Bobby-soxer

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". Another common phrase used was "bobby sox girls". The phrase derives from the ankle socks often worn by female high school students; these socks were usually paired with loafers or saddle shoes. == History ==

In the early twentieth century, teenage girls did not receive much attention from producers of consumer culture and popular culture. Around this time, women began accessing the public sphere with the help of an increase in commercialized leisure. This included public entertainment spaces such as movie theatres and dance halls. Sinatra was declared by The New York Times as "the first modern popstar" who "gave pop music a beating heart." His early music was emblematic of adolescent love as he sang from the perspective of a young man smitten with the girl of his dreams. Parents feared that their bobby soxer children's infatuation would impact their burgeoning sexuality and taint their innocence, but with Sinatra being married at the time, swooning was eventually not seen as a threat to the youth of bobby soxers. The content of these songs often focused on courtships rather than taboo topics such as sex. In addition to differing women's styles, media scholar Tim Snelson notes, such "rebellious" styles included a "'craze for wearing men's clothing' and [a] combination of white bobby socks and 'moccasin-type shoes'..." However, as bobby soxers grew into their twenties, they soon followed teenage norms of the time and began settling down with husbands and children. The bobby sox style remained popular well into the 1950s, but original bobby soxers left their fanatic days behind as they entered adulthood and prioritized work or family life. == Portrayal of bobby soxers ==

Film and television 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. 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. 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. Media 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." Bobby soxers were also reported to have waited for so long to see Sinatra that they experienced hunger, fatigue, and dizziness. Bobby soxers were portrayed to be disinterested in the crisis of World War II. Seventeen magazinewhich launched in 1944 to cater to teenage girlspublished letters from readers who wrote asking for "more articles on dating and shyness... stories like those on atomic energy are very boring." == Impact on teen culture ==

; October 17, 1946 Bobby soxers are not the first known enthusiastic fans of musicians; fan culture dates back to the seventeenth century, and fanatics of musicians have been documented as coming to prominence in the 1860s. In 1961, for instance, recordswhich sociologist Jessie Bernard describes as a crucial aspect of teenage culturewere reported to sell $75 million worth of copies annually. In addition to material purchases, the power of bobby soxer friend groups was equally important to the teen culture. Former bobby soxers who became housewives with part-time work developed a noticeable peer culture with each other, setting the stage for teenage culture to grow in years to come. Author Kelly Schrum noted that at the start of the 1900s, teenage culture was insignificant and essentially non-existent; by the start of the 2000s, teenagers were a prominent presence in American culture with high spending power. Today, the number of research companies that specialize in researching and advertising to teenagers has increased immensely, and the market for teenage girls has become much larger and more profitable than it has ever been. ==See also==