The 1950’s are often thought of as a decade of simpler life and prosperity in America. However, this may be considered a misconception of the time period. Pop culture of the 1950’s reflected the reality of the decade where gender roles of men and women were solid in American culture and racism was still prevalent in society. Gender roles in America in the 1950’s were solidified into the culture which was largely represented in the decade’s pop culture. The reality was that women and men had expected roles; For example, the woman stays home to take care of the house and children while the man goes out to work and provide for his family. Women had some opportunities but were still being discriminated against in the 1950’s. I Love Lucy, the highest rated tv series in the US for 4 out of its 6 seasons from 1951-1957, shows the unequal treatment
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The men don 't agree with the women, as Ricky says to Lucy, “I am the first one to agree that women should have all the rights they want, as long as they stay in their place.” Ricky obviously takes a more traditional approach to gender roles where as Lucy is more progressive and demands equal treatment as if she was a man. In addition to television shows during the 1950’s, advertisements also showed the solid gender roles within society. A Del Monte ketchup ad shows a woman surprised that she can open the ketchup bottle without help. Along with the message that states, “You mean a woman an open it,” it depicts women as being weak and incapable of doing a simple task (Appendix A). Overall, the ad is very sexist and portrays women in a negative light. On the contrary, a US Army ad highlights the manliness of serving the country with the army (Appendix B). Serving on the battlefield was only a position that a man could have in the 1950’s, no women were allowed, thus the ad is directed to men. Based on these two ads, the roles of men and women are solidified in the 1950’s. The manliness of fighting in war and the fragile and
The men don 't agree with the women, as Ricky says to Lucy, “I am the first one to agree that women should have all the rights they want, as long as they stay in their place.” Ricky obviously takes a more traditional approach to gender roles where as Lucy is more progressive and demands equal treatment as if she was a man. In addition to television shows during the 1950’s, advertisements also showed the solid gender roles within society. A Del Monte ketchup ad shows a woman surprised that she can open the ketchup bottle without help. Along with the message that states, “You mean a woman an open it,” it depicts women as being weak and incapable of doing a simple task (Appendix A). Overall, the ad is very sexist and portrays women in a negative light. On the contrary, a US Army ad highlights the manliness of serving the country with the army (Appendix B). Serving on the battlefield was only a position that a man could have in the 1950’s, no women were allowed, thus the ad is directed to men. Based on these two ads, the roles of men and women are solidified in the 1950’s. The manliness of fighting in war and the fragile and