Question: Talk with one man and one woman who are 20 years older than you. Talk with one woman and one man who are 40 years older than you. In each conversation, ask them to explain how men and women were expected to be when they were 20 years old. As them to explain what behaviors, goals, and attitudes were considered inappropriate for woman and men when they were 20 years old. Compare their responses with view held by 20-year-olds today. Discuss your findings in a blog post.
Ans: I am turning twenty this year so the people I interviewed we're around their sixties. I decided to interview my grandma since I was there writing her checks anyways. She said that when she was twenty she had been working and supporting her family. She lived in the city so she wore semi-formal attire casually and made sure to do her make up everyday. It was considered inappropriate for a young lady to be casually dressed in pajamas, work out clothes, and "revealing attire" (such as short shorts or wearing a camisole as a top). When I asked my peers who were also twenty they said that almost any attire is appropriate as long as something is coming their private parts. Women's goal in life, back in the day, was to tend to the family, tidy the house, and take care of the kids. The men were expected to be the head of the household and bring home the paycheck. Their ultimate goal in life was to reproduce and create the "classic" family. Anyone who derived from the norm, such as a women as the head of the household or a women bringing home the paycheck and not taking care of the husband and children were looked down upon. Although we, as females, see her as a strong and responsible woman to be able to support her family, the community was not very supportive of such women once they were married. If the men were gay or desired to be single, or not find a job and be able to support themselves by their early twenties it was considered to be a shame to the family. For our current generation, it isn't really considered inappropriate to have any goal or attitude in life. The current is society is very relaxed in terms of standards. At most, it is considered inappropriate to be a prostitute or a beggar.
Great Post! You said it right that our society today does not care about what our goals are, because we live in a very liberal society with the freedom of choice. But yes back then women were judged by their attire in public space, and the choices they made as career women or responsible homemakers. In the 1960s an ideal woman was the one who got married in her 20s, reproduced children and nurtured them, managed her household, and cared for her husband. After reading your post, it makes me feel how far have we come from that era. Today more and more 20-year-old women are encouraged to go to school, become independent and marry whenever they meet the right person. Today’s women are not stereotyped as housewives and have all the freedom to go behind their passion.
ReplyDeleteHey!I really enjoyed reading your post this evening. Just like you i am also 20, so the people I interviewed were in their 40s and 60s. Most of the information I wrote sort of tied in with yours. My Uncle when he was in his 20s discussed with me the ideal life during a war time period. He discussed with me seeing the war on the news and his time in college. I believe in the 60s men and women were stereotyped by a lot of things especially on they dress. Most of the clothing was covering up their body. Listening to his stories was fascinating.
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