The middle-class in the late 1
The middle-class in the late 19th early 20th centuries: their fears, values, and aspirations Some people rejected the notion that anyone could make it to a higher plateau in social status, but "others aspired to middle-class status." (pg.59) Middle-class citizens were suburban homeowners, that held positions like "lawyers, doctors, businessmen, ministers, bank tellers, newspaper editors, and even schoolteachers." (pg.60) The middle-class status was a position of prestige in the late 19th early 20th centuries. Although the fears of the middle-class were not as realistic as those of the poor, they did live with certain fears that were unique to their class. Women lived with the fear that they would not be accepted because of a lack of beauty. Middle-class women were expected to be as beautiful as possible. An ad selling massage cream for skin read "the Pompeian complexion immediately wins the mother, as it does in every other instance in social or business life." (pg.70) Men had cosmetic fear also which was the fear of blood-poisoning from a shaving soap that used animal fat. They would only use the highest quality products that would not damage their skin. Also, being that some middle-class men were storeowners, t
87) Young couples aspired to own their very own homes in five or less years. This may be because they had or could afford to attain most of the modern comforts and conveniences that existed for the time period. So, they were well equipped with the firearms needed to drive off any offenders. The family as a whole had fears also. Women were housewives in most cases. Women wanted to be beautiful and have the newest most stylish clothing available. Women and men alike wanted the achieve the same style that was seen in the big city, preferably New York City. An ad for women and men's hats read "the same styles as will be shown by fashionable city milliners in large cities. The values of middle-class citizens where in some ways like those of the rich. hey feared their stores being robbed. They bought products to protect their babies against disease.
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