The period of the 1960’s was a time of rapid social change and immergence in the United States. A leftist and liberal
philosophy within the society, coupled with the powerful anti-Vietnam War movement, made the 1960’s an extremely memorable
era. Fueled by the urge to break away from the conservative mindsets of the ideal 1950’s family, the counterculture
generation took a stand against such restricting factors. In doing so, the “hippie” culture took root and spread
throughout the United States, mainly amongst
the young, college students who were attracted to such a free lifestyle. Philosophies such as free love, communal living,
and experimentation with various mind-altering drugs were trademark of the hippie lifestyle. Partaking in activities such
as these separated the people from the previous churchgoing, family oriented decade and a powerful counterculture developed.
“If it feels good,
do it,” sums the entire attitude of the hippie generation. Each lived a carefree life in which they could express themselves
to the fullest and carry on unrestricting customs that were never before seen in society. Constraint of the body as well as
the mind was ruled non-cohesive in the beliefs of this new generation. The people wanted to be as free as possible and did
so by expressing themselves in unlimited ways. The common characteristics of the hippie were long hair, second-hand, colorful
clothing, flowers and beads as well as sandals or bare feet. Sexual experimentation thrived through the culture as free love
and casual relations took the place of family values and strict Christian beliefs in a lifetime partnership.
“The counterculture questioned sexual morality and proposed many
different models: extended sexual families, sex orgies, sex-therapy groups, acceptance of homosexuality and, most of all,
a positive, joyful celebration of sexuality, as opposed to the uptight morality of the previous generation,” (Miles
13).
The open
and free sexuality brought about a huge shift in the culture of the United
States. People of the counterculture no longer felt the harsh constrictions of society and
they each experienced a strong feeling of liberation because of this. When birth control became readily available to the public,
women were given more freedom in their sexuality and this fueled the philosophy of free love. Such freedom among the hippie
community sparked questioning of sexual roles and demonstrated how the hippie culture was contributing largely to the change
of customs in society.
As contemporary personal
values and beliefs flourished, people of these similar views tended to join together through communal living. Many hippies
of the nation migrated to the West coast of the United States
after they dropped out of college to express their freedom and beliefs in a nonrestrictive society.
“Searching for a place in which they could feel free to express
their political views and creative spirit, many found themselves in California
or New York. Most gravitated to a desolate part of San Francisco known as the Haight-Ashbury District. This neighborhood,
close to San Francisco, State College, provided homes for many students,” (Hoy 2).
People
of the counterculture found communal living beneficial to their personal needs as well as to their essential beliefs. When
living with other people who possess the same views and methods of survival, the group generally tends to conflict with one
another much less. When people find benefit in easier living, namely in communes, they are able to agree with the people around
them, in turn creating a generally peaceful environment. One of the most popular hippie gatherings was in the Haight-Ashbury
District in San Francisco, California.
Sparked by the opening of a Psychedelic shop that sold books on drugs and oriental philosophy, flutes, beads, and other hippie
paraphernalia. The youth of the counterculture were attracted to this and were quickly drawn to the area. The district provided
places to live for the growing population of college dropouts and fed the culture that was driving the counterculture of the
United States. There are numerous cases, however, in which when not controlled or peaceful, communes can be a negative
thing. If not cautious, the commune could turn into a cult. One of the most famous “communes” of the era was under
Charles Manson, a crazed murderer and essential madman. He is highly notorious for acts of sodomy, violent murder, rape, and
robbery, among numerous other serious felonies (Miles 272). Manson’s cult is prime example of how communal living could
be an evil institution. Although there are unfortunate cases such as this, for the most part, communal living was beneficial
to the people within the institution and was a peaceful way of sharing the wealth of life.
Along with free love and
revolutionary philosophies, the drug culture was a main and important attribute to the new counterculture of the United States. It was not uncommon for hippies to have marijuana
or LSD in their possession. Mind altering drugs were extremely popular amongst the youth culture because they were able to
free their minds more effectively.
“While listening to this (psychedelic rock) some hippies smoked marijuana or took LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), a powerful drug that includes hallucinations,”
(Hoy 2).
Getting
high was the ultimate method for a hippie to release their minds and relieve any sort of impurity or stress in their life.
Drugs were a lifestyle, providing income for the majority, usually just enough money for personal marijuana purchase and basic
living costs. Rising celebrities, mainly on the rock scene front, such as Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles experimented in the
drug culture. Hendrix dabbled heavily in LSD while the Beatles experimented with LSD as well and marijuana on occasion. Paul
McCartney of the Beatles answers questions,
“’Do you think you have encouraged your fans to take drugs?’
‘I don’t think it will make any difference. You know, I don’t
think it will make any difference. You know, I don’t think my fans are going to take drugs just because I did,’”
(Miles 237).
The celebrities
claim to not want to directly influence the fans into taking on the drug culture, but were rather experimenting with it for
their personal curiosity or interest. Even though marijuana was technically illegal, it was only the rich and famous who were
caught and penalized with scandal. This was mostly because the conservative remnants of society rejected the hippie lifestyle
and its influence on society as a whole. Conservatives took action and turned events into scandals in order to downplay and
discredit the hippie movement. Although drugs such as marijuana and LSD have been illegal, except for medicinal uses, before
and during the 1960s, they were not uncommon in the slightest. Drugs were readily available to the common hippie of the 1960s
and allowed them to free their mind and experience an alternate way of life.
The hippie lifestyle matched
that of any other new and different way of life, revolutionary and for the most part, popular. The 1960’s was a period
in which college students “tune in, turn on, and drop out”, like psychedelic drug research advocate, Timothy Leary
states. The revolutionists of the era expressed their New Leftist beliefs by expanding their sexual freedoms, living together
in communes, and involving themselves in the powerful drug culture which would allow them to ideally live by their free beliefs.
The hippie lifestyle was truly a side of society which effectively expressed and practiced their ways of life alongside the
disapproving conservative America of the
previous decade.
Works Cited
Hoy,
Rosemary. “Flower Children Chose Alternative Lifestyle.” Borderlands.
Internet.Available:
<www.epcc.edu/nwlibrary/borderlands/14_flower_children.htm.>
Miles,
Barry. Hippy. New York. Sterling Publishing Co.,
Inc, 2003.