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Bobby soxer (subculture)

Bobby soxers were a subculture of young women in the mid-to-late 1940s. Their interests included popular music, in particular that of singer Frank Sinatra, and wearing loose-fitting clothing, notably bobby socks.[1][2] Their manner of dress, which diverged sharply from earlier ideals of feminine beauty, were controversial.[3][4] As a teenager, actress Shirley Temple played a stereotypical bobby soxer in the film The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947).[5]

For the item of clothing, see Bobby socks.

The presence of bobby soxers signaled a shift in American youth fashion. Businesses and corporations noticed that they were able to profit from the burgeoning consumer power of teenagers—especially among girls—and began to aim products at younger buyers, creating a new subset of American culture.[6][7] Teenagers became more prominent in society as they participated in activities such as dancing and going to the movies.[8][9] Music and dancing grew more popular among teenagers in the 1940s; the most popular types of music were swing and jazz, which were favored by bobby soxers.[10] The increased popularity of music made it a big part of the lives of bobby soxers, as they frequently discussed their favorite musicians with each other and bonded over records.[10]

Etymology[edit]

The origins of the phrase "bobby soxer" date back to a 1943 Time article, which described teenage girls of the time as "little long-haired" girls with "round faces" who wore bobby socks and "worshiped Frank Sinatra".[11] Another common phrase used was "bobby sox girls".[12] The phrase derives from the ankle socks often worn by female high school students; these socks were usually paired with loafers or saddle shoes.[11] By the end of the 1940s, bobby soxers were unanimously defined as either just fans of Frank Sinatra or teenage girls who were obsessed with the fads and crazes of the time.[8] The phrase "bobby-soxer" was often rejected by the girls and instead promoted largely by the media.[11] The term has since been used by dictionaries to describe "an adolescent girl".[13]

Portrayal of bobby soxers[edit]

Film and television[edit]

The inclusion of bobby soxers in film and television began during the early 1940s, almost immediately after the phrase "bobby soxer" came to prominence in the mainstream media. Initially, young girls were portrayed as delinquents in B-list films.[23] Such portrayals came at a time when cultural fears in the United States centered around female youths engaging in sexual activity; these films corresponded with the fears of the general public over a rise in delinquency among young girls.[23] Bobby soxers were later portrayed in mainstream films such as The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947), starring Shirley Temple and Cary Grant. These films often used lots of slang and sometimes unrealistic stereotypes in their portrayals of bobby soxers.[24] Hollywood producers wanted to use child stars such as Temple and Jane Withers for teenage roles as actresses such as Judy Garland evolved into more adult performances. Temple and Withers' performances were often criticised and their films failed at the box office.[24]

Media[edit]

Most media outlets portrayed bobby soxers to be highly enthusiastic, sometimes to the point of hysteria. Newspapers noted bobby soxers for their dedication to Frank Sinatra and other teen idols. A 1945 article in The Guardian reported on one bobby soxer who "[was] known to have sat through 56 consecutive performances, which means about eight consecutive days."[12] Bobby soxers were also reported to have waited for so long to see Sinatra that they experienced hunger, fatigue, and dizziness.[12] Bobby soxers were portrayed to be disinterested in the crisis of World War II. Seventeen magazine – which launched in 1944 to cater to teenage girls – published letters from readers who wrote asking for "more articles on dating and shyness... stories like those on atomic energy are very boring."[20]

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