Have we declined morally since the 1950s? If so, was a segregated society the paragon of morality?

Question

I should probably stipulate that I'm thinking specifically of the United States, but perhaps it could apply to other cultures.

Answer 1

No, we haven't declined. Our "sins" are just more visible. In the 1950's, neighbors often looked the other way if people drank away their savings, children were beaten or wives were abused. Martial rape was legal. Children born "deformed" or people put into mental hospitals were often sterilized against their consent (I know a friend who had that happen to her because she was born with extreme curvature of the spine; her parents weren't consulted either). And let's not forget McCarthyism! DEFINITELY not what I would call a paragon of morality.

Answer 2

We have probably declined morally, yes. The advent of the birth control pill in the early 60's changed everything. I was young but I remember that the Christians were in an absolute uproar over that at the time. Roe v. Wade was less than a decade later. In fact, I am guessing less than 5 years but I am not sure.

Segregation had no affect on morality in my opinion. Other than prejudice is morally wrong. Having been raised in the south the civil rights era will remain unforgettable in my mind. It is up there with images of Viet Nam.

My parents were both raised in rural Louisiana and both born in 1920. They were raised in extreme prejudice. They did not perpetuate the ignorance. My brother and I were raised to believe that all men are created equal.

Answer 3

The only thing that I have seen leading to the decline of morals in the 50's and the 60's was the increase and acceptance of the technological explosion, In which the paragon would be the media.

Answer 4

I think they call the 50s, the last of the age of the innocence. I don't know if the human race is declining morally, or if more things are being spoken about in the open.
Some of canada's churches, have a lot to account for, and they had the support of the government, to do, what they did.

Answer 5

I dont think society has declined so the 1950s so i would say no(but im from the uk so usa may be different) of course morality is personal opinion as much as anything so it depends what you call moral and what not.

Answer 6

The 1950s were no more moral than the 2000s and possibly even less so. This was a time of bigotry. A time of oppression of women, black people, gay people, free-thinkers. A time when "justice" meant one thing if you were white and another if you were black. It was a time when a married woman could not work.

Many of these immoralities are still with us but to a lesser extent and there are at least a few laws against them.

Answer 7

In some ways we are better. Equal right. Women's rights. In many ways we are worse. If you think of morally in terms of pre-marial sex and unwanted children, divorce, etc. More crime. Use to be no one locked their doors, now we all have pitbulls and alarm systems. Also lots of drugs now, not there in the 1950's. Society as a whole kept people in line, not religion, it was just an ingrained part of social expetations. Now anything goes.

Answer 8

No, we haven't declined morally in the recent years. It's just more exposed now.

Do you honestly think Gen X'ers have INVENTED prostitution, child porn, slave labor, gangs, and murder? Comon! We are shocked by it and have EXPOSED it!

Segregation (and slavery) was the virus that inflames our nation today.

Answer 9

Are you kidding me? Morality has always been the same. People are people--- they've been killing other people, having sex with their neighbor's wives, whatever, you name it, since forever. If anything, de-segregation is a sign that society is moving FORWARD, at least in some sense. At least now, recently, minorities, gays and lesbians, people with disabilities-- are getting the rights they deserve. (no thanks to people like you i suspect.)

Answer 10

No, we haven't declined morally. Information just travels faster, and is harder to cover up than it was in the past.