The Affluent Society

Before you participate in this discussion, be sure to read the Module Notes and Chapter 26: “The Affluent Society” in The American Yawp. Then watch the following videos: In the Suburbs and Housewife Prepares a Family Breakfast During 1950s. When these films were made they had specific purposes. But even today we can watch them and learn much about the 1950s. Look closely at the people, the way they portray social interactions, what they wear, and the objects they use. Using the videos and other materials above as evidence, consider the following in a post of at least 250 words: What can these films they tell us about gender roles, family life, and the emphasis on consumerism in the 1950s? Who might have been left out of the middle-class consumer-oriented lifestyle portrayed in the films? Why?