Figure 1.-.

In looking over the ways boys were pictured in old magazines, evently realtively recent ones from the 1940s and 50s, a contradiction occurs to me. I see these ads, photos, etc. of the days gone by is how better and smartly turned out people were 50 years ago with far less technology and harder to care for fabrics than so many adults and youths we see today. One would think that with easier care materials and online everything to meet our every need, the opposite would be true.

I have discussed this issue with other HBC contributors. One HBC contributor suggests that peer pressure and cultural norms are the main reason for the declining standards. I respect his opinions tremendously. The question becomes how and why the cultural norms and icons given us, and why they persist despite a sizable minority of all age groups who is disaffected by them?

John