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This is an advertisement for the American Dream (sites.psu.edu) 

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This lifestyle was a style that focused on nuclear life families living in the suburbs.

This style gave a sense of artificial freedom to American families, a belief of a perfect world.

The common belief of this style is that if you work for it, you can achieve it. You can have a happy family, white picket fences, and a perfect life!

#delusion

(achenews.com)

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Picture from the 1950s sitcom I Love Lucy (Baker p. 28)

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It was advertised that a woman's “place” was in the house. A woman's destiny was to become wives and mothers. A good example of this was the 1950's sitcom, I Love Lucy. This show portrayed a suburban married couple, a hardworking husband and an unintelligent housewife.

The expectation of housewives was to look hyper-feminine, some items include:

- Dresses and long skirts with lace or
patterns

- Decorated aprons, similar to a maid

- Hair done and make-up applied

Housewives lived unhappy lives trying to keep up with making meals and housework and children, while also trying to look appealing to their husbands.

#women are not objects
(Baker p. 28)

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Movie Adaptation of “The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit” played by Gregory Peck (The Rake.com)

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During the 50s, the demand for work was high for men to help rebuild the economy. Fashion for men had to be simple but professional and presentable for work.

The most popular style was The Gray Flannel Suit as was inspired by Sloan Wilson's novel “The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit.”

- Textured Gray Flannel suits
- White shirts
- Silk ties
- Slacks

This gave the idea of an average man becoming a rich corporation man, working hard to achieve greater things.

#basic
(Baker pg. 32)

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A look from Christian Dior's fashion line in the 1950s (Luxtailor)

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Women's fashion was designed to emphasize a women's hourglass figure as much as possible. The majority of styles were inspired by Marilyn Monroe, Doris Day, and Christian Dior.

Some of the main items include
-  Full skirts to shape the waistline
- Tight fitting jeans
- Stiff corsets
- Uplifting dresses
- “V-shaped” or “Heart-shaped” necklines

Women were taught that they had to look the image to ultimately attract a man for marriage.

#no thanks
(Baker pg. 44)

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At the end of World War II begins a brand new generation, The 1950s!

What's the overall goal? To achieve bigger and better things, now that the war is over…

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Article of Children's clothing in a Sears catalog from the 1950s (LovetoKnow.com)

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Girls were raised to take after their mothers. They were expected to wear dresses, bows, and skirts in pastel colors. Femininity was encouraged at a young age.

#cuties
(LovetoKnow.com)

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When the veterans returned home from the war, they immediately started new families. This caused an altitude in the population known as The Baby Boom.

Approximately 4.24 MILLION babies were born every year!

This influenced men and women to play new “roles” in their new lives

Women were encouraged to become “housewives”, taking care of the children and the household.

Men were influenced that they were the leaders and they need to provide for their families by going into the workforce.

These new roles ultimately influenced the fashion and lifestyles of the 1950s, as society “determined” what parts people should play to achieve the best.

#gender discrimination is no good
(History.com)

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Article of Boy's Fashion from a Sears Catalog 1950s (Lovetoknow.com)

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Boys were taught to take after their father. They wore shirts, slacks, and sometimes even ties to match the business look their fathers wore every day.

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Living the American Dream, 1950s Suburban Life (youtube)

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Here is a short from the 1950’s that demonstrates suburban living and the American Dream.

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Living the American Dream, 1950s Suburban Life

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Advertisement for washing machines 1950s (Baker p.36)

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The Consumer Market and The American Dream go hand in hand as this was great advertising scheme of companies to help the consumers achieve their goal of a perfect life.

Products of this market includes:
-  Washing machines
- Commercial kitchens
- Vacuum cleaners
- Electric ovens

These products were mostly advertised towards women, to furthermore encourage motherhood. These items were essential for the average suburban home.

#commercialism
(Baker p.36)

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“ It would mean getting up at seven and cooking him eggs and bacon and toast and coffee and dawdling about in my night-gown and curlers after he'd left for work to wash up the dirty plates and make the bed, and then when he came home after a lively, fascinating day he'd expect a big dinner, and I'd spend the evening washing up even more dirty plates till I fell into bed, utterly exhausted.” (Plath p. 84)

Most women thought marriage was a trap to work for their husbands the rest of their lives.

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“If there's anything I look down on, it's a man in a blue outfit. Black or gray, or brown, even. Blue just makes me laugh.” (Plath p. 12)

Color wasn't encouraged often among men's fashion because men were expected to look mature.

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“Doreen looked terrific. She was wearing a strapless white lace dress zipped over a snug corset affair that curved her in at the middle and bulged her out again spectacularly above and below.” (Plath p.6)

Corsets were very common for women's clothing in order to look more slim and curvy.

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“The main point of this article was that a man's world is different from a woman's world, and a man's emotions are different from a woman's emotions and only marriage can bring the two worlds and the two different sets of emotions together properly.” (Plath p. 81)

Many novels written at this time taught women how to play their role as wives and mothers.

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In the 1950s, a college student, Esther Greenwood, is dreaming about what she should become in the future. She is selected into an internship, living the dream with parties, status, and a boyfriend. But inside, she was fighting struggles with her identity and trying to fit in with the social norms. With her declining mental state being overshadowed by her passions, is was if she was trapped inside a jar.

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This topic connects to the book because of the true meanings behind each social trend during the 1950s. These trends that influenced nationwide were forced labels by media to achieve an illusion of peace and freedom.

The Bell Jar demonstrates the life of someone in this time period, following along with the newly stated norms and fashion trends to cover up the pain of her life.

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It's Impossible To Pass This 1950's Home Economics Quiz

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This quiz determines your knowledge of the standards of a 1950s housewife.

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The curriculum for home economics has drastically changed since the 1950s. Around 67 percent of women were housewives during that time and became experts on daily duties including cooking, cleaning, and other household chores. They would learn things such as how to approach their husband when he came home from work and how far in advance they should send out party invitations. This quiz will show how much home economic expectations have evolved and if you stood a chance to be a 1950s homemaker.
Scroll down to continue on!

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It's Impossible To Pass This 1950's Home Economics Quiz

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This quiz will show how much home economic expectations have evolved and if you stood a chance to be a 1950s homemaker.