Life+and+Times+of+the+21st+Century+American+Group+2

=**// Life and Times of the 21st Century American //**= 

** Women **
In 18th century America and before, women's roles revolved around managing the household- today, that is not necessarily the case. In 1848, women started to fight for equality; they wanted better-paying jobs, higher education, and more freedom. At this time, a woman by the name of Elizabeth Cady Stanton organized the first ever “Women’s Rights Convention”, the giant leap towards a better life for women in America. In 1920, under the Nineteenth Amendment, women were granted the right to vote. After this Supreme Court decision, a movement called “feminism” took place. Women started to celebrate their sexuality, and did so by shortening the hem lines in their skirts, wearing makeup, and walking around in high heels.

Today in 21st century America, women not only receive equal status, opportunity, and wage, but they are shown to achieve higher education than men. Women now have the option to choose whatever profession they desire- soldier, nurse, lawyer, business owner, even President. In 2008, the first woman in history ran for Vice President. Because of the feminist movement, the roles of men in society are starting to change- its now common for a man to stay home and keep house while his wife goes off to work and earns a living. Women in America today are empowered by the rights that they have in society, and it all started with you, Abigail Adams.
 * __Influential Women in America Today __ **Tyra Banks, Oprah, Sarah Palin, Hilary Clinton



** Transportation **
 __Automobile: __ **A self-propelled passenger vehicle that usually has four wheels and an internal-combustion engine. **When it's used:** Used for any form of land transportation. Very convenient, but can be expensive to purchase and maintain.
 * 
 * Invented by**: There is no straightforward answer, but it is said to be a man named Karl Benz
 * When:** 1885-86

** __Motorcycle:__ **  A two-wheeled motor vehicle resembling a heavy bicycle, sometimes having two saddles and a sidecar with a third wheel. 
 * Invented by:** Gottlieb Daimler, a German
 * When: ** 1885
 * When it's used: ** Used for any form of land transportation. Usually not a main form of transportation because of safety issues and no protection against the weather. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 11pt;">**__<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Airplane __**:<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Any of various winged vehicles capable of flight, generally heavier than air and driven by jet engines or propellers.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Invented by: ** <span style="display: block; font-family: georgia; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">Orville and Wilbur Wright, Americans
 * When:** 1903
 * When it's used:** Used for air travel. Faster and safer than automobiles and motorcycles, but can be very expensive.



<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">**<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">__Train:__ ** <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">A series of connected railroad cars pulled or pushed by one or more locomotives.
 * Invented by:** George Stephenson, English
 * When:** 1822
 * When it's used:** Used for land travel. Runs on a track, and can be convenient in certain situations.




 * <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">__<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Motor boat: __ **<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">A boat propelled by an <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">internal-combustion engine or other motor.
 * Invented by:** Ole Evinrude, American
 * When:** 1907
 * When it's used:** Used for any form of water travel. Convenient, may be expensive.

<span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16pt; text-align: center;">**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Media ** <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Perhaps the biggest influence on society today is the media. The media includes any form of communication that reaches people widely. This communication comes from television, radio, magazines, internet, you name it- people of America are influenced by it. Women are influenced by the super-skinny models in magazines such as Vogue and Cosmopolitan- eating disorders have hit an all-time high. And men, when they catch the sports updates on ESPN, are influenced by the rich, famous, and most of all, buff athletes they see on TV. With all the technology in the world today, its simple to digitally remove a zit from a model’s face on the cover of Vogue. Its even possible to make her look taller and skinnier than she really is.

Advertisements have the power to make people buy their product- all they have to do is make it look cool, and the population will buy it. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Media drives our economy, provides entertainment and supplies access to information. It plays an important role in our daily lives and influences the choices we make in whatever we do or buy.

