In the 1960s and 1970s, hippies greatly impacted politics and popular culture, inspiring various artistic and musical movements and swaying public opinion on civil rights, environmentalism, and the Vietnam War.
Despite the hippie movement’s demise in the 1980s, it continues to impact modern culture, especially in environmentalism, alternative religion, and the DIY ethic.
Since they were “hip” or aware of what was happening worldwide, hippies earned the nickname. On the other hand, the word “hippy” is sometimes seen as a different or alternate spelling of “hippie.”
Continue reading to know more!
What Is A Hippie?
Young individuals who rejected conventional beliefs and sought an alternative way of life centered on peace, love, and individual freedom were referred to as hippies in the 1960s.
Hippies are remembered for their unique style, frequently featuring long hair, vibrant clothing, and organic materials like hemp and tie dye.
Also, they were linked to several countercultural movements, such as the sexual revolution, ecology, and activism against the war. To underline their love of nature, expressed in a well-known song, many hippies wore flowers in their hair.
The hippie movement’s opposition to materialism and consumerism was one of its central tenets. Many hippies pooled resources like food, clothing, and housing in communal settings. They also accepted other spiritual practices like paganism, Native American customs, and Eastern religions.
Hippies were frequently associated with drug usage, especially marijuana and LSD, which they thought would improve their spiritual encounters and broaden their horizons.
Yet, many people who identified as hippies did not use drugs, and drug usage was not a defining aspect of the hippie movement.
Appearance
Several sported tie-dyed t-shirts, bell-bottomed blue jeans, and bare feet. Long hair was common among both sexes.
But the hippie movement was much more than just dressing and behaving differently from the norm.
| Values and way of life | Talk about hippies’ principles: love, peace, and individual freedom. |
| Fashion | 1. Spirituality Talk about the alternative spiritual practices that hippies adopted, such as paganism, Native American customs, and Eastern religions. 2. Examine the significance of drug usage, particularly marijuana, and LSD, in the hippie movement. |
| Talk | 1. Spirituality Talk about the alternative spiritual practices that hippies adopted, such as paganism, Native American customs, and Eastern religions. 2. Examine the significance of drug usage, particularly marijuana and LSD, in the hippie movement. |
| Effects on Politics and Culture | Explain the major influence hippies had on politics, popular culture, and the environment in the 1960s and 1970s, focusing especially on the Vietnam War, environmental issues, and civil rights. |
Is The Word “Hippy” Accurate?
Sometimes “hippy” is seen as a different or alternate spelling of “hippie.” Although the spelling “hippie” is more frequently used, the same subculture and way of life that evolved in the 1960s and 1970s are also referred to as “hippy” and are generally understood to mean the same thing.
However, “hippy” is less frequently used than “hippie” in American English and might be more prevalent in British English.
Using the spelling “hippie” when writing for an American audience would be more appropriate. But either spelling should be okay if you write for a British readership.
Difference Between Hippie And Hippy
At best, the distinction between “hippy” and “hippie” is minimal. These names refer to members of the 1960s and 1970s counterculture that rejected conventional wisdom and adopted an alternative way of life centered on peace, love, and individual freedom.
The word “hippy” is occasionally thought of as a different spelling of “hippie” and is maybe more frequently used in British English.
More people use the word “hippie” in American English. Yet, it is generally accepted that both phrases refer to the same subculture and the individuals who were a part of it.
The Etymology Of Hippie
The term “hipster,” used in the 1940s and 1950s to characterize jazz lovers and Beat Generation writers, is thought to be the source of the word “hippie,” but its exact origin is unclear.
The term “hippie” was first used to refer to young individuals who were a member of the countercultural movement that rejected conventional ideals and embraced an alternative lifestyle in San Francisco in the middle of the 1960s.
According to some accounts, “hippie” may have been influenced by the term “hip,” which was once used to describe someone hip, cool, and up on the newest fashions in jazz and African American culture.
No matter where it came from, the name “hippie” swiftly came to refer to a subculture of young people who rejected commercialization, materialism, and conformity in favor of a life centered around peace, love, and individual independence.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the hippie movement greatly impacted politics and popular culture. The term “hippie” is still used today to refer to the individuals and principles associated with that period.
Hippy’s Today
The 1960s and 1970s were all about promoting peace and persuading nations to lose their hatred for one another. Whether you identify as a hippie or not, it is your responsibility as a human being to care for other people and the planet we all share.
- Sadly, the hippy movement has passed. Yet as times and people change, so do principles, and they evolved into another subculture that vanished.
- For many, being referred to as a hippy depends on your clothing choices. But many of us are true hippies at heart, both on the inside and outside. We take good care of ourselves, the environment, and one another.
- We make an extra effort to do these things. We demonstrate and march for important causes just like they did in the 1960s. Just like then, we detest violence and conflict.
- Via innovative musical genres, the hippies also expressed themselves. They listened to folk and psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll criticizing the war and promoting individualism. They protested the war by holding music festivals and big gatherings.
Final Thoughts
- Hippies used their looks as one way to express their discontent with civilization. This was a clear approach to demonstrate their principles.
- Hippies demonstrated against the Vietnam War because they believed it to be unfair.
- And they favored a return to a simpler, more natural way of life.
- They put the peace symbol on various objects to demonstrate their opposition to war and support for international peace.
- Hippies then started making the peace sign, which is still used to express a desire for peace today.
- Hippies played a role in developing some of the environmental challenges we face today.
- To underline their love of nature, expressed in a well-known song, many hippies wore flowers in their hair.
- On the other hand, the word “hippy” is occasionally thought of as a different spelling of “hippie” and is maybe more frequently used in British English.