Assesment- Sociology Unit 1 Outcome 2

$ Interview with a member of Generation Y (8/5/2007)

Generation Y Interview
Interview with Mike on 10/08/98:
this interview was find on the internet:
http://library.thinkquest.org/23440/gather/cgi-bin/millennialint/2.html

I'm an introverted 6'2" computer geek who feels sorry for the rudeness of the other interview for this generation and would like to show everyone that this generation isn't THAT bad.

Schooling

1. What were teachers like? Who was a favorite teacher? Why? Was there any teacher who made a sufficient impression on you? Who? Why?
Most of my teachers were lazy, and assigned a lot of busy work. I pretty much liked all my teachers and they liked me.

2. Was school work difficult? How were classes then different from classes today? What kind of grades did your parents expect you to get?
The teachers pretty much let me get an A for doing as little as possible. Like I said, they were lazy. My mom expects me to get A's, but since I'm in highschool honors classes now she doesn't mind B's.

3. How long was a school day? What was the food like? Cost? How many classes did you have? What was a typical routine in class?
At my old school, the days were from 8AM to 2:45PM. In highschool, the days are from 7:55AM to 3:07PM.

4. What was the dress code for students?
Grade school: Light blue shirt with blue pants uniforms
Highschool: Anything goes, as long as you wear something, pretty much.

5. Was there violence in your school? Were there many discipline problems?
There wasn't and still isn't much violence. There were, however, discipline problems at my old school.

6. What was the most embarrassing event for you?
There were too many. Can't pick one.

7. Did you ever cheat on a test? Get caught? What was the worst thing you ever did in school?
I cheated once in 1st grade on a spelling test. haha I got caught but nothing serious really happened; it was only first grade.

8. Did you have the opportunity to go to college?
No, because I haven't gotten finished with highschool yet. Isn't that a stupid question? I WILL have the opportunity to go to college.

Social Life

1. What were some after school activities? Organized sports? Clubs?
I used to play sports, but I'm not that good and all the coaches want is to win, so I don't play them anymore.

2. Was there any peer pressure?
Yes, but I'm not stupid enough to be affected by peer pressure like some kids.

3. Did you have a high school sweetheart? Did you marry your high school sweetheart?
No

4. What were some of the social activities you did with your friends?
n/a

5. What were your parents expectations?
Be good. Get good grades.

6. What career did you want to enter as a teenager? Did you choose that career?
Computers. I'll probably end up sitting in front of a monitor the rest of my life.

7. What were your hobbies?
Computers
Music
Guitar

Historical Event

1. What was a major historical event you remember? Where were you? What was the problem: did it change your lifestyle?

Entertainment

1. What kind of entertainment did you enjoy? Favorite song? Favorite singer? Favorite dance?
Music. Nine Inch Nails. All NIN songs.

2. What was your favorite television show? Did you have color tv?
I don't watch TV that much. And yes, this is the nineties, color TV is a necessity.

3. Did your parents have a car? Own a house?
I live in a suberb.

4. What was the cost of a movie? Favorite movie? Favorite star? How often did you go to the movies?
I don't know. I don't go to the movies that often. Renting movies is better.

Other Information
I read the page, and I think the earlier nineties/later eighties weren't covered that well. Like Ghostbusters. That was the biggest thing in my life in kindergarten. Transformers too. Hehe.

Nine Inch Nails should be mentioned for starting Industrial music. And Marilyn Manson should be mentioned for having such a positive effect on teens by bringing out their individuality and making them challenge tradition.

What many people don't realize is that teenagers today want to be preppy and they want to think they are from the inner city. Suburban, rich, kids. Example: Kid wearing Abercrombie & Fitch shirt with Tommy Hillfigger Jeans who has gotten in trouble for burning a farmer's field comes up to you and says "Yo wassup homie?"
That may be a little exaggerated, but it's the sick sad truth. Everyone at my school is like that except for a few, most of whom are drug addicts. And I don't mind the druggies, but the preppies really piss me off. They are the trouble makers, the snobs, and the superficial scum. People can blame the druggies for teenage problems but the druggies probably wouldn't be druggies if the preppies wouldn't put everyone who isn't brainwashed down. I think you get the point. Just my perspective on things. I'm just an observer.

