in the middle class. Lastly, anti-war protesters were under fire for protesting the Vietnam War. Most people in America were unaware of the horrors of the Vietnam war and the poor performance America was putting on. These peoples main concern was with winning this war. Citizens saw these protesters almost as traitors to America. Middle-Class individuals felt afraid of these challenges of their norms. This fear grew and grew and grew some more until it was on a national stage appearing on the news and on the radio. This national stage pushed the culture war to what it eventually became. Who were some of the largest counter culture groups during this time? Why were they seen as so problematic?
One of the largest counter-cultural groups during this time were the feminists. The speech "No More Miss America," delivered by women's liberation activists at the 1968 Miss America pageant, was a pivotal moment in the feminist movement. The activists protested the pageant's objectification of women and its promotion of traditional gender roles. They famously threw items such as bras, girdles, and high-heeled shoes into a "Freedom Trash Can" to symbolize their rejection of these oppressive standards. Another significant counter-cultural group during this period were the anti-war protesters. This group was opposed to the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War and held large-scale demonstrations, such as the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam in 1969. These protests were often met with violence from police and the National Guard, and the protesters were seen as unpatriotic and disrespectful by many Americans.
ReplyDeleteDuring the 1960s, several groups of individuals desired the need to embrace their personality and demonstrate freedom. One of the main groups of countercultures during the 1960s was the Hippies. The hippies went against the norms of society by growing out their hair, dressing out of the ordinary, and showing great passion for sex and drugs. “By 1969, many young Americans had adopted long hair, flamboyant fashions, and freer attitudes toward sex and drugs.” (Strait.) Although the “living free” mentality was trending among the young members of the society, not all Americans supported their lifestyle. The members of society who followed the norms considered the Hippies’ lifestyle to be unethical and wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe largest counterculture groups in the 60s included hippies women and antiwar protesters. Hippies specifically challenged the conservative ideals and beliefs that the majority of Americans felt so strongly about. This was extremely problematic as the expectations were to grow in responsibility work hard to create a stable financial life and to be most would consider “mature” in their adulthood. Hippies were the exact opposite of these expectations partaking in drugs and caring much less about stability. Along with hippies, women were also forming into the new counterculture. Again, women were breaking past all expectations, which was not much for them at the time. Women were limited in many aspects with the ideal woman being a homemaker. This belief began to be challenged when women's rights began to roar especially when birth control became available. It gave women more of a foothold in human choices and rights, pushing many boundaries within the 60s. Continuing on, anti-war protesters were under much fire for being against the Vietnam War. This was problematic as the majority were pushing to win the war. This people group, seen as traitors were highly argumentative against societal norms in the 60s.
ReplyDelete