Abstract: The 1950s in America are often romanticized as a
period of prosperity, stability, and conformity. However, beneath the idea of
domestic tranquility were complex social dynamics, predominantly regarding
gender roles and expectations. This research paper looks into the particulars
of 1950s American society, examining the creation of gender norms, the
challenges faced by marginalized groups (specifically LGBTQ+), and the lasting
impact of these social expectations on current issues of gender equality and
identity.
Research Questions:
1.
How were gender roles created and reinforced in
1950s American society, particularly within the mass media representations and
popular culture?
2.
What social expectations were placed on men and
women in the 1950s, and how did these expectations tie with race, class, and
sexuality in individual experiences?
3.
How did marginalized groups, such as women of
color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and working-class women, overcome dominant gender
norms?
4.
What similarities can be drawn between the
gender norms of the 1950s and present-day debates regarding gender equality,
women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights in the 21st century?
Significance:
By exploring the connections of gender with race, class, and
sexuality, this paper aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of how
gender norms were built and challenged during the postwar period. Ultimately,
this research may contribute to current discussions surrounding gender equality
and human rights in modern society.
OUTLINE:
1. Research Topic: This research paper looks into the
particulars of 1950s American society, examining the creation of gender norms,
the challenges faced by marginalized groups (specifically LGBTQ+), and the
lasting impact of these social expectations on current issues of gender
equality and identity.
2. Thesis statement: The creation of gender norms and their
influence through mass media created enduring tensions among men, women, and
LGBTQ+ individuals that can still be witnessed today.
3. Outline
I. Introduction: Introduce the topic and thesis statement
II. Creation of Gender Norms
a.
What were they
b.
How they impacted both men and women
III. Gender Norms & Women
a.
Mass media influence
b.
Female resistance
IV. Gender Norms & LGBTQ+
a.
Resistance against gender norms in the 50s
b.
How they navigated societal expectations
V. Conclusion
a. Gender
identity and social expectations today
SOURCES:
Strub, Whitney. “Gender, Sexuality, and Social Change
in American Culture.” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History,
October 2019.
Barbas, Samantha. “Queer Identities in 1950s Film: The
Intersection of Race, Class, and Sexuality.” Cinema Journal, vol. 59, no.
1, Fall 2019, pp. 123-148.
Stage, Sarah L. “Race, Gender, and Class in the 1950s:
An Intersectional Analysis.” The Journal of American Culture, vol. 43, no.
3, Sep. 2020, pp. 317-334.
Rottenberg, Catherine. “Revisiting 1950s Femininity:
Gender Norms and Female Resistance.” Feminist Studies, vol. 46, no. 3,
Fall 2020, pp. 594-619.
Jackson, Emily. “The Legacy of 1950s Gender Norms:
Implications for Contemporary Gender Equality Movements.” Gender &
Society, vol. 35, no. 1, Feb. 2021, pp. 37-55.
Bowman, James. “Challenging the Myth of 1950s Gender
Conformity: Exploring Nonconforming Gender Identities in Postwar America.”
American Quarterly, vol. 73, no. 2, Jun. 2021, pp. 295-320.
Howard, John. “Domesticity and Desire: Gay Men and
Middle-Class Family Life in Postwar America.” Journal of Social History,
vol. 33, no. 2, Winter 1999, pp. 351-372.