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$ Generation Y (1982 to 2003) (8/5/2007)

This new generation is being treated as precious. Politicians and parents are taking an interest in improving conditions today that allows this generation to grow up in a nurturing environment. Parents are making a concerted effort to tell children to stay away from drugs, alcohol, profanity, improper TV, unchaperoned gatherings, aggressive behavior, beware of AIDS, and avoid teen pregnancy. Politicians are taking an interest in the quality education, media affects on children, and the war on drug so this generation is not a "Lost" generation. Sex education calls for abstinence rather than a neutral approach. This is the generation of hope, hope to correct the errors of their parents.

Famous people of Generation Y
1982 Prince William
1985 Jessica McClure (The baby saved from being trapped for two days in a well.)

Music and dance
Geri ("Ginger Spice"), Mel B ("Scary Spice"), Emma ("Baby Spice"), Victoria ("Posh Spice"), and Mel C ("Sporty Spice") also known as "The spice girls" are one of the most popular bands on the planet who seem to have rocketed to stardom overnight. The Spice Girls fun style, massive sex appeal, and positive 'girl power' messages are reflected in their dance- friendly tunes.

One of the most popular rock bands of the '90s was Nirvana. The heavy metal band Nirvana stood for dark pop lyricism and punk aggression. The band Nirvana caused such a commotion that they started a new form of music: Grunge.

People and event
Princess Diana, was tragically killed in a car accident on August 31, 1997. Princess Diana brought royalty closer to people and made them less intimidating. She was a shy school teacher until she married the Prince of Wales on July 29, 1981. Princess Diana often used her popularity with the press and its power to help promote awareness for projects she took a great interest in, for example two of her favorite - people affected by Land mines and also people with A.I.D.s. A close personal friend, Elton John rewrote his song (Princess Diana's favorite),"Candle In The Wind", as a tribute.

Fashion
In the 1990's the world of fashion was always changing, with the latest trends in clothing, hair styles and accessories for men and women, seeing styles from past generations coming back in. The womens casual wear consisted of sweatpants, sweatshirts, tee shirts, shorts, jeans, leggings, and stirrups. Formal wear is more reavealing usually exposing more skin or making one part of the body more noticeable. They had more daring looks, and hair cuts included the bob or layered. More and more men began to dye their hair, it is also more acceptable for males to take an interest in their appearance than any other decade in history.

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$ Interview with a member of Generation X (8/5/2007)

Generation 'X' Interview
Interview with Trent on 8/19/100:
find this interview on the internet
http://library.thinkquest.org/23440/gather/cgi-bin/erint/12.html

Kinda tall, redhead skinny white boy.

Schooling

1. What were teachers like? Who was a favorite teacher? Why? Was there any teacher who made a sufficient impression on you? Who? Why?
There are two types of teachers. (1) The ones that cared and tried their best to help and (2) those who abused their authority and made students feel stupid. My stand out favorite teacher would be, without a doubt, Donald Eaton b/c he was one of only two people at my high school who ever believed in me.

2. Was school work difficult? How were classes then different from classes today? What kind of grades did your parents expect you to get?
Work was easy. Since I graduated in 1999, I'd have to say that there probably aren't any big differences... My parents expected 100s on everything and (needless to say) that didn't happen.

3. How long was a school day? What was the food like? Cost? How many classes did you have? What was a typical routine in class?
My school day started at 7:30am and ended at 2:30pm. The food sucked and the prices were even worse. I brought my lunch to school a few times to avoid that. My senior year, I had six classes, but for the other three years I had eight each. Each class had it's own routine, so there wasn't much of a formula to it all.

4. What was the dress code for students?
A bit too strict for someone, just fine for others. I wouldn't have changed much, except for the facial hair stuff. Students weren't allowed to have facial hair b/c I live in a REALLY small REALLY conservative town. Anyway, some dress codes made sense (shorts must be below a certain level) but other were just stupid (length of hair, piercings, etc).

