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World War II left America’s only competitors in Europe demolished and monetarily crippled. Thus, America’s post war economy soared! This greatly influenced dramatic changes in the socialization of children. The baby boomers are said to be the healthiest, best fed, best clothed, and best housed generation to date. This was all possible because of the widespread economic stability and prosperity in the U.S. at this time. Families could now afford to spend extra money on amenities such as full-time childcare, automatic washing machines (for all those cloth diapers), diaper services when you didn’t want to wash your own, new toys, clothes, and even new homes!
Peanuts illustrates typical middle-class families, lifestyles, and relationships, which are a direct effect of 50s economic prosperity. Charlie Brown’s father is a barber and his mother a homemaker. Their home is simple but comfortable, at least from what Schulz shows us, and although there is little interaction with parents in the strip, there is an understanding of parental support, nurture, love, and strong family values. The details of every Peanut’s home life are not divulged, but similar lifestyles are assumed. The children all appear well cared for, attend school, and participate in community activities such as Little League and summer camp. This profile may seem ‘normal’ and unimportant, but not every youngster had access to such a comfortable childhood.
It would be a lie to say that all people during the 50s experienced economic prosperity. There were still many Americans who did not benefit from such abundance and stability; this generally included most African Americans, those living in inner cities, and in rural areas. However, the middle-class was growing, and fast! Unlike the poor they could afford (and were permitted) to move to new suburban developments on the outskirts of metropolitan centers, much like the anonymous neighborhood Peanuts inhabited. These new suburbs gave way to the aforementioned activities and experiences associated with the typical 1950s childhood.