Module 02 Discussion - Domestic Containment
Discuss the concept of "domestic containment". How did this concept operate in 1950's-1960's America? Why was it destined to ultimately fail? Give an example of one of the values present in domestic containment, and explain why it did not apply to the increasingly independent youth culture during the 1960's.
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By. Mr. Miller
Domestic containment is a concept promoted by our government after WWII to encourage uniformity in American households. It painted a picture where the father provided the income for the family, the mother stayed home to care for the household, and the children were obedient. The belief was that providing this stable environment would prevent unwanted influences, such as communism, from permeating our society.
it was destined to fail because it was a ludicrous concept, that, if anything, probably bred discontent that ultimately evolved into greater acts of protest, particularly with the youth of the era. The government wanted to create a sense of conformity in our society with this, but as the 1960's dawned, the younger generations started to question certain aspects of our society. Things like civil rights and our involvement in Vietnam led prompted many protests, and illustrated the discontent that many had with the status quo of our society.
One of the values within domestic containment was that women should stay home to take care of the household and raise the children. Women's rights became another rallying point in the 1960's as a second wave of feminism took hold, with reproductive rights and pay inequality being key issues. These women had spent their lives being told what they could or couldn't do, and they were tired of having their lives dictated to them.