Changes

'''Middletown: A Study in Modern American Culture''' was primarily a look at changes in a small Midwest city between 1890 and 1925, the year the study was completed.

'''Middletown: A Study in Modern American Culture''' was primarily a look at changes in a small Midwest city between 1890 and 1925, the year the study was completed.

Although the book does not name the city (population: 38,000) in question, it was later revealed to be [[Muncie, Indiana]].  One criterion was that the city have a small ethnic population, because the Lynds were not prepared to deal with ethnicity.  The problem was the the great majority of industrial cities of the right size had large ethnic populations. Muncie was an outlier.

Although the book does not name the city (population: 38,000) in question, it was later revealed to be [[Muncie, Indiana]].  One criterion was that the city have a small ethnic population, because the Lynds were not prepared to deal with ethnicity.  The problem was the great majority of industrial cities of the right size had large ethnic populations. Muncie was an outlier.

The Lynds and their assistants used the "approach of the cultural anthropologist", existing documents, census and business statistics, interviews, and surveys to accomplish this task. The stated goal of the study was describe this small urban center as a unit which consists of "interwoven trends of behavior" (p. 3). Or put in more detail,  

The Lynds and their assistants used the "approach of the cultural anthropologist", existing documents, census and business statistics, interviews, and surveys to accomplish this task. The stated goal of the study was describe this small urban center as a unit which consists of "interwoven trends of behavior" (p. 3). Or put in more detail,  

==Home and Family==

==Home and Family==

Describing family life is a main theme of the book. 86% lived in a nuclear family arrangement with husband, wife and children (and occasionally other relatives too).  Because of new innovations such as 15 year mortgages, even working class families were able to own their own homes. Home ownership became the mark of a "respectable" stable family.

Describing family life is a main theme of the book. 86% lived in a nuclear family arrangement with husband, wife and children (and occasionally other relatives too).  Because of new innovations such as 15 year mortgages, even working-class families were able to own their own homes. Home ownership became the mark of a "respectable" stable family.

Compared to the 1890s, family sizes were smaller, and divorce rates were higher. Most wives worked as housewives and parentage was seen as a "moral obligation" of all couples. Around age of six, the socialization of children was partly assumed by the public schools. A new trend was "dating" between two teenagers, as opposed to group activities.

Compared to the 1890s, family sizes were smaller, and divorce rates were higher. Most wives worked as housewives and parentage was seen as a "moral obligation" of all couples. Around age of six, the socialization of children was partly assumed by the public schools. A new trend was "dating" between two teenagers, as opposed to group activities.

Overall the city is highly, but invisibly, segregated. Although the [[Ku Klux Klan]] was recently kicked out of town, whites and the small black population live separately.  

Overall the city is highly, but invisibly, segregated. Although the [[Ku Klux Klan]] was recently kicked out of town, whites and the small black population live separately.  

Themost important social divide was class lines: the business class versus the working class.  

The most important social divide was class lines: the business class versus the working class.  

==Middletown in Transition==

==Middletown in Transition==

This view was only furthered by the results of the second study - if the Great Depression was unable to cause major changes in the town's social structure, the implication is that nothing will.

This view was only furthered by the results of the second study - if the Great Depression was unable to cause major changes in the town's social structure, the implication is that nothing will.

While a growing number of sociologists and social critics (i.e., Robert D. Putnam) complain of less community involvement, their detractors point directly to the Middletown study. The argument is this: in 1925, observers were worried that new inventions such as the radio were destroying community ties, that morality was on the decline, and that the very fabric of American [[Republicanism, U.S.|democracy]] was in danger. However, many modern critics repeat the exact same concerns as those raised by the Middletown studies, although these concerns have never come true. Supporters of the studies thus argue that every generation simply "reinvents" new problems without realizing that their ancestors had the same unfounded worries.

While a growing number of sociologists and social critics (i.e., Robert D. Putnam) complain of less community involvement, their detractors point directly to the Middletown study. The argument is this: in 1925, observers were worried that new inventions such as the radio were destroying community ties, that morality was on the decline, and that the very fabric of American [[Republicanism, U.S.|democracy]] was in danger. However, many modern critics repeat exactly the same concerns as those raised by the Middletown studies, although these concerns have never come true. Supporters of the studies thus argue that every generation simply "reinvents" new problems without realizing that their ancestors had the same unfounded worries.

The Lynds were careful not to include any ideological biases to creep into the first study, presenting it as a neutral set of observations. However, more biased individuals have drawn from the study. To name just a few examples:

The Lynds were careful not to include any ideological biases to creep into the first study, presenting it as a neutral set of observations. However, more biased individuals have drawn from the study. To name just a few examples: