In my research on generational differences, I stumbled across some work by Morris Massey. His theory is: "what you are, is where they were when" (the "where" refers to his coming-of-age, and "when" to important events during that period of time). By example, if the majority of age during the JFK years, would have a very different vision of government that those who grew up under later administrations.
Recent political strife and the beginning of new year brought Massey's theory of the mind as 25 years ago, in 1983, I was right in the middle of high school. So I took a look back at the important events that shaped my views and those of my colleagues who come of age during the much maligned, but surprisingly progressive 1980.
Pop Culture – In 1983, broke Madonna "Like a Virgin" at the scene. Today this seems an almost meek to introduce oneself in comparison with the Spears sisters battle cry of "Oops, I did it again and again and, yep, do that again." Of course, in Paris then was a city, were only ankle bracelets jewelry and Ritchie just knew he was singing, "Once, twice, three times a lady."
Twenty-five years before satellite radio and iTunes, Sting was a police man watching every breath we take and still was John Mellencamp A Cougar. At the box office, Tom Cruise got his first taste of "Risky Business", Matthew Broderick played "War Games" and Jennifer Beals had us ripping our sweatshirts and dancing like crazy – a "Flashdance" trend for most of us would like to forget. In early 1983, the Academy of honor "Gandhi" nation's leader, Richard Gere carrying Debra Winger "up where we belong," Dustin Hoffman dressed in drag, and calling a stranger's house.
On the small screen, long before "American Idol" beat to pop stars and women bonded in "Sex and the City" saw " Fame "and followed female Pals" Kate & Allie "and" Cagney & Lacey. "However, not all female characters on television were friends, as 1983 was the year that Joan Collins and Linda Evans took his fall in the famous Lily Pond on "Dynasty". (I'm still waiting for a modern revenge day with Rosie O'Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Now that would be a "Survivor" episode worth seeing.)
A quarter century ago, OJ was up of cars for hire, not hire police officers. We had Michael Jackson in fear, instead of "EW …" Ozzy Osbourne was the only one. Rod Stewart and Woody Allen had sex with women old enough to know better, and still believe that Princess Diana married Prince Charming.
In retrospect, Life was so innocent then. However, there was a hint of things to come in 1983 marked the year that Karen Carpenter died of anorexia and presented a scientist French discovered HIV.
Technology – Today I watch TV on my computer, take pictures with my camera, surf the web from my phone and download music online. It was not until 1983 that Microsoft Word is not widely distributed, CDs were released and the mobile phone Motorola introduced to the public. At that time, a BlackBerry was just a fruit, a blue tooth means a call to the dentist, and now the most sought after vacation was not a video game, but a Cabbage Patch Kid that do not even have a second life as an avatar in an online community.
That was soon to change in 1983 was the year that ARPANET started to use the Internet protocol, helping create the Internet.
Politics / Legal – In 1983, the Reagan administration focused on the Soviets, "Star Wars" and "just say no." The Congress came together to create the Martin Luther King and Jesse Jackson announced his intention to run for president. Universal and Sony duking it out in the Supreme Court on the video recording of television broadcasts. (If they knew that Internet thingy would be little known in the store for them.)
Women's rights were at a high point in 1983. Sally Ride ventured into space and only two years after to appoint the first woman justice, the Supreme Court limited the power of state and local governments to restrict access to legal abortions and ruled that employers should treat men and women equally in the provision of health benefits. No wonder that only a year later, presidential candidate Walter Mondale selected Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate.
1983 was also a year where we really saw the war coming to an end as the U.S. retired Grenada and 125 million of us tuning in for the final episode of "M * A * S * H"
Retrospective Wrap-up – Looking back I was fortunate to grow up in an era of relative innocence, innovation, opportunity and optimism. Although I must confess that I have done a bit naive. You see, in 1983, I was living in Maryland and the rooting of the Washington Redskins, as they won the Super Bowl and the Baltimore Orioles, who later that year won the World Series. I thought winning streaks hometown-gone forever.
Looking ahead, I expect my child to learn as I do that even if the winning streaks come to an end and society seems to be moving in the wrong direction, can be as rewarding to the root down, long-term injections, explorers and dreamers who alter the status quo and shake the world as we know it.
Diane K. Danielson is the CEO of http://www.DowntownWomensClub.com a business network and career website for women and the co-author of The Savvy Gal’s Guide to Online Networking (or What Would Jane Austen Do?). For more of her random musing, check out her blog at http://www.womensDISH.com
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