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';"> <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16pt; text-align: center;">**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Jobs ** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">__<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**Top 8 Areas Where Work Will Be Most Popular in 2009:** __ <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;">**<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">1. ****<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Nursing and Medical Services- **<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">over 50,000 new nursing jobs are to be created this year alone.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">2. ****<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Computing and Engineering- **<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">computer-related jobs are expected to grow by more than 20% in the next decade.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">3. ****<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Education- **<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">as more Americans wait out the current recession in college and graduate programs, the need for educators will increase.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">4. ****<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Green jobs- **<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';"> see Global Warming
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">5. ****<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Energy- **<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">again, see Global Warming. Jobs that work with conserving energy and fighting global warming are becoming very popular.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">6. ****<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Infrastructure- **<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">any job that works with building roads, bridges, or any other internal improvements is expected to boom in 2009 and years to come.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">7. ****<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">The New Finance- **<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">bankers will be plentiful as Americans refinance in this recession.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">8. ****<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Self-Employment and Small Business- **controlling your own destiny is something many Americans will start to do in this century.

<span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16pt; text-align: center;">**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">African-Americans ** <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"> Long ago were the days of slavery and inequality between whites and blacks. Things have changed a lot in that aspect since the 18th century. African Americans can now hold any job title they wish- including President. In fact, a black man won the presidential election in 2008. There are also nondiscriminatory laws that protect minorities such as blacks from being discriminated against in the workplace. About a third of African Americans are considered to be middle class, as compared with half of whites. Pretty soon, whites and blacks will be completely equal. By 2010, high school graduation rates for whites and blacks are expected to be equal.

<span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16pt; text-align: center;">**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Teenagers **

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"> Teenagers have changed quite a bit since the 18th century. Starting in the 1950's, teens started to break away from the ideals of their parents; they developed their own style, traditions, and way of life. This all came from the invention of the <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">television, where teenagers were sometimes depicted as rebellious, and even rude to their parents. These holds true in 21st century America, where shows such as "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and "The Real World" give teens the impression that it's okay to do <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">drugs, drink alcohol, and be sexually active. In fact, in 2006 teen birth rates increased 3 to 4% in girls 15-19 years old. This may have been normal in 18th century America, but these girls are usually not married.

<span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16pt; text-align: center;">**<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Clothing ** <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Unlike the 18th and 19th century, anything goes! Trends come and go...But, walking down the street, you will see anything and everything in terms of fashion. Here are some comparisons:

<span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">"Black Americans in the 21st century: Report analyzes how theyre faring in an increasingly diverse nation." //The University Record//. Web. 10 Jan. 2010. <http://www.ur.umich.edu/9899/Oct28_98/11.htm>. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">//Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary//. Web. 10 Jan. 2010. <http://www.thefreedictionary.com>. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">"The History of the Airplane - Orville and Wilbur Wright." //Inventors//. Web. 10 Jan. 2010. <http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blairplane.htm>. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">"Media Influence in Our Society -." //Associated Content - associatedcontent.com//. Web. 10 Jan. 2010. <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/13871/media_influence_in_our_society.html?cat=35>. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">"Outboard Motor History - Invention of the Outboard Motor." //The Great Idea Finder - Celebrating the Spirit of Innovation//. Web. 10 Jan. 2010. <http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/outboard.htm>. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">"Teen Birth Rate Up in 26 States in 2006 - US News and World Report." //Health News Articles - US News Health//. Web. 10 Jan. 2010. <http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/01/07/teen-birth-rate-up-in-26-states-in-2006.html>. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">"The Top Jobs for 2009 | Fast Company." //FastCompany.com - Where ideas and people meet | Fast Company//. Web. 10 Jan. 2010. <http://www.fastcompany.com/articles/2009/01/top-jobs-2009.html?page=0%2C0>. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">"The train is a vehicle of transportation, which was invented in 1822 by an English inventor named George Stephenson." Web. 10 Jan. 2010. <http://www.ohel-shem.com/subjects/english/train.htm>. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">"Who Invented The Motorcycle | Inventor Of The Motorcycle." //Welcome to Clubcycle.com. The Home for Motorcycle Enthusiasts.// Web. 10 Jan. 2010. <http://www.clubcycle.com/who-invented-the-motorcycle.htm>. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">"A Woman's Place: Feminism in the 21st Century -." //Associated Content - associatedcontent.com//. Web. 10 Jan. 2010. <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/195522/a_womans_place_feminism_in_the_21st.html?cat=9>.
 * References**

Home