The 1960s had a profound impact on every facet of American life, leaving an enduring legacy that continues to shape our society and government today. This transformative era gave rise to countless groups, activist movements, and deeply held personal convictions, all of which have left an indelible mark on the fabric of American society.
The Legacy of the 1960s on American Families
The legacy of the 1960s can be seen everywhere, including in American society and family structure. American society is more open now and could be described as being more flexible because, for example, there are now many more definitions of family.
Unlike previous decades, the two-parent nuclear family is no longer the only model of ideal family life in the twenty-first century. Many citizens now live with extended families or are single parents, and adopted children are largely treated the same as biological children in today’s society.
Part of this change in American family life was brought about because of the war in Vietnam: fathers, brothers, and sons were shipped off to fight a war in Asia, and many never returned home.
The rise of feminism also changed the definition of family. Women were no longer relegated to roles of only wife and mother. Many married women began working outside of the home in the sixties and now women are a vital part of the work force.
The Legacy of the 1960s on Women’s Rights
Feminists of the late sixties fought for equality in the work place and saw the creation of the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission).
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The legacy of feminism can also be seen in the widespread use of birth control throughout America and the landmark Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade, where women won the right to control their bodies. The counterculture’s belief in “free love,” along with the feminists’ unabashed shouting about reproductive rights, brought sex into the open in American society to a place where it has largely remained today.
Today, television commercials for enhancement drugs, such as Viagra, and birth control pills, such as the Ortho-Evra patch, are commonplace everyday occurrences, and sex education is now a part of the curriculum in many public schools across the country.
The Legacy of the 1960s on Healthcare
Healthcare programs created during the sixties, such as Medicare and Medicaid, still exist as government programs today. Although these programs have encountered problems over the course of the subsequent decades, they have helped many Americans gain access to necessary healthcare.
Medicare and Medicaid, as well as the education programs created by Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society, are still functioning and providing assistance in today’s society. Through expanded student loan programs, many young Americans are able to finance their college educations and urban programs like Headstart address the educational and nutritional needs of the very young and very poor.
The Negative Impact of the 1960s
While the legacy of the sixties in America has helped create and maintain many positive improvements in American society, the sixties left some negative legacies as well. The legacy of the sixties drug culture is far-reaching. Marijuana continues to be a prevalent drug choice in America today, and, as in the sixties, alcoholism is still a serious problem.
The Lasting Legacy of the 1960s
Civil rights is the largest lasting legacy of the sixties. The Civil Rights Act of 1965 gave more people the right to vote and took down the obstacles which prevented many people from participating in democracy and exercising their full rights as citizens.
While there have been increases in the number of minorities and women voting in elections and active in politics today, there are still other racial and class problems in American society. While the sixties saw the passage of the Fair Housing Act and laws against segregation and racism, the problems continue today. Laws do not change attitudes, and there are many who still would like to deny certain minorities and segments of society the right to vote, access to education, and integration.
Overall, the legacy of the 1960’s has left America with many positive changes. It is because of the sixties that people today believe that one person can make a difference, that one person can change the world. Women and minorities are involved in politics and democracy today because of the sixties. Women have the right to choose their own path in public (i.e., careers, running for political office, etc.) and in private (i.e., abortion, breastfeeding, relationships, etc.) because of the feminist activists of the sixties.
Recycling programs are found in cities, towns, and counties throughout the country because of the rise of environmentalism during the late sixties, which culminated with the creation of Earth Day in the early seventies.
It is because of the 1960’s that elementary schools are no longer segregated. It is because of the 1960’s that one neighborhood can include a Hispanic family and an African-American family. It is because of the 1960s that a woman can raise a family, have a career, and make her own health and medical decisions. American life and the personal lives of many of its citizens would be unbelievably different if it were not for the lasting legacies of the sixties.
