Entertainment and Social Boundaries

"Where Do I Fit?"

The desire for social identity and a sense of belonging has always been part of the American experience, a part of human life in general, but it became extremely pronounced around the turn of the 20^th century.  This was the beginning-of-the-end of an age where the vast majority of the working class worked in industry or agriculture.  Office jobs (clerks, assistants, low level managers, etc), were becoming more readily available.  These jobs were less strenuous and often paid better.  They weren’t upper-class businessmen, but they didn’t really fall into the old working class definition either.  This distinction mattered; it was the beginning of a split middle class.  The division between upper-middle and lower-middle class began to appear, but it was unclear where the line really was, and nobody wanted to fall on the lower-middle side, if they could help it (Nasaw 44).  

Another issue this brought on was the increased number of women in the work place.  With low-level office jobs being designated as women’s work, men who also had these jobs were treated as having much lower status, or were forced to take on more responsibility as “lower” or “middle” managers.  To work alongside a woman was incredibly emasculating experience for these men, and those who did not move up the ladder and take on more responsibility were deeply shamed (Nasaw 45).

Another dividing line drawn in society was that of cultural identity.  For second generation immigrants, family life likely reflected life of their parents’ native land.  Outside the home was a different world, and these young people struggled to find their place in it.  By going to dance halls, amusement parks, and the movies, they were able to take part in the same things as others, and to learn what it meant to be American, as well as showing to others that they weren't so different.  Like young boys memorizing baseball stats, it made you part of the group, gave you a shared experience with your peers (Nasaw 46).

The entertainment industry of the early 20^th century certainly had an effect on race relations.  The effects were positive for the white races, but solidified lines between whites and non-whites, especially African-Americans.  Like most aspects of society, theatres and other establishments were segregated, racially and economically.  Middle class whites were given the best seating, while the poor and non-whites were usually designated to boxes separated from the rest.  Appearance was everything: you could pass for a decent, respectable white person, you would be allowed in.  In a time of rampant racism and xenophobia, Germans, Irish, English, Jews, Italians and others were rapidly assimilated into “American" (Nasaw 2).

New lines were drawn; new social barriers were created, leaving the people themselves to scramble to figure out where they fell in all of it.  Among the stress and confusion, the world of entertainment and amusement was the one place where the lines could be ignored, different groups could mingle, all a part of the same shared experience. 

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