Building off of the carefree and rebellious spirit of teenagers from the 1920s, young adults in the 1960s were far from timid and conservative teenagers. This new generation of teenagers rejected authority and did not conform to the ideals of society. They grew their hair out long and wore tie-dyed shirts. The mid-1960s saw an explosion of anti-war protests and rebellion from the government. This stemmed from the increased draft to the Vietnam War, and pushed for a turn to peace. Females, especially, participated in these protests and did not hold back their opinion. Women realized that what they wore in these protests helped to get their point across. A rise in “hippie” and “bohemian” clothing grew from these protests, as women wished to give off a peaceful and natural vibe (Hippies). Differing from the elegant and proper clothing that women in previous decades, and even the upper class women of the 1960s, were expected to wear, young women of this time wore ragged and exposing clothing. Protests broke out all over the country, mostly on college campuses. Protesters experimented with drugs and sex during this time period. This change in attitude about social norm led women to be less conservative in how they dressed. One of the most famous music festivals and social movements of the 20th century was Woodstock. This event took place near Woodstock, New York in August 1969. Close to half a million people came to experience this event that people today consider the trademark of the 1960s (Sandow). It exemplified the protests and resistance to war of that time by creating an enormous yet surprisingly peaceful festival for people of the hippie persona to gather. Girls wore typical hippie and bohemian clothing, meaning that of loose and displaying material. This style caught on and is still seen some today with people who continue this attitude of maintaining a peaceful and calm lifestyle.
Sources:
"Hippies." Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations, and Footwear through the Ages. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (November 10, 2014). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3425500588.html
Sandow, Greg. "Woodstock Festival." Woodstock Festival. Accessed November 8, 2014. http://eslbee.com/calendar/html_articles/woodstock_festival.htm.
Sayre, James. "Late 1960s and Early 1970s Anti-Vietnam War Protests, Social and Political Background Notes and a Discussion of Rock 'n Roll Music." Late 1960s and Early 1970s Anti-Vietnam War Protests, Social and Political Background Notes and a Discussion of Rock 'n Roll Music. August 8, 2008. Accessed November 8, 2014. http://www.bottlebrushpress.com/antivietnamwarprotests.html.
"Hippies." Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations, and Footwear through the Ages. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (November 10, 2014). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3425500588.html
Sandow, Greg. "Woodstock Festival." Woodstock Festival. Accessed November 8, 2014. http://eslbee.com/calendar/html_articles/woodstock_festival.htm.
Sayre, James. "Late 1960s and Early 1970s Anti-Vietnam War Protests, Social and Political Background Notes and a Discussion of Rock 'n Roll Music." Late 1960s and Early 1970s Anti-Vietnam War Protests, Social and Political Background Notes and a Discussion of Rock 'n Roll Music. August 8, 2008. Accessed November 8, 2014. http://www.bottlebrushpress.com/antivietnamwarprotests.html.