70 Years of Social Life – the Evolution of Entertaining since the 1950s

Lucy and Lisette, childhood friends who are both now 70 years old,

discuss how their social lives and experiences with entertaining have changed

over the decades. They explore the formalities and traditions of their

parents' generation, as well as the more relaxed, fluid social lives they've

developed in their own adult years. 

Key Highlights

• Lucy describes the very formal, structured dinner parties her parents used to host, with formal dress and strict etiquette; and children’s parties with entertainment like magicians or Punch and Judy shows. Lisette had a more relaxed, casual upbringing where her parents sometimes hosted parties, invited friends over and drank a lot of alcohol.
• As teenagers, Lucy and Lisette's social lives revolved more around school, parties, and developing romantic relationships. Lisette got a moped at 16 which expanded her social circle, while Lucy took up sailing because of the social life around the Yacht Club.
• The women discuss how cooking and hosting dinner parties and learning to cook more exotic food became more of a social norm for young couples in their 20s and 30s, but they've both moved away from that as they've got older. Lucy first encountered barbecues when she lived in Australia and book clubs later in London.
• Lucy and Lisette reflect on how the concept of "social life" has evolved - it's become less about status and structured entertaining, and more about fluid, authentic connections with family and friends, whether in-person or through technology.

Why You Should Listen

This conversation offers an insightful, relatable look at how social norms and personal preferences around entertaining and socialising have shifted over the decades.  Listeners will appreciate the nostalgic reminiscing as well as the honest reflections on the changing nature of human connection in the modern age.

Join the Conversation

What does ‘a social life’ mean to you? Do you entertain and cook for friends frequently? Big groups or intimate events? How much of your social life now happens online, and did Covid change your social life?

Watch our full playlist (The Year of Being 70): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzDmlsx6mhXmqlFJFZEEvaOwytbeAMFCm&si=tD5_UfmXA89ax7uH

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