Three words: age of consensus. Of course, we all know now that that was a fairly false label to give the '50s, but many people at the time genuinely believed they were living the American Dream. read more
That doesn't make the era idealized in popular culture, though, only in the minds of the minority who long for the “good old days.” For instance, I don't think many women fondly recall the era when you had to look at the “Help Wanted Male” ads for any non-clerical job, and any woman who applied was likely to be ignored. read more