1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910455519403321

Autore

McBee Randy D

Titolo

Dance hall days [[electronic resource] ] : intimacy and leisure among working-class immigrants in the United States / / Randy D. McBee

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New York, : New York University Press, c2000

ISBN

0-8147-6119-4

0-8147-5992-0

0-585-48068-0

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (312 p.)

Disciplina

305.3/0973

Soggetti

Sex role - United States - History

Man-woman relationships - United States - History

Leisure - United States - History

Working class - United States - History

Immigrants - United States - History

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. 279-288) and index.

Nota di contenuto

Marriages were a little different then : marriages upon short acquaintance and immigrant, working-class life -- The era of large ballrooms and famous bands : the rise of commercial leisure and the making of a peer culture -- The girls here are like crazy : working-class women's heterosocial leisure and homosocial fun -- That's alright, I have my gang here : working-class male culture and the struggle over gender, identity, and dance -- And you know the old saying about familiarity breeding contempt : working-class male culture, social clubs, and heterosocial leisure -- When it comes to my marrying, boy, there will be a lot of strings pulled by my parents : familial conflict, commercial leisure, and weddings.

Sommario/riassunto

The rise of commercialized leisure coincided with the arrival of millions of immigrants to America's cities. Conflict was inevitable as older generations attempted to preserve their traditions, values, and ethnic identities, while the young sought out the cheap amusements and sexual freedom which the urban landscape offered. At immigrant



picnics, social clubs, and urban dance halls, Randy McBee discovers distinct and highly contested gender lines, proving that the battle between the ages was also one between the sexes. Free from their parents and their strict rules governing sexual conduct, wo