How People in the 1950s Made Bad Decisions (and So Have We All)

Many myths have been passed down about the 1950s as a golden era, where people did not make bad decisions. But this notion is a popular myth, full of golden lies and misconceptions. We are often led to believe that the 1950s were a time when everyone behaved well, and there were fewer problems than what we face today. However, nothing could be further from the truth. People in the 1950s, just like anyone else, made numerous poor decisions that were sometimes even more hidden.

The Myth of the 1950s

Did you know that people in the 1950s did not have an easy time? The 1950s were certainly not a utopia. The myths about this period being a golden age are just that — myths. Women were forced to leave their jobs when they got married, and many got prescriptions for now-illegal drugs. Teenagers often faced the harsh reality of getting pregnant and being forced to marry the father. In many cases, the groom, resentful that he was to be tied down, would often abuse their wives.

In fact, the 1950s saw numerous poor decisions, both in personal lives and in the economy:

Many people made poor investments and lost a lot of money. When it came to race, some people made the mistake of seeing others as inferior simply because of the color of their skin, and those who were not white faced a myriad of hardships, racial discrimination, and denial of basic human rights. To add to the challenges, crime rates were high, and by the end of the 1950s, about 25% of Americans lived in poverty, with the poverty rate much higher for those who were not white. Drunk driving and accidents were also prevalent, and some people even attempted suicide.

These are just a few examples of the poor decisions people made during the 1950s. It is true that many of these decisions were more often than not hidden, not talked about publicly or even within families. The power dynamics back then also meant that these mistakes were often blamed on the victims rather than the perpetrators.

Hidden Decisions of the 1950s

For instance, I still remember my aunt who, in the mid-1950s, got pregnant at a time when being pregnant as a single woman was considered a taboo. She was my ‘wild sister’; the go-to person when it came to chasing married men. At the age of five, my sister told me the story: my aunt took a Greyhound bus to San Francisco, a Salvation Army home for unwed mothers. She gave birth there and had the child adopted, coming back home in shame. She even went to her deathbed and admitted to her family that she had had a child, but to her surprise, everyone knew about it already. Her story is a stark reminder that poor decisions were made, though often hidden.

Fast forward to today, if similar events were to happen, the outcomes would be vastly different and more favorable. She would likely finish high school with a day care to care for the child at school. Having a child in high school is now seen as a badge of honor or at least as an accepted norm. She would get child support checks from the father or sue him for not paying, perhaps even winning a significant amount of money for being underage. Even if he refused to pay, she could have him arrested for ‘child abduction.’ These modern decisions and their consequences highlight the societal shifts and the changes in how we perceive and handle poor decisions.

Power Dynamics and Responsibility

Power dynamics also play a significant role in how decisions made in the past are viewed and handled. In the 1950s, society often blamed women for the consequences of their decisions, either because of the social norms or because of the lack of support structures. Today, the responsibility is more divided, and the focus is not only on the individuals involved but also on the systemic issues that contributed to these poor decisions being made in the first place.

Understanding the past helps us appreciate the complexities of decision-making and the fluidity of societal norms. While the 1950s might not have been a golden era as many believe, it is crucial to remember that every era has its challenges and shortcomings. People in the 1950s and today both make poor decisions, but the contexts in which these decisions are made and the consequences they face are quite different.

So, the next time someone tells you about the “idyllic” 1950s, remember that people did make mistakes, and sometimes these mistakes were just hidden more effectively back then. Our society has certainly evolved, and with every era comes a new set of challenges that we must face. The past is a valuable lesson for us, reminding us of the importance of empathy, understanding, and continuous improvement.