The 50’s was a start of what has developed into our modern day and age. This was the beginning of America stripping the conservative life and moving toward a progressive modern future. It was a time when teenagers stored their church clothes and put on their leather jackets with hair gel. Jody Pennington and J. Ronald Oakley both expressed on their different views of juvenile delinquency and rebellious behavior in the youths of the 50’s. Stephanie Coontz, however, examined family life in the 50’s and how they were not like the perfect families shown in the media during that time. The 50’s were a rise of leisure time which in essence was the cause of change in life for American families.
In Jody Pennington’s discussion from Don’t Knock the Rock: Race, Business, and Society in the Rise of Rock and Roll, he argued that Rock and Roll in the 50’s along with the new forms of consumerism started a rebellious act amongst the youth during this time. He introduces his argument stating that Rock and Roll was a movement with teenagers playing their music loudly and the parents yelling for them to turn it down. He furthermore explains his argument by stating that Rock and Roll was perfect …show more content…
J. Ronald Oakley’s discussion from God’s Country: America in the Fifties explains how only a small percentage of the teenage population were rebellious. The majority of teenagers during this time were well groomed and conservative. He also mentions that rebellion against authority primarily consisted of harmless pranks. Towards the end of the excerpt, he proves his argument of their being more conservative youths rather than rebellious by stating that in a survey over half of the teenage population believed that censorship was justified. He ends his argument by mentioning that the parents of this time later realize that Rock and Roll was not the cause of juvenile