Page 110 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2022

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The American Dream Home story by Holly Harrison and Shannon Stage
The phrase, “The American Dream,” first appeared in a 1931 novel by historian and author James Truslow Adams. In The Epic of America, he spoke of “a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.”
This idea that anyone in our country has the
chance to work their way towards achieving
their own goals and reap the benefits of their
own successes is part of every American’s
consciousness. It’s what heroes fight for, great
leaders protect, scholars debate, and every
one of us should celebrate.
World War II summoned America to
the world stage to preserve that American Dream. Over sixteen million soldiers left home to serve in action while women took their places in the workforce. Children helped by collecting scrap metal and saving their pennies to buy War Stamps. Every American was expected to support the
war effort in some way. American factories churned out more weapons than all other countries combined. When the war was over, soldiers returned to a unified nation with a robust economy. Veterans were rewarded with benefits for education and low interest mortgage rates, and the definition of the American Dream suddenly included home ownership.
Prior to WWII, 40 percent of Americans
owned a home. Post WWII, that number had jumped to over 60 percent, where it remains today. As education became more important
in the workplace and job requirements
diversified, salary levels responded, and the
size of the average American home grew
right along with rising salaries. In 1940, the average home was 600-800 square feet. By
1960, it had grown to over 1,000 square feet,
and today it is still larger at over 2,000 square feet.
As homes got larger, convenience and efficiency became more important, driving innovation and technology. Electric appliances saved time and plastic made maintenance of
household goods easier. Women continued to seek work outside of the home and it showed as kitchens evolved into sleeker, smaller spaces. Gone were the days when women had to prepare and serve large meals three times a day in
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their kitchens. Gone too were rooms created just for show with furnishings everyone admired but no one was allowed to touch or enjoy. New television sets dominated a “family room.”
1950s Kitchen.
1960s Living Room.