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Paul Sparks
- Online English Lesson Plans, Lesson Material and Ideas for "Culture of
English Speaking Countries Lessons" for Xiangtan Normal University...
WESTERN CULTURE AND SOCIETY: THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA (USA) -
American Life and Society
FAMILY LIFE:
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In 1960, over 70
percent of all American households were made up of a working father, a
homemaker mother, and their children. Today, "traditional"
families with a working husband, an unemployed wife, and one or more
children make up less than 15 percent of the nation's households. As
American families have changed, the image of the family in the media has
changed accordingly. Today's families vary from both parents working to
single mothers and their children and unmarried couples who live in the
same house.
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In a decade, divorce
rates doubled. The rapid increase in the divorce rates contributed to a
dramatic increase in the number of single-parent households or what used
to be known as broken homes. The number of households consisting of a
single woman and her children has tripled since 1960.
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As late as 1940,
less than 12 percent of white married women were in the work force;
today the figure is nearly 60 percent and over half of all mothers of
pre-schoolers work outside the home.
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As wives have
assumed a larger role in their family's financial support, they have
felt justified in demanding that husbands perform more child care and
housework. Today, over two-thirds of all three-to-five year olds take
part in a day care, nursery school, or pre-kindergarten program,
compared to a fifth in 1970.
HOUSING:
TIME ZONES:
PDT - Pacific Daylight Time (Left, Blue) - 1pm
MDT - Mountain Daylight Time (Pink) - 2pm
CDT - Central Daylight Time (Green) - 3pm
EDT - Eastern Daylight Time (Right, Blue) - 4pm
WEDDINGS:
To get married in Las
Vegas: You must present some identification and
proof of your age. (A valid passport is acceptable). You must be over 18
years old. (You can be married if you are 16 or 17 years old only if you are
accompanied by at least one of your parents or if you have an official
document verifying your parent's permission.) If you were previously
married and divorced, you must have a copy of your final divorce decree that
clearly indicates the date and place that the final decree is registered.
Both the bride and groom
must appear in person at the Marriage License Bureau at 200 South Third
Street downtown. The office is open from 8AM until midnight on weekdays and
from 8AM Friday until midnight Sunday every weekend. They are also open 24
hours on all holidays. A marriage license cost $30. Once you have the
license, any person authorized by the state of Nevada can perform the
marriage ceremony. One witness must be present at the ceremony. Most wedding
chapels will supply the witness if you have none.
Drive Thru Wedding:
There are many places to get married in Las Vegas and
many types of wedding ceremonies. You can have anything from a short simple
civil ceremony to an elaborate, romantic wedding. You can have a themed
wedding, an outdoor wedding even a helicopter wedding.
A Civil Ceremony:
The simplest way to get married is by having a brief civil ceremony
performed by the Las Vegas Marriage Commissioner. It can be completed in the
Marriage Commissioner's Office. It will require only half of an hour and
will cost about $50.
Wedding Chapels:
The famous wedding chapels are part of the legend of Las Vegas. Years ago,
many couples journeyed to Las Vegas to take advantage of the lenient divorce
and marriage laws in Nevada. They usually came for a speedy divorce and
often for a swift marriage soon afterward. A small industry developed around
quick weddings. The more enterprising businesses built small quaint-looking
chapels to attract their romantic customers.
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