Hippies and Yuppies: definitions and contrasting social movements

¶ … Hippies and Yuppies.

The terms Hippie and Yuppie are often difficult to define in a single sentence. There reason for this is that these terms refer to complex attitudes and social movements or subcultures within the larger society. Both these terms refer to a search for new meaning and innovation within society to differing degrees.

The Hippie movement was essentially motivated by the rejection of societal standards and values that were seen to be corrupt and the Hippie culture was concerned with finding new answers to social problems and in shaping a better future. The themes of this subculture were expressed in the music and the dress of the time. All of these aspects represented a rejection of materialistic values and of a society based on the accumulation of wealth and money. The movement was spread throughout the word although it had its popular origins in the developed regions, such as the United States and the United Kingdom

The Yuppie movement was in many ways the antithesis of the Hippie culture. The term Yuppie is associated with the return to the norms and values of materialistic culture and society and can be seen, to a certain extent, as a reaction to the excesses of the Hippie culture. The search for wealth and a style of life that venerated affluence, achievement and status are some of the hallmark characteristics of the Yuppie phenomenon.

2. Definitions

Any attempt to define these two categories, Hippie and Yuppie, means that they should, in the first instance, be considered as social entities. The term Hippie refers not so much to a certain class of people but rather to a social type, which can be described by certain social characteristics and intentions of that type or group. Yuppie is a term that has been derived from some characteristics of the Hippie group, but which shows marked differences and is distinguished for the Hippie category by these differences.

However both categories refer to a certain attitudes or intentions within the larger society. Yuppie however refers more to a certain 'class' of person and this will be more fully outlined in the various characteristics and habits of each group.

One common definition of Hippie is: "A person who opposes and rejects many of the conventional standards and customs of society, especially one who advocates extreme liberalism in sociopolitical attitudes and lifestyles." (Hippie) However this definition provides only a cursory view of death of the term.

A common definition of Yuppie is; "...a young upwardly mobile professional person; someone under 40 who prospered during the 1980s." (Noun 1. yuppie)

3. Characteristics and habits

Yuppies

The term Yuppie is related to the demise and the reduction of interests in the values espoused by the Hippie subculture. As the Hippie movement of the sixties and seventies started to lose impetus and decline, there was resurgence among some young people towards materialistic values and societal demands and norms. Yuppies reacted against the radical rejection of societal norms which was evidenced in the Hippie culture.

The origin of the term Yuppie is commonly ascribed to the former radical activist, Jerry Rubin. He is said to have told an audience that the way to social change is not through the rejection of society but through being involvement in capitalistic enterprise. He believed that "...unfettered capitalism is the ultimate engine of social change." (Wasserman)

The word Yuppie refers to "Young Urban Professional." Unlike the term Hippie, Yuppie is more concerned with class and demographics and represents a profile of a type of young person in society. This refers to, "...people, usually between their early twenties and late thirties, generally with graduate degrees. Yuppies tend to hold jobs in the professional sector, with incomes that place them in the upper-middle economic class." (Noun 1. yuppie.)

The major difference with Hippies and the central characteristic usually associated with Yuppies is that they are to be more conservative and superficial in many respects. A common definition of this group states that they are mainly concerned with their own well-being and social advancement. Whereas the Hippie would be untildily dressed with long hair, the common image of the Yuppie is someone with a suit and tie who generally subscribed to the rules and norms of the society.

The one aspect that links the Yuppies to Hippies is that there is a"... certain air of informality about them..." (the Eighties Club) However there entire lifestyle is the opposite to that of the Hippies with extreme attention being given to social perceptions and the ability to be accepted within the higher echelons of society. The materialistic views and aims of this class of people is also a central aspect that differentiated them for the Hippie culture.

The heyday of the Yuppie culture was in the mid-1980's. This high point was disrupted the stock market crash of October 1987, which spelt the decline of Yuppiedom. (the Eighties Club)

The exact number or Yuppies are disputed but one estimate from Newsweek Magazine states that "...there were 1.2 million, while American Demographics determined that about 5% of baby boomers (4.2 million) qualified." (the Eighties Club)