The 1950s is typically dubbed a decade of conformity where a new "American standard of living" became dominated by consumerism, suburban living, and emphasis on democratic American values to oppose communism. However, by the end of the decade, conformity did not still dominate the American society ( Foner, Give me Liberty 1015 ). There were drastic changes in the culture of the American society. For example, there was rise of the Beat generation which opposed the mainstream culture. This was generation was against conformism and materialism. There was also emergence of teenage culture which rejected middle-class norms ( Foner, Give me Liberty 1021 ). Teenagers danced to rock music which contained sexually provocative movements. The cultural difference between whites and blacks reduced considerably with black and white youth behaving in almost a similar manner.
Family life also changed drastically by the end of 1950s. Men started sexual gratification outside the confines of their family. The gay culture is also rose at the end of this decade. Homosexuality, while considered deviant by society in general with homosexuals subjected to constant harassment by the police, increased considerably ( Foner, Voices of Freedom 167).
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There was also rise of the freedom movement particularly among black activists. Blacks began revolting against laws which segregated them from whites. They started fighting against racial segregation which provided for different institutions for blacks and whites. Blacks wanted equality between them and whites. Blacks refused to conform any longer to laws and policies which seemed unjust ( Foner, Give me Liberty 1026 ). There were many legal battles and protests with one of the most famous protests being the Montgomery bus boycott. In general, at the end of the 1950s, conformity did not dominate the American society due to the various changes which had taken place in the society.
References
Foner, E. (2013). Give Me Liberty! An American History: Seagull Fourth Edition (Vol. 1). WW Norton & Company.
Foner, E. (Ed.). (2008). Voices of Freedom: A Documentary History (Vol. 2). WW Norton & Company Incorporated.
