The Culture of the Baby Boom 1945-1960
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1 The Culture of the Baby Boom 1945-1960 Textbook pages 151 to 159
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The Culture of the Baby Boom 1945-1960. Textbook pages 151 to 159. 1. Cartoon. 2. 1930-2008 Births. 3. The 1950s. During the 1950s, Canada experienced an economic boom This prosperity brought with it 2 major changes 1. The medicalization of childbirth 2. A change in family structure. 4. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of The Culture of the Baby Boom 1945-1960
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The Culture of the Baby
Boom1945-1960
Textbook pages 151 to 159
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Cartoon
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1930-2008 Births
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The 1950sDuring the 1950s, Canada experienced an economic boom
This prosperity brought with it 2 major changes
1. The medicalization of childbirth
2. A change in family structure
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The Birth of Suburbia
Rapid population growth between 1945 and 1960 lead to the suburban culture we know today
After WWII, there was an immense demand for single family housing which triggered a boom in construction
Most of these homes were built beyond the existing city limits, hence the name “suburban”
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The Suburban Ideal
Characteristics that are common in today's suburbs were created in the 1950s
Houses had garages, large lawns and backyards which reflected the opulence of the time
Curved streets, parks, schools, shopping malls, fast food restaurants
Proximity to the city was also key
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Suburbia
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Levittown
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White Picket Dreams
This is a clip from CBC Radio in 1954 where the child centered values of the suburbs are discussed
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The Security Triangle
Early Marriage
Home Ownership
Large Family
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Change in Social PatternsBecause the suburbs contained so many young families, many striking social patterns emerged– The birth of the Nuclear family– “Stay at home Moms”– Father seen as the “breadwinner”– Car Culture– Social organizations for children– Shopping malls– “The teenager”
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The Child Centered Suburb
In the 1961 Canadian Census, nearly half the population living in suburbs were under 15 years old
The suburbs was an environment completely focused on children
Dr. Spock, leading child psychologist, echoed this trend when he noted that parents should “respect children because they’re human beings who deserve respect”
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Dr. Benjamin Spock
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Education and the Baby Boom
During the Great depression and WWII, very few schools were built, due to the small numbers of children being born in this periodBy 1952, the first wave of boomers were entering elementary school, which triggered a boom in school construction
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Education and the Baby Boom cont’d
By the mid to late 1960’s, this first wave of boomers were heading to University, to keep up with the increase in enrollment, the Canadian Government responded in 3 ways
1. Enlarging existing Universities
2. Building new ones like Brock and York
3. Developing Community Colleges
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Education and the baby Boom cont’d
The baby boom generation was educated quite differently from their parents or grandparents generationBecause of the economic prosperity of the time, there was a greater emphasis on post secondary education for the first time
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Changes in Education
Earlier generations of children learned under what was called “authoritarian education” or teacher centered
Children were seen as empty vessels to be filled with knowledge
There was a strict code of discipline and behavior
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By the 1950s, with the help of Behaviorist Psychologists like Dr. Spock, schools were applying a method called “progressive education” which were ideas based on American educator John DeweySchooling was child centeredDeveloping lessons that would the keep the children interested in learning
Changes in Education
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The 1960s Counterculture
The first wave of boomers had reached their teens and were not only highly visible but also vocal about their opinions
Many teens were beginning to reject conformity
Many people believed that because of the influences of Dr. Spock, Dewey and others, the boomers had turned into “self-centered, long haired rebels”
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The Counterculture Generation
This generation was the first to be heavily influenced by popular cultureMusic played a huge role in these peoples livesMusic of the time was focused on rebellion against authority and protestFreer attitudes towards sex and drugs were also important
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Social and Political Events of the 1960s
The Vietnam War (1954-73)
Expo ‘67
Woodstock ‘69
Pierre Trudeau (Trudeau-Mania)
The Pill (1969)
The Beatles (1960s)
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The Sexual Revolution
During the 1960s, the behaviors and morals began to change
More couples were living together before marriage and were also having premarital sex
Their was an emphasis on greater personal and sexual freedom
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Technology and the Sexual Revolution
The birth control pill was introduced in 1961“The Pill” was widely available and a low price with a doctors prescriptionThe pill has many social effects on the Boomer society, especially womenMany argue that “The Pill” can be blamed for the end of the Baby Boom
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“The Pill”In this clip from CBC news in 1964, boomers are interviewed on the street about their thoughts on the pill
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"The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, they show disrespect to their elders.... They no longerrise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and are tyrants over their teachers."
