Writing Topic 2:
Social Media

The 1950’s: History Subject or Dystopian Story?

When hearing phrases such as “nuclear families”, “government manipulation”, and “threats of world war”, one may assume that these phrases would be referring to a dystopian novel about an alternate reality. Afterall, how could the government possibly manipulate an entire country to change the structure of how Americans live? It just doesn't seem possible. However, not only did this happen, it happened without the majority of Americans realizing that they had been manipulated until a decade later. This dystopian-style chapter in American history can also be referred to by a different name: the 1950’s.
In the aftermath of World War II, an important and life-changing shift occurred around the world when nuclear weapons began to change classic combat. The U.S. quickly found itself in a competition with the Soviet Union, a world Superpower quickly gaining more support, when the most prevalent debate in the world changed from Allies vs. Axis to democracy vs. communism. During the beginning of the “Cold War” as it would later be called, the U.S. government came to a decision about how America should approach the threat of communism around the world. In this approach, the government urged Americans to “put their best foot forward.” This loosely translates to “look perfect so that all other countries will want to be like us.” Thus began the conformity-supporting decade of the 1950’s.
With the arrival of the “Baby Boomers” came another life-altering invention that shaped the entire country's new family dynamics: the television. Though many people saw the television as a way to eliminate boredom and bring entertainment to American citizens, the government saw an opportunity. Introducing the TV around the world meant putting the U.S. under a magnifying glass; afterall, it meant that any riots, rebellions, and fights that occurred in the country would show up on a television screen in countries all over the world. This would certainly not serve as a promotion for democracy, so the solution created several television shows and advertisements that ended up giving nearly step-by-step instructions to Americans on how to live the ideal life. 
What counted as an ideal life? A hard-working husband, an obedient wife, two or three quiet and compliant children, a modern suburban house, and maybe a dog in the backyard. Sound familiar? This family dynamic also has another name: a nuclear family. Nuclear refers to the bomb-shelters that families built during the Cold War in case nuclear war ever happened (thankfully it didn't). The more these “perfect family” ideas showed up on a screen in the form of shows like “Leave it to Beaver” and “I Love Lucy”, the more American citizens felt that they needed it to be happy. Over time, more and more families began conforming to these ideas, leading to “White Flight”, white Americans moving to the suburbs, creating more segregation, and less rights for women and teenagers, whose established role in a household consisted of making dinner, doing homework, and keeping quiet. 
This classic family dynamic has been passed down through televisions and literature since the 50’s, and still exists in some forms today. Teenagers still feel the effects of how they have been told to act, which likely has led to the majority of teens being uninterested in current politics and social standings. The 1950’s has created many stereotypes for America, many of which still affect the country today, to the point where this decade in American history can be considered one of the biggest examples of government manipulation in the U.S.