Once upon a time, the hippies were the rebels. They were the ones who rejected mainstream values and embraced counterculture. They championed peace, love, and free thinking. But somewhere along the way, something happened. The hippies turned into yuppies.
They became the very thing they once rejected. So what happened? How did this happen? Read on to find out…
by David Stone
The rise of the hippie movement in the 1960s as a counterculture to mainstream society
In the 1960s, the counterculture was all the rage as a nascent countermovement took root in the form of the hippie subculture.
With unwashed hair, countercultural values and an appetite for psychedelic drugs, they rocked out to protest music and marched in a colorful cavalcade against social norms.
Everyone wanted peace, love and understanding, and these counterculture revolutionaries had all three in spades…plus bell bottoms.
How hippies rejected traditional values and embraced free love, drugs, and music
The hippies of the 1960s became known for their unbridled rejection of mainstream values and their embrace of alternative lifestyles. They did away with the conservative ideals society claimed to value, living instead on free love, drugs – of both a mathematical and hallucinogenic nature- and music.
Hippie life was a sort of alternate reality where liberation ran rampant amongst the grooviest citizens in town.
Whether you agreed or disagreed with their way of life one thing’s for sure; if you ever want to inject a bit of fun into your life, just take advice from our friends from the past: get hip and hop on the train to Hippieland!
The fall of the hippie movement in the 1970s, replaced by yuppies
In the 1970s, America saw the rise of two very different types of people – hippies and yuppies. Hippies embraced free love and peace. But yuppies were ambitious career-oriented citizens who chased money and success.
In less than a decade, hippie culture was crushed by the powerful wave of ambition that characterized yuppie culture.
Yuppies replaced flower power with power suits, flip flops with polished loafers, and positive vibes with heartless cutthroat capitalism.
It’s almost like they thought they were too cool for bell bottoms…but in all seriousness, the fall of the hippie movement marked an exciting yet scary economic boom that would come to define America in future decades.
Yuppies are young professionals who focus on their careers and making money
Meeting a yuppie can be an interesting experience.
They often have a strong sense of self-importance, talking about their ambitious job, their perfectly curated wardrobe, and whatever other flashy thing they’re passionate about.
But at least you know you won’t be waiting too long for them to pay the bill.
Yuppies will often do whatever is needed to jump ahead in their careers, push themselves to make more money and gain recognition at every opportunity. This can mean longer hours for them and more fun for us!
How yuppies differ from hippies in their values, lifestyle, and attitude
Yuppies and hippies are like night and day.
While hippies espouse peace and love, yuppies believe in accumulating wealth by any means necessary. Instead of vibrant, tie-dyed clothing, yuppies prefer the latest trends from luxury boutiques.
While hippies often embrace unconventional lifestyles, yuppies pride themselves on looking “normal” to society’s standards. And for a hobby, you’re more likely to find a yuppie playing golf than meditating in a field.
All in all, it’s clear these two generations are as different as apples and oranges – and that probably won’t change anytime soon.
The impact of the hippie movement on today’s society
The hippie movement of the sixties left an impact that is still felt in today’s society, most notably in clothing, social and music trends.
Every summer a new wave of tie-dye shirts and Birkenstocks can be seen as people embrace the free-spirited style of the iconoclastic hippies.
Even some language from the era has made its way into everyday use – far out, groovy, and peace out are just a few examples. While the answer to life may not have been 42 (as was suggested by the hippies), they certainly gave us a unique perspective on what it means to live life outside society’s rules.
The next time you see someone dressed in their best flower child attire, remember to smile – they’re just continuing a decades-long journey back to Woodstock!
Though the hippie movement may have been replaced by the rise of the yuppies in the 1970s, its influence can still be seen in today’s society. The rejection of traditional values and embracing of free love, drugs, and music continues to shape today’s youth culture.
What started as a counterculture has now become mainstream, which just goes to show that you can’t keep a good hippie down – even after the yuppie invasion.
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