Girls "In Trouble": a History of Female Adolescent Sexuality in the Midwest, 1946-1964 Charissa Keup Marquette University
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Marquette University e-Publications@Marquette Dissertations (2009 -) Dissertations, Theses, and Professional Projects Girls "in Trouble": A History of Female Adolescent Sexuality in the Midwest, 1946-1964 Charissa Keup Marquette University Recommended Citation Keup, Charissa, "Girls "in Trouble": A History of Female Adolescent Sexuality in the Midwest, 1946-1964" (2012). Dissertations (2009 -). Paper 232. http://epublications.marquette.edu/dissertations_mu/232 GIRLS IN “TROUBLE”: A HISTORY OF FEMALE ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY IN THE MIDWEST, 1946-1964 by Charissa M. Keup A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School, Marquette University, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Milwaukee, Wisconsin December 2012 ABSTRACT GIRLS IN “TROUBLE”: A HISTORY OF FEMALE ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY IN THE MIDWEST, 1946-1964 Charissa M. Keup Marquette University, 2012 This dissertation attempts to show how Americans reacted to adolescent female sexuality, looking specifically at unwed school-age pregnancy in the post-World War Two decades. It documents the origins of the transition of the conversation about unwed teens from caring for them in maternity homes and boarding houses to discussing their problems on television shows and in popular magazines. Teenage sexual delinquency and pregnancy have always raised innumerable questions about American culture and values. Because they challenged the traditional concept of motherhood, they offer a lens through which to study American sexuality and reveal that an alternate 1950s existed beyond the traditional stereotypes. Not all girls tacitly accepted the future set out for them. Teenagers actively made decisions regarding their bodies and sexuality. How girls behaved in response to the expectations placed upon them and how the public responded to female adolescents in the past reveals much about American youth, families, and society in general. Despite the fact that historians have devoted significant attention to this time period, few works focus solely on teenagers. The sexuality of female teenagers is often overlooked or combined with studies of women or college co-eds. This dissertation attempts to fill a gap in that literature and prove that the 1950s were indeed a crucial time for adolescents and sex in the United States. “Girls ‘in Trouble’: A History of Female Adolescent Sexuality in the Midwest, 1946-1964” provides a complex picture of teenage sexuality and pregnancy in the postwar decades. It uses magazines and newspapers, specifically advice columns, to gain insight into public opinion of unwed mothers and teenage females. Letters from girls who wrote to these magazines and newspapers asking for guidance provide a glimpse into their thoughts and fears. Studies conducted by national and local agencies reveal how society addressed the growing problem of unwed pregnancy. Records from maternity homes in Chicago and Milwaukee provide information on the daily experiences of pregnant teens. i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Charissa M. Keup This dissertation could not have been completed without financial assistance from Marquette University and the support of the faculty in the Graduate School. I am indebted to the Smith Family for providing me with a research fellowship which covered all of my travel expenses and to the Marquette History Department for providing me with teaching fellowships which allowed me the time and financial stability to finish writing my dissertation. I had the pleasure of working with several remarkable archivists on this journey. Major thanks to Dave Klaassen and Linnea Anderson of the Social Welfare History Archives at the University of Minnesota, Leslie Martin at the Chicago History Museum, Susan Mitchem at the Salvation Army National Archives, Ellen Engsworth and the rest of the archives staff at University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Harry Miller at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Steve Daily at the Milwaukee County Historical Society, and the archives staff at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I am also extremely thankful for the Marquette University Interlibrary Loan staff who filled endless requests for articles and monographs. The Marquette History Department has become my second family. Without the faculty’s constant support and encouragement, I would not be the scholar or the person I am today. My colleagues in the program, especially Peter Cajka, Bethany Harding, Mallory Musolf, and Karalee Surface, helped me through the roller coaster of graduate school and have made the ride so much more enjoyable. Jolene Kreisler has become a dear friend to me. Without her administrative skills and calming