1950s America: A Utopia?

[Stern des Meeres]

I wasn't alive during the 50's, but I think it was far from a utopia.

The 40's did a lot for women, putting them in real jobs and empowering them. The 50's came, though, and because the men were back from war, women were expected to revert back to the pre-war perfect housewife.

This, along with the rampant racism and anti-communist sentiments, sets the 50's back a good bit on the utopia meter.

[Uieurnthlaal]

The fuck is a white nigger?

Racist pejorative slang for an Irishman.

OK, then never mind.

[Sailsia]

The 1950s was probably the closest the US has come to being an actual dictatorship. The only reason it's remembered fondly is due to the sheer amount of propaganda from the era that we see today. People see film strips and movies from the era and actually believe that's what it was like when in reality it was just Cold War propaganda.

[Death Metal]

The only real Utopia was Sparta

Sparta?!

THAT. IS. MADNESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

*Kicks a messenger into Our House In The Middle Of Our Street*

[Valcouria]

Ah, the 50s; When men were men, women were women, America was great, there was an obvious enemy to be hated, and society was good and decent. Looking back, I do long for a return to such a society...

There is an obvious enemy to be hated today.

it's called hate.

Your obsession with hating people and forcing them into certain roles is so unchristian that not even the Catholic Church manages it.

The Church still has an incredibly negative view of communists, you know. (http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a7.htm)...certainly implied contempt if not outright scorn, to be honest.

And furthermore, hate is something that is always present in some form or another; trying to fight it is like fighting the tide.

[Arglorand]

There is an obvious enemy to be hated today.

it's called hate.

Your obsession with hating people and forcing them into certain roles is so unchristian that not even the Catholic Church manages it.

The Church still has an incredibly negative view of communists, you know. (http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a7.htm)...certainly implied contempt if not outright scorn, to be honest.

And furthermore, hate is something that is always present in some form or another; trying to fight it is like fighting the tide.

I have no fucking idea at all how what you just gave me proves it.

This, however, I found interesting:

Political authority has the right and duty to regulate the legitimate exercise of the right to ownership for the sake of the common good.

And you're wrong. You know why? Because Jesus, according to every Christian sect ever except the meaningless, irrelevant ones, preached love and mutual respect, not hate. Hate is, by default, an unchristian value.

Besides, I think it very arrogant of you to presume you're the end-all authority on whether hate is necessary in a person's life. I don't know a single person I hate.

[Pacifornia]

There was this thing I read called "The Good Wife's Guide" which you should look up sometime. I'm not sure if it's fake or not though

[Sailsia]

Ah, the 50s; When men were men, women were women, America was great, there was an obvious enemy to be hated, and society was good and decent. Looking back, I do long for a return to such a society...

Literally none of that is true. Men and women were forced into gender roles that many absolutely HATED and as a result suffered for and even committed suicide over. America was at that time actually LOSING ground to the USSR, so hardly "great". There was no "enemy" to be hated. There was several enemies, all of which were in reality just normal people who were being persecuted due to political dick swinging. Society actually saw more cases of teen pregnancy and insanity at this time, not to mention rape and spousal abuse was an even greater problem than it is today.

[Rocopurr]

I can't really get over the discrimination, y'know? The racism, sexism, homophobia, etC. kind of makes it far from a utopia to me.

There was this thing I read called "The Good Wife's Guide" which you should look up sometime. I'm not sure if it's fake or not though

I've seen that, even if it isn't real I imagine a lot of people thought and a few still think that that's how a wife should be.

[TaQud]

Yeah 1950s were great. Especially for african americans and other minorities. /sarcasm

[Vicswampia]

And not a white nigger or a polack.

The fuck is a white nigger?

Justin Bieber.

[Exogenous Imperium]

What is 'Murica? The Threads creator spelt America correctly in the title line so it can't be that. Unless he/she is being a prick.

As for this thread's question, it is irrelevant as Utopia has never nor can ever exist. Some people will despair at this, I however take great comfort in it. What could be argued is whether 1950s America was the best society or one of the best societies of the last century. I would say that it was.

[Olthar]

Pro Tip: Leave It To Beaver was a work of fiction. It was in no way an accurate portrayal of the time period.

[Valcouria]

Ah, the 50s; When men were men, women were women, America was great, there was an obvious enemy to be hated, and society was good and decent. Looking back, I do long for a return to such a society...

Literally none of that is true. Men and women were forced into gender roles that many absolutely HATED and as a result suffered for and even committed suicide over. America was at that time actually LOSING ground to the USSR, so hardly "great". There was no "enemy" to be hated. There was several enemies, all of which were in reality just normal people who were being persecuted due to political dick swinging. Society actually saw more cases of teen pregnancy and insanity at this time, not to mention rape and spousal abuse was an even greater problem than it is today.

It should be known that I am a great proponent of gender roles, since they teach children how to properly behave in their respective genders. Further, the USSR was 'the enemy', and so deserved the ire of all good Americans.

