Hippies in the Sixties

The hippies of the 1960s wore dramatic clothing, had long hair and promoted peace.

Hippies were the young people who did not conform to the traditions of society and had a liberal attitude. Princeton's Word Net describes "hippie" as someone who "rejects the established culture" and supports "extreme liberalism in politics and lifestyle." During the 1960s, the hippies were teenagers and young adults who experimented with drugs, promoted freedom, peace and love, and protested the Vietnam War.

Hippies and Love

"Love" is one of the words most commonly associated with the hippie. Hippies promoted love and peace. They protested the Vietnam War during peace protests and were known to accept anyone in their group regardless of skin color and race. The hippies were compassionate for all individuals and groups and did not believe in violence or hatred. Instead, hippies of the 1960s promoted tolerance and acceptance of all individuals, regardless of their choices and behaviors.

Hippie Drug Culture

The drug culture of hippies in the 1960s is one of the aspects that has a negative connotation for the group. The hippie belief in personal freedom resulted in many individuals who experimented with drugs as a method of freeing the mind. Hippies were known to smoke marijuana, take LSD or use other drugs in various forms. Unfortunately, many hippies who intended to free their minds ended up addicted to the drugs they used and some even died from an overdose.

Hippie Beliefs

The beliefs of the hippies, beyond the basics of love and peace, were variable. Many hippies became vegetarians due to compassion for animals, and many hippies believed in protecting the earth and started a Green movement. Hippies of the 1960s focused on a belief in the earth rather than in the capitalistic and materialistic approaches of others. Hippies were often among the groups that protested various social and political problems. They often protested the Vietnam War, feeling that peace was a better option. Protests by hippies were not only related to the war, but also to segregation and intolerance as well.

Styles of Clothing

The clothing styles of the 1960s worn by hippies were similar to and different from others in society. Hippies wore the popular jeans of the day, typically a bell-bottom pant or similar design, often topped with tie-dyed shirts. Both men and women tended to wear their hair long as an expression of freedom, and putting flowers in their hair was common.

References

• Rewind the Fifties: Hippies Life; Valencia Higuera
• The Best of Pennsylvania Arts, Music, Culture: Flashback to the Sixties
• Hippy.com: The '60s
• Princeton University Word Net: Hippie

Resources

• "The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage"; Todd Gitlin; 1993
• "Los Angeles Times"; San Francisco's Flower Power Days; Christopher Reynolds; January 31, 2010
• Haight Ashbury Flower Power Walking Tour