Hippies

So, were the hippies of the 1960s a conformist or non conformist movement? Well, the term “Hippies” refer to a subgroup of the 1960s counterculture lifestyle that began in the United States. The hippy subgroup was composed of mostly white teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 and 25. They shared a hatred and distrust towards traditional middle-class values and authority. Hippies were against "political and social orthodoxy", favoring "peace, love, and personal freedom." The hippies of the 1960s were, without question, a non conformist movement. It was the hippies’ insight that everyone should be allowed to break out and be themselves, not be forced into a persona that had been ordained by others вЂ" real freedom of expression, in other words. They refused to obey all rules of what was acceptable to society and the church. Hippies rebelled against established institutions, criticized middle class values, opposed the Vietnam War, embraced aspects of non-Judeo-Christian religions, promoted sexual liberation, and created intentional communities, leading some to describe hippies as a new religious movement. Hippies were trying to get away from the way society functions and brought about this whole movement of living free and finding yourself through psychedelic means. The Americans seeking a better lifestyle faced many controversial issues such as the Vietnam War, the environment to use drugs, and sexual freedom, making them a nonconformist movement.

"Who Were They." 1960's Hippies - Who Were They. 2003. Ariki Inc. 13 May 2008 <http://www.arikiart.com/Fashion/hippies-1960s.htm>.

Sieghart, Mary Anne. "Hey Man, We'Re All Kind of Hippies Now. Far Out." Times Online. 2008. Times Newspapers Ltd. 13 May 2008 <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/article1837763.ece>.

"Hippies