Contemporary Contemporary American CultureAmerican Culture

VUS.14VUS.14

Increased participation of Increased participation of women in the labor forcewomen in the labor force Women are an increasingly large Women are an increasingly large

percentage of the American work percentage of the American work forceforce

There are many working mothers There are many working mothers todaytoday

The courts have played an The courts have played an important role in providing women important role in providing women with opportunitieswith opportunities

Women are working in non-Women are working in non-traditional jobstraditional jobsSandra Day O’Connor was Sandra Day O’Connor was

the first woman to serve on the first woman to serve on the US Supreme Courtthe US Supreme Court

Sally Ride was the first Sally Ride was the first female astronaut in the USfemale astronaut in the US

Sally RideSally Ride

Issues of working womenIssues of working women Created a need for affordable day-Created a need for affordable day-

carecare equitable payequitable pay ““pink collar” ghetto--low prestige, low pink collar” ghetto--low prestige, low

paying jobspaying jobs ““glass ceiling”--perception that career glass ceiling”--perception that career

advancement for women is not equal advancement for women is not equal to mento men

ImmigrationImmigration

New and increasing immigration New and increasing immigration to the US has been taking place to the US has been taking place from many diverse countries, from many diverse countries, especially Asian and Latin especially Asian and Latin American countriesAmerican countries

Reasons for immigrationReasons for immigration----political freedompolitical freedomeconomic opportunityeconomic opportunity

Effects of ImmigrationEffects of Immigration----Bilingual education/ English as a Bilingual education/ English as a

Second Language (ESOL)Second Language (ESOL)Effects public policy (Cuban Effects public policy (Cuban

Americans and their effect on US Americans and their effect on US policy to Cubapolicy to Cuba

politics and votingpolitics and voting

Contributions of ImmigrantsContributions of Immigrants

popularity of ethnic food, popularity of ethnic food, music and the arts from music and the arts from various parts of the worldvarious parts of the world

immigrants also play a immigrants also play a major role in the work forcemajor role in the work force

TechnologyTechnology In the early 1960s, President Kennedy In the early 1960s, President Kennedy

pledged increased support for the US pledged increased support for the US space program. The race to the space program. The race to the moon continued through the 1960s. moon continued through the 1960s. US astronaut John Glenn was the first US astronaut John Glenn was the first to orbit the Earth. to orbit the Earth.

John GlennJohn Glenn

In 1969, American astronaut Neil In 1969, American astronaut Neil Armstrong was the first person to Armstrong was the first person to step onto the moon’s surface. step onto the moon’s surface. He proclaimed, “That’s one small He proclaimed, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”mankind.”

Neil ArmstrongNeil Armstrong

Over the past three decades Over the past three decades improved technology and media improved technology and media have brought about better access have brought about better access to communication and information to communication and information for rural areas, businesses, and for rural areas, businesses, and individual consumers. As a result, individual consumers. As a result, many more Americans have many more Americans have access to global information and access to global information and viewpointsviewpoints

Examples of technological Examples of technological advancesadvancesCable TV/ 24-hour news (CNN)Cable TV/ 24-hour news (CNN)personal computerspersonal computerscellular phonescellular phonesworld wide webworld wide web

Changes in Changes in work/school/healthcarework/school/healthcareTelecomuting -distance learningTelecomuting -distance learninggrowth in white collar careersgrowth in white collar careersbreakthroughs in medical breakthroughs in medical

research, including the research, including the development of the vaccine for development of the vaccine for polio by Dr. Jonas Salkpolio by Dr. Jonas Salk

Jonas SalkJonas Salk