Aaron B. sent in this 1947 video clip (found here), titled “Are You Popular?”:
Notice the caution to women: if you go “parking with all the boys,” you might think you’re popular, but you’ll ultimately find yourself ostracized and friendless. To be really popular, you need to be well-dressed, have the respect of girls at school, and carefully guard your reputation.
Thanks, Aaron!
Gwen Sharp is an associate professor of sociology at Nevada State College. You can follow her on Twitter at @gwensharpnv.
Comments 6
Nicole — December 22, 2008
"Because she is as interested in girls as in boys?"
Good to know bisexuality was important to popularity in the 50s.
OP Minded — December 22, 2008
Sounds like pretty good advice to me...
Tim — December 22, 2008
I'm pretty sure MST3K made fun of this clip. They made fun of a lot of old public domain films.
I don't have much of a relevant comment, but is there a way to change that embed so it doesn't autoplay? I tend to open this blog in a background tab while reading through my daily blogs, so it was a bit inconvenient. Thanks.
Jamal — December 23, 2008
This is a good illustration of Foucaultian discipline pertaining to sexuality. The girl is shown that the self-policing of one's sexuality is the key to popularity, while the boy is shown that he must uphold the exclusion of the girl from the group in order to maintain its cohesion. Everyone is told that their intentions should be neatly and predictably intelligible, and sex is ever present as the unspoken danger for which all boundaries, formalities, and discretions are devised.
Anonymous — December 23, 2008
Reminds me of the Nada Surf song popular from the mid 90s.
Keeley — December 23, 2008
"Perhaps they'll bring another couple home with them. That would be fun."