This document summarizes key facts and figures about Americans from a class on reading British and American culture. It discusses trends in family structures like an increase in single parent households from 1980-1988. It also reviews statistics on pet ownership, participation in leisure activities, concerns of college students, debates around music censorship, and contrasts positive and negative changes as the United States became the richest nation on Earth in the 1980s. Students were asked to conduct a survey and present findings on topics like sports, expenditures or other areas.

1. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
Reading British & American Culture
Week 9
Professor Hayashi

2. TODAY’S CLASS
- attendance
- article presentation & DISCUSSION
- facts & figures
- conducting a survey
BREAK
- young people in the U.S.A.
- the richest nation on earth

3. • Facts & Figures About
Americans
Families
- There was an increase in
one parent families
- Most one parent families
were single mothers
1980
1988
Two parent
78.5%
72.7%
One parent
(mother/child)
18.4%
23.7%
One parent (father/child)
3.1%
3.6%

4. Family Expenditure
In 1988, Americans spent:
-more on health
-less on travel
-less on food
-slightly more on housing
-slightly less on clothing
-more on recreational goods
-the same on miscellaneous

5. Pet Ownership
From 1982 – 1989:
- dog ownership dropped
from 40.5% to 36.2%
- cat ownership increased
from 27% to 30%

6. SURVEY SAYS…
Look at Leisure & Sport in the USA
1.The most popular participation sport for men is
swimming. The most popular participation sport
for women is exercise walking.
2.Men and women almost equally enjoy bicycle
riding.
3.Aerobics are more popular for women.
4.Fishing and basketball are more popular for men.

7. HUFS Survey!
In your groups, create a
chart or graph based on
either:
- particpation sports
- spectator sports
- pet ownership
- expenditures
- other
JUST HAVE FUN WITH IT!

8. College Students – pg. 53
Top Concern: environment
New Concern: government hand-gun control
efforts
More Conservative about: drugs and crime
More Liberal about: abortion

9. POP MUSIC – pg. 53
1.Frank Sinatra attacked Rock n’
Roll. Today, rap and heavy
metal are under attack.
2.Florida and Tennessee are two
states considering legislation
against ‘objectionable’ music.
11 other states are considering
legislation.
3.Harris believes that minors
should be able to buy any kind
of music.

10. The Richest Nation on Earth – pg. 54
Positive Changes
Negative Changes
- GDP doubled during the 1980’s
- GDP doubled through borrowing
- lots of people prospered
- national debt tripled
- 20 million new jobs were created
- corporate & personal debt soared
- booming international trade is spreading - widening gap between rich and poor
wealth around the world
- poverty increased
-new jobs were low paid service positions
- USA was the world’s biggest creditor
then largest debtor