The counterculture that emerged in the 1960s

A "counterculture" refers to a culture in opposition to or disregard of the mainstream culture or central aspects of the mainstream culture. It is exercised through protests against certain elements, contempt for a particular way of doing things, and, in extreme scenarios, the creation of a divergent culture from the culture in place.

The 1960s were a period when long‐held values and norms of behavior seemed to break down, particularly among the young. Many college‐age men and women became political activists and were the driving force behind the civil rights and antiwar movements. Other young people simply “dropped out” and separated themselves from mainstream culture through their appearance and lifestyle. Attitudes toward sexuality appeared to loosen, and women began to openly protest the traditional roles of housewife and mother that society had assigned to them.

From Beats to Hippies:
So, how did the counterculture begin? Unlike the New Left, the origins of the counterculture had deeper roots in American society. The movement that was recognized in the 1960s as the counterculture was known a decade earlier as the Beat Generation or Beats.

Dissatisfied with American society, the Beats alienated themselves into a small underground movement. These individuals rejected American standards, introduced new concepts of societal norms, shunned materialism and spawned a new drug culture. Prominent leaders included Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and Lucien Carr. The Beats generally maintained a low-profile and attempted to stay away from the burgeoning political issues of the decade.

Yet, as mentioned above, the Beat Generation would ultimately transform into the counterculture. The Beats struggled to maintain their inconspicuousness, especially when more and more members of the Beat Generation began to tackle political issues. By 1960, the transformation was complete. In the place of the Beat Generation arose a counterculture that held the same ideals but promoted vibrant colored clothing, long hair, folk music and the participation in politics - all while being known as hippies.

Sources:
https://www.counterpunch.org/2015/06/26/a-brief-history-of-the-counterculture/
http://study.com/academy/lesson/hippies-and-the-counterculture-origins-beliefs-and-legacy.html
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/history/us-history-ii/the-new-frontier-and-the-great-society/the-counterculture-of-the-1960s
http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-was-the-counterculture-of-the-1960s-and-70s.html

Written by: Ana Júlia e Bruno Caetano do 2º ano de Química.