Lesson: 1950s American Life & The Happy Housewife Archetype (+YouTube Playlist)

The past is a foreign country--historical inquiry requires a passport unlike any other: stamped with empathy, understanding, the willingness to believe that many actions were guided by well-meaning intentions, and some decisions are shrouded in ignorance. 

It is what it is. And in the study of Cultural Literacy, the past comes to life as we devour novels, primary sources, and historical accounts from experts in the field.

This past week, we continued our investigation of 1950s American life and focused on "The American Dream". Our inquiry centered upon American consumerism and the role of women in the 1950s.

Our sophomores responded to this lively discussion. It was another impressive display of teenagers grappling with the foreign-nature of historical inquiry. On more than one occasion, debate turned to pondering the legitimacy of gender stereotypes of the time and the silent dissatisfaction among many in the 1950s. 

One of our awesome sophomores, Leah, sent me a music video from the band the Neighbourhood. Her observations, that the dissatisfaction and turmoil of the homemaker in the video, resembles the discontent voiced in the Feminine Mystique and other primary sources that we examined.

Classroom Resources:
Stanford History Education Group: Reading Like A Historian
Primary Source Readings: Women in the 1950s

Videos:
Cultural Literacy Class Playlist - 1950s American Life: American Consumerism & Women
Makers: Women Who Make America (PBS) - 1950s Housewives

Collaborative HyperDoc: 

-"Women in the 1950s" notes sheet

Two primary sources:

-A) Harper's Weekly daily household routines

-B) Betty Friedan's Feminine Mystique

Two secondary sources:

-C) Women & political participation

-D) Consumerism & the rise of double incomes

Additional Video Resources:

USA Economy in the 1950s

The Feminine Mystique via PBS Makers: Women Who Make America

The Levittown Story - America's First Working Class Suburb

Crisis in Levittown - Segregation and Discrimination

The hyperdoc and resources from Reading Like a Historian are great for collaborative learning across the spectrum... appropriate for learners of varying reading levels.
-j