Jeans and American Popular Society in the Mid-20th Century. Fashion and Gender Roles (PDF)

Studienarbeit aus dem Jahr 2014 im Fachbereich Didaktik - Englisch - Literaturgeschichte, Epochen, Note: 3,0, Universität zu Köln, Veranstaltung: American Objects, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: This term paper deals with the American popular culture and society between the 1940's and 1950's and the Denim changing history, especially fashion. It also takes a look at male and female representatives in movies and the pres. A conclusion follows at the end.

The 1940's can be seen as a life changing decade for the American society. One first has to consider historical occurrences that took place in that time to understand following cultural and social changes. While a lot of events were embossing Americans, it seems that nothing was as challenging as the Great Depression. The nation suffered from hunger, unemployment, immigration and an economic crisis between the 1930's till the entrance into the Second World War. Besides these problems America also went through hard times because of the Vietnam War or the civil war. However, it is legitimate to say that the changes that happened because of Civil war and the World War II affected many people positively as well in terms of hope and wealth. Still, it is also important to see that millions of people lost their lives, others got even poorer and anxiety was around millions of people. America in times of war was, behind the popular view which stands for wealthy, united and confident Americans, was anything but great.

Nevertheless Americans searched for vast and fast changes from the immediate post war era. People wanted material things, they watched out for prosperity through employment. This was a time when the middle class wanted to climb up the social ladder. People worked hard for what they wanted. The younger generation was motivated and wanted to contribute to the rise of the middle class. Teen employment has become more and more popular. Even during wartime much has been made by female workers. But in the long term women were still regarded as housewives that should go back home. In times of war women and minorities did not exactly felt integrated in the image of a totally United Nation. Women also contributed to war time results, but a lot of them felt although they were happy to return home as though their gains had been roughly taken back from them.