The White Picket Fence: History and Portrayal
If you were to ask an individual born in the United States about the definition of the American dream and the perfect family, there is a good chance he will mention a spouse, 2.5 kids, a dog and a home with a white picket fence. While this simple wood fence installation is literally a boundary marker, it figuratively represents an ideal that some hold in the highest esteem – and others regard with cynicism.
Following is a look at the history and significance of the white picket fence in American culture.
History of the White Picket Fence
White picket fencing installations have existed since the early colonial days in American history, as the harsh conditions after the Revolutionary War called for sturdy, utilitarian and simple fence designs. This classic wood fence installation originated from medieval palings that were made of round stakes or flat strips of locally found wood. A white picket cedar fence may have easily been more expensive during the colonial days, particularly if the wood was imported from a location several miles away.
The idea of a white picket fence did not always refer to a move up the socioeconomic ladder and the American suburban experience. At one point in American history, the sight of a white picket fence was common, as many cities required the use of this wood fence installation because it served as a property limit marker.
While wood fence installations are more diverse today, you can still find the continued use of white picket fences. This fence style still appeals to many homeowners’ sense of style, aesthetics and their desire to maintain an architectural connection to America’s past. While a homeowner may decide to erect a white picket fence in lieu of other cedar fence equivalents to show that he or she has achieved the American dream, many still find its style useful for practical reasons. It keeps animals in or out of a yard, outlines a property and can serve as an attractive addition to a landscaping plan.
Picket Fence Symbolism
Reinhold Neibuhr stated, “The fence and the boundary line are the symbols of spirit and justice… (Fences) set the limits upon each man’s interests to prevent one from taking advantage of the other.” Neibuhr’s idea is widely accepted in American culture. Today, a white picket fence describes a lifestyle that some may say separates the haves from the have-nots.
Many equate the thought of a white picket fence with social and cultural expectations, such as homeownership, marriage, raising a family and having a respectable job. Others see this type of wood fence installation as a way to describe ideals and aspirations that have personal meaning and that represent the desire to have a good quality of life in a community that shares similar social norms and expectations.
Media Portrayals and Cynicism
The idea of perfection associated with the white picket fence mentality has been the target of its share of cynicism, much of which you can find in several media sources. Books such as Anne of Green Gables and Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer, as well as TV shows like “Desperate Housewives” and “Picket Fences,” describe the hypocrisy behind the white picket fence lifestyle. Other notable medial portrayals of white picket fences include the movies “American Beauty,” “Pleasantville,” “Blue Velvet” and “JFK.”
The white picket fence, when seen as a symbol of the ideal, middle-class suburban life, is often countered with negative aspects of the seemingly perfect lifestyle it represents. The white picket fence keeps prying eyes away and shameful secrets locked behind the front door. According to some cynics, the well-groomed look of white picket fencing installations in manicured neighborhoods prove the need for multiculturalism, diverse educational and economic opportunities, respect for history, strong family values and the participation of residents in community leadership.
While the use of a plain cedar fence is also appropriate for homes today, the white picket fence still provides an attractive landscaping option. This fence type will continue to remain a symbol of homeownership for some and the dismissal of middle class hopes for others. In the end, a white picket fence is just a matter of personal interpretation.
