Big Dolly wrote:
I'm sorry, but I'm 69 years old and the only thing I remember about the 1950's was they were the very worst years of my life because I was born to a child abuser who made the first 16 years of my life PURE H#LL!🤬 Nostalgia isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Therefore, I prefer not to think about the 50's at all.
I am sorry your life was so awful-really. Mine was no picnic, with a mean drunk for a father, but when sober was the nicest kindest wisest man on earth-confusing for a kid? You bet! And then he believed in "spare the rod, spoil the child" kind of parenting, as did my mother-so my childhood was not exactly fun and games. Having been born in 1943, I remember the 50's well. With all the negatives, it was the best time to be a kid. You did not have to be afraid to walk down the street, police were there to help, athletes simply played their sport, and said nothing about their politics, nor did they disparage the country that made their fortune and fame possible. I could and did ride my bike all over-anywhere we wanted to go we either walked or biked. If I had asked for a ride from my parents, they would have asked if I broke my leg and was unable to walk. We did not have computers, cell phones or electronic games, so we played outside a lot, ran around, got plenty of exercise, and we actually had to study for an education. Teachers were not afraid to flunk you if you did not do the work, and parents agreed. If you got into trouble at school it was certain you would be in trouble when you got home. Our education included actual math, that we had to work out, and know all the functions and tables of those functions, spelling was important, history was taught separately from geography and no one heard of or cared about "women's studies" or Black History. If you were black and an American, your history was covered in American History, unless of course you were an immigrant. Illegals were rare, that we knew of anyway, because it was not so easy or such a political game to be played.
Children may not have had respect for adults, but knew better than to show it-mostly adults pretty much ignored what we had to say-there were some bad things and attitudes in the 50's of course. Women were only supposed to be mothers and homemakers, or if they worked outside or were single, they had the choice of nurse, teacher, or secretary or waitress or maid. Pretty much it-though some women did not care what others thought, and became tax accountants or joined the military. They had to work harder and be better at their jobs to get any respect from their peers or their boss. Sexual harassment and rape were deemed to be the female's fault for dressing provocatively, or walking down the wrong area at the wrong time. So there were some real problems, but nothing like we have now. Some women who were career minded were looked down upon as upstarts, rebels or whores. We believed all the hype about Hollywood and the stars, and it was a more innocent time-polio was about to be eradicated with the Salk vaccine, and later mumps and measles vaccine came out.
We were more free, we looked for a brighter future, thought we could have a better life than our parents, and worked to make it happen. If you were on welfare for life, if you were not disabled, it was a disgrace, sex outside marriage was discouraged, and unwed mothers were looked down on by many. As I said there were some things not so great. Work was expected, frugality was the word of the day because the war was just over, and before that the depression-which most people had lived through back then, so they were glad for the prosperity the war brought. Marriage was between one man and one woman, and living together was met with total rejection. We had morals and standards, and while some needed to be eased, it was a good time to live. When you were old enough, you were expected to get a part time job-to save for college, or to buy and maintain your own vehicle, or your own place to live. So, it was not easy, some of it was grossly unfair-like I would never have felt comfortable telling my teacher or any other adult about my home life-just was not done-you dealt with it whichever way you could. But I learned a great deal, and would not want to be a young person growing up in the US in the 2000's. No thank you.