what was the social climate during the mid 1960s
`` The Sixties '' , as they are known in both scholarship and popular culture , is a term used by historians , journalists , and other objective academics ; in some cases nostalgically to describe the counterculture and revolution in social norms about clothing , music , drugs , dress , sexuality , formalities , and schooling ; and in others pejoratively to denounce the decade as one of irresponsible excess , flamboyance , and decay of social order . The decade was also labeled the Swinging Sixties because of the fall or relaxation of social taboos especially relating to racism and sexism that occurred during this time