The 1950s Family

The 1950s Family

In the aftermath of WWII's significant instability came the 1950s, suburbia, and the dream of a "picture-perfect" family. The 1950s were boomer years. The economy boomed, and everywhere individuals were feeling the need for family and security after arduous years of the war. So, in 1950s family life, there was also a marriage boom, birth rate boom, and housing boom.

The 1950s Family

During the 50s, there was a deeply ingrained social stigma against divorce, and the divorce rate dropped. So, the stereotypical nuclear family of the 1950s consisted of an economically stable family made up of a father, mother, and two or three children. Children were precious assets and the center of the family. Very few wives worked, and even if they had to work, it was combined with their role as housewives and mothers. Few husbands spent "quality" time with their children or helped around the house. Dad's role was to be the breadwinner, advice giver, and family disciplinarian.

What 1950s Parents Wanted for Their Kids

Parents wanted their children to have better lives than they had had and did everything possible to make life "good" for their kids and grow them into successful adults. Children were taught manners and taken to Sunday school or church. Generally, parents were permissive and wanted their kids to have a more fun and comfortable childhood than they'd had during the war effort of WWII.

Raising Girls in the 50s

Little girls were expected to be "nice." They helped around the house, wore dresses and skirts, and were taught to be deferential. Even as children, girls felt family and societal pressure to focus their aspirations on home, husband, and children instead of higher education. It wasn't uncommon for a girl to marry and begin having children shortly after high school graduation. Girls were not groomed or encouraged to attend college, and if their parents did provide them with higher education, it was with the expectation that they'd meet a suitable husband and have a career they could fall back on.

Raising Boys in the 50s

Male children were expected to be strong, responsible, and assertive, but also mischievous. Boys were encouraged to enlarge themselves, explore, and claim extra territory. Parents tried to build their son's ego. They wanted him to be a winner. They encouraged their sons to excel in school, in athletics, and to attend college. Parents gave their boys more mobility, authority, and respect, but in the end, parents also expected their boys to settle down and have a family.

Permissive Parenting

Many mothers read Dr. Benjamin Spock's 1946 book Baby and Child Care and followed his advice to hug, kiss, and encourage their children to express their individuality. His controversial advice was that parents need not worry about spoiling their children. They should tell their children they were special, feed them when they were hungry, put them to bed when they were tired, and discipline them with words rather than corporal punishment. Many say Dr. Spock's advice led to overly permissive child rearing, which led to the independence and rebellious nature of 1950s teenagers.

The Stereotypical Boomer Family

Due to the booming economy, the stereotypical boomer family had more money. With the establishment of the Federal Housing Authority (FDA) and the Veterans Administration (VA) home loan programs, many white middle-class American parents found it easy to borrow money from a bank and move out of cities and small towns into newly built homes in the suburbs. Sadly, due to legal discrimination, this was not yet possible for people of color who were restricted to less desirable neighborhoods even when they had the where-with-all to relocate to better surroundings.

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