The 1950s American Dream by Ryan Riang
The American Dream of the 1950s was about materialism, the roles of men and women, having a happy family, and being sophisticated.
Materialism
In the 1950s, it was all about owning the newest items. The TV count in America went from 7,000 in 1946 to a whopping 50,000,000 by 1950!
Americans wanted to stay modern by owning the newest cars. Popular brands included Ford, Volkswagen, and Chevrolet. Automobiles in the 1950s were the reason for the creation of drive-in restaurants or drive-in theaters.
Happy Family
Photographs of happy American families constantly appear in magazines and newspapers to advertise. After the soldiers arrived home from World War II, they were eager to start a family, so the "Baby Boom" era began.
Here is a picture of American kids. Companies such as Nationwide Insurance are attractive for families because it helps protect them.
Women's Roles in 1950s America
Housework ads for dishwashers, ovens, and such are advertised towards women because in the 1950s, women were supposed to do more work in the house as the soldiers returned and joined the workforce again.
Here, women are shown shopping for meat which they later would take home to cook for their family.
Men's Roles in 1950s America
On the other hand, men were the workers of the family and they worked their jobs to support their families
Most companies including Farmers Insurance Group are made almost entirely of male employees.
Making Yourself Look Good and Sophisticated
Tobacco ads were guaranteed to appear multiple times in any 1950s magazine. Unlike the modern day, smoking tobacco in the 1950s was regular and cool to do.
Similar to tobacco, alcohol was widely used and often advertised in newspapers. Men would come home from a long day's work and drink a beer to relax at home.
1950s American Dream vs Today's American Dream
In the 1950s, the American Dream heavily focused on materialism and the fixed ideals for men and women. Every family needed their cars, radios, and television sets. Men were supposed to work while women stayed and took care of the house. Today, the American Dream is very much about wealth, freedom, and equality. Many families want their kids to graduate high school and go to college to have a successful future. By doing this, they can retire and not be worried about financial problems. Any American is supposed to have the choice to do what they want with their life, unlike the set standards of 1950s adults. Similarly, men and women are now more equal and there are much more women participating in jobs only men would in the 1950s.