Barbara Kelly discusses the importance of suburban architecture and community design in reshaping working-class consciousness after World War II. What does she say about this?
Week 4 Day 1 Discussion Question 1
March 4, 2016 | 1 Comment
Class, Culture, Representation
February 24, 2019 at 12:53 pm
Kelly’s description of the typical post-WWII home for veterans in fascinating in that she manages to share both the fears of the US government concerning working-class consciousness, and how homeownership and design can manipulate that. Subsidized homes were given to veterans with goals of keeping them content with their economic and social status, in order to deter them from adopting socialist and communist mindsets that post-war working-class Europeans had experienced in the past. Kelly includes a quote that blatantly reveals this, saying, “Socialism and communism do not take root in the ranks of those who have their feet firmly embedded in the sod of America through home ownership.” The government believed that giving working-class individuals access the pride and investment of homeownership – a ‘fundamental’ component of American life – would also give them more stake in the social and political well being of their country. By giving the working-class new access to homeownership, a previously middle- and upper-class privilege, the government blurred class lines which made the working-class feel of a higher rank in society.
The literal design of the homes reinforced the ideal ‘nuclear family’ concept through a traditional house layout and large yard, enforcing stability and control into the family home that the government also wished to see in the social and political environment. They also designed these greater suburban areas without much shared community space, as they wanted to discourage too much camaraderie among men in the community. The idea of ‘togetherness’ was emphasized, however it was targeted towards individual family life, not towards neighborhoods or social groups. These small Cape Cod style homes were usually four to five rooms only, without garages or basements, meaning that all time in the home would be shared family time. The house lots were also usually larger than required, as more yard maintenance meant further maximized the amount of time the man would spend at home and not in the community. The aim of the homeownership, the nuclear family, and the social and physical upkeep associated with those was to encourage individual family focus, and capitalist ideals, instead of allowing working-class veterans from joining together to fight against the government and the post-war American economy.