presence, I would be a ii mess. I am especially grateful for the mentoring of Michael Donoghue, Lezlie Knox, Laura Matthew, and Philip Naylor. I will forever be thankful for my dissertation committee—I could not have asked for better academic fathers. Reverend Steven Avella never ceases to amaze me. His work ethic, generosity, and sermon-esque lectures continue to inspire me. James Marten adopted me as one of his own advisees and spoiled me with his quick email responses and attentiveness to my project. From panel proposals to wedding invitations, he has always been there to provide invaluable advice. And finally to Thomas Jablonsky, Dr. J., my loyal advisor and beloved mentor, words cannot express the gratitude, admiration, and respect I have for the man who never doubted the sorority girl from California. Last but not least, I am so very thankful for my friends and family who have traveled with me on this crazy adventure. This dissertation is dedicated to my best friends: Mom, Dad, Dan, and Matthew. I can never repay them for their unconditional love, understanding, and, most importantly, patience during the past six years of graduate school. They each contributed to this project in their own way and have been eagerly awaiting its completion. Dan accompanied me on numerous late-night trips to Kopp’s and made sure to Skype me every single night when I went on research trips. He acquired all sorts of new and exciting skills as he became not only my husband but also my editor and housekeeper. Whenever I had technological difficulties, my brother Matthew came to my rescue. He also provided me with constant distractions including the adoption of the world’s greatest cat. I am especially thankful for my parents who have always been my biggest fans and have made my dreams their own. My mother’s unwavering faith and my father’s relentless encouragement fueled this project. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS…………………………………………………………………i INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………...1 CHAPTER I. MODERN GIRLS AND PETTING PARTIES: FEMALE ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY IN THE 1920S AND 1930S……………………………………...31 II. “THE PERILS OF ERRING GIRLS”: SEX AND THE VICTORY GIRL…70 III. BECOMING JUNE CLEAVER: TEENAGE GIRLS AND SEX IN THE “LONG 1950S”………………………….……………………………………...100 IV. “PROMISCUOUS” GIRLS: “CONTAINING” TEENAGE SEXUALITY…………………………………………………………………...136 V. “IT COULD BE YOUR DAUGHTER”: TEENAGE PREGNANCY ACCORDING TO THE “EXPERTS”………………………………………….174 VI. HELPING THE “BAD GIRLS”: EXAMINING TEENAGE PREGNANCY AT THE CITY LEVEL………..………………………………………...……..211 VII. “NICE GIRLS DON’T GET PREGNANT”: UNCOVERING THE YOUNG UNWED MOTHER IN THE “LONG 1950S”…………...…………………….252 CONCLUSION: FROM MATERNITY HOMES TO TEEN MOM…………………...298 BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………………318 1 INTRODUCTION On June 11, 2009, MTV premiered its first episode of 16 and Pregnant, an hour- long documentary series that “follows a 5-7 month period in the life of a teenager as she navigates the bumpy terrain of adolescence, growing pains, rebellion, and coming of age;[sic] all while dealing with being pregnant.”1 Just over two years later, MTV is now on season four of 16 and Pregnant, and a spin-off series following the girls after their pregnancies has been created. Teen Mom stars--Amber, Catelynn, Farrah, and Maci-- have graced the covers of gossip and fashion magazines nationwide. These four adolescents, all unmarried mothers, have become semi-celebrities, capturing media headlines. Now flashback seventy years earlier to the 1940s when girls like Amber, Catelynn, Farrah, and Maci would have been expelled from school and hidden from public view, often sent away to an “aunt’s house” for nine months. This dissertation attempts to show how American society reacted to adolescent female sexuality, looking specifically at unwed school-age pregnancy in the post-World War Two decades. It documents the origins of the transition from maternity homes and boarding houses to television shows and magazine covers. Teenage girls and their impregnated bodies were and still are the center of much debate and controversy. Their pregnancies raise innumerable questions about American culture and values. Often associated with shame and immorality, teen pregnancy challenges the traditional concept of motherhood. It sparks debates over sex education and federal assistance. Most importantly, unwed pregnancy provides visible evidence of premarital sex, unleashing moral controversies over abstinence and marriage. This 1 http://www.mtv.com/shows/16_and_pregnant/season_1/series.jhtml 2 project explores female adolescent sexuality during the years between 1946 and 1964, arguing that the teenagers of this period set the stage for the sexual revolution of the later 1960s. Using teenage sexual delinquency and pregnancy as a lens to examine American sexuality, this study maintains that an alternate 1950s existed beyond