[The Blaatschapen]

So NSG, I got to do some of that dangerous late-night thinking, and I thought about what it would be like to live in the 1950s, a time portrayed as somewhat of a Golden Age in American history. The time of sock hops and pink carnations, the 1950s economically and somewhat socially a prosperous time for America, after victories over Nazism and Imperial Japan, emerging out of the Great Depression as a world superpower.

The 1950s are generally portrayed as peaceful, carefree, and wonderful time in the media, when most everyone lived by the same ethics and standards. I personally do not think of the 1950s America as a Utopia, going by exact definition, given the social policies of the US and the looming threat of a nuclear war, but I'm curious to see NSG's opinion.

So, what is it? A Utopia, or just a period of prosperity in American history?

It was an utopia, for a conservative straight white cis christian male.

Otherwise, no, not really.

[Uieurnthlaal]

Literally none of that is true. Men and women were forced into gender roles that many absolutely HATED and as a result suffered for and even committed suicide over. America was at that time actually LOSING ground to the USSR, so hardly "great". There was no "enemy" to be hated. There was several enemies, all of which were in reality just normal people who were being persecuted due to political dick swinging. Society actually saw more cases of teen pregnancy and insanity at this time, not to mention rape and spousal abuse was an even greater problem than it is today.

It should be known that I am a great proponent of gender roles, since they teach children how to properly behave in their respective genders. Further, the USSR was 'the enemy', and so deserved the ire of all good Americans.

Even if you don't like the egalitarian argument for abolishing the social need for gender roles, consider this: if we end gender roles, and allow people to compete not on accidents of birth but on actual talent, then the economy, and progress, will improve as a whole.

[Rocopurr]

Literally none of that is true. Men and women were forced into gender roles that many absolutely HATED and as a result suffered for and even committed suicide over. America was at that time actually LOSING ground to the USSR, so hardly "great". There was no "enemy" to be hated. There was several enemies, all of which were in reality just normal people who were being persecuted due to political dick swinging. Society actually saw more cases of teen pregnancy and insanity at this time, not to mention rape and spousal abuse was an even greater problem than it is today.

It should be known that I am a great proponent of gender roles, since they teach children how to properly behave in their respective genders. Further, the USSR was 'the enemy', and so deserved the ire of all good Americans.

There is no proper way to act for your respective gender.

[Magna Libero]

Sure.

"Better Dead Than Red"

[Lemanrussland]

~1950-1970 was a good time for the West in general, economically speaking anyway.

[Regnum Dominae]

Economically it was pretty good but socially you had to be a white straight Christian male to really benefit.

[Magna Libero]

~1950-1970 was a good time for the West in general, economically speaking anyway.

Until the corrupted boxing judges declared Ali to be the winner of the fight Ali vs. Frazier.
*nods*

[Death Metal]

Literally none of that is true. Men and women were forced into gender roles that many absolutely HATED and as a result suffered for and even committed suicide over. America was at that time actually LOSING ground to the USSR, so hardly "great". There was no "enemy" to be hated. There was several enemies, all of which were in reality just normal people who were being persecuted due to political dick swinging. Society actually saw more cases of teen pregnancy and insanity at this time, not to mention rape and spousal abuse was an even greater problem than it is today.

It should be known that I am a great proponent of gender roles, since they teach children how to properly behave in their respective genders.

There is no such thing as "proper" behavior.

[Genivaria]

Literally none of that is true. Men and women were forced into gender roles that many absolutely HATED and as a result suffered for and even committed suicide over. America was at that time actually LOSING ground to the USSR, so hardly "great". There was no "enemy" to be hated. There was several enemies, all of which were in reality just normal people who were being persecuted due to political dick swinging. Society actually saw more cases of teen pregnancy and insanity at this time, not to mention rape and spousal abuse was an even greater problem than it is today.

It should be known that I am a great proponent of gender roles, since they teach children how to properly behave in their respective genders. Further, the USSR was 'the enemy', and so deserved the ire of all good Americans.

There is no 'proper' way to behave based on gender.

[Quintium]

The 1950s was probably the closest the US has come to being an actual dictatorship. The only reason it's remembered fondly is due to the sheer amount of propaganda from the era that we see today. People see film strips and movies from the era and actually believe that's what it was like when in reality it was just Cold War propaganda.

Actually, I'd give that dubious honour to the Civil War. You know, the war where the President locked up hundreds of political opponents indefinitely and then proceeded to crush half of the country, which had revolted against him, with a lot of brutal violence.

[Lemanrussland]

~1950-1970 was a good time for the West in general, economically speaking anyway.

Until the corrupted boxing judges declared Ali to be the winner of the fight Ali vs. Frazier.
*nods*

Yep, Ali's ill-begotten victory triggered the collapse of the Bretton Woods system, the energy crisis of the 1970s, and the 1970s stagflation/recession.