Title: The Rise of Suburbia | Actforlibraries.org
Headings: The Rise of Suburbia
The Rise of Suburbia
Content: Inextricably linked to the rise of suburbia was the rise of the automobile. Cars had been around for decades but now were being mass produced so efficiently they became an affordable option for the middle and lower middles classes. They enabled people to living in suburban developments and commute easily to work in the inner city. Suburbs were designed with the automobile in mind, and even today it is extremely difficult to live in the suburbs without driving. Playing a less obvious but also playing a key part in suburban growth was the image of suburban homes being a way for normal people to get a dream lifestyle. This was certainly encouraged by the government, but depictions of suburban living as a very positive thing were found throughout popular culture. The image of suburbia might be very different now, with people viewing it in a variety of less than positive ways, ranging from bleak and soulless, to conformist and stifling. Back in the 1950s it was seen, with fairly good reason, as a way for young families to move up in the world and enjoy a far greater standard of living. The downside to the rapid rise of suburbia became evident not long afterwards. The white flight from the inner city led to a segregated society of a white middle class suburbia with the inner cities mainly populated by minorities.