5. Was there violence in your school? Were there many discipline problems?
The were fights and things every so often, but there weren't any gun incidents until my sr year when that Columbine incident happened. That made other people want to bring guns to school, but usually they were too stupid to get thru the front door of the school before getting caught. There were a lot of bomb threats tho, none of them being real. As for discipline problems, I'd say that I was a bit of one myself, but mainly for small stuff. On the whole, I'd say my school had a serious problem with students misbehaving (of course, the 10,000 rules in the student handbook might have something to do with that).

6. What was the most embarrassing event for you?
If I told you that, it would become the second most embarassing moment, the first moment being have it printed on a website.

7. Did you ever cheat on a test? Get caught? What was the worst thing you ever did in school?
I cheated on a final one time, but that's about it. Never was big on cheating. My big problem was smoking cigarettes on campus. I did that often, especially my sr year b/c I just didn't care about anything that year. But I was never stupid enough to get caught like other people were.

8. Did you have the opportunity to go to college?
Yes.

Social Life

1. What were some after school activities? Organized sports? Clubs?
Tennis, football, cheerleading, drill team, ROTC, Cougars For Christ, FFA, French Club, Writer's Club, some other stuff.

2. Was there any peer pressure?
I never bought into that, so my answer is no.

3. Did you have a high school sweetheart? Did you marry your high school sweetheart?
Yes I did (and do) have one, but we haven't married... yet.

4. What were some of the social activities you did with your friends?
We went to play pool at a pool hall, went to each other's houses and fixed our computers, embarassed each other at our work place, hung during lunch together, the usual stuff.

5. What were your parents expectations?
For me to be Doogie Howser.

6. What career did you want to enter as a teenager? Did you choose that career?
I wanted to be a writer. And to a large extent, I'd say I chose that career.

7. What were your hobbies?
Computers, tennis, writing and watching Christina Ricci movies.

Historical Event

1. What was a major historical event you remember? Where were you? What was the problem: did it change your lifestyle?
What has this got to do with anything?

Entertainment

1. What kind of entertainment did you enjoy? Favorite song? Favorite singer? Favorite dance?
I love music, always have. My favorite band is Pearl Jam and my favorite song would either be "rearviewmirror" or "Do The Evolution". I'm leaning towards the first one tho.

2. What was your favorite television show? Did you have color tv?
My fave TV show would have to be the Simpsons. As for color TV... uh, yeah.

3. Did your parents have a car? Own a house?
Two cars, one house, two dogs and a partridge in the pear tree.

4. What was the cost of a movie? Favorite movie? Favorite star? How often did you go to the movies?
I guess movies were about $6 (with the student discount). My favorite movie is probably the Shawshank Redemption, but American Beauty is brilliant too. My favorite movie star is definitley Christina Ricci. I don't go see movies very often b/c most of them suck.

Other Information
Whatever...

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$ Generation X (1961 to 1981) (8/5/2007)

Older generations classify Generation X as irresponsible, reckless, uneducated, and violent - the generation only concerned about me. This generation is the generation without childhood. Generation X are survivors of what the adult world have left behind. Forced to grow up fast and overloaded with information, this generation finds it hard to understand what is truth, right from wrong, or how to achieve success in their lives. Generation X are confronted with drug addiction, AIDS, sexual freedom, uncontrollable violence, educational requirements, and environmental and world problems created by past generations.

Famous people of the Generation X

1963 Michael Jordan
1962 Tom Cruise
1961 Princess Diana
1961 Eddie Murphy
1961 Michael J. Fox

Typical Household
Although this generation is a very busy group, at times they are also very lonely. Most households have parents working full-time jobs trying to make ends meat while also trying to give their kids the best of life, especially materially, yet at the same time leaving many of the Generation to fend for themselves. With limited face-to-face interaction between each other, families try to meet at meals but many times just pass each other in house hallways between social events, sport's practices, health gyms, and jobs. On some days the only communication between family members and Generation X is done only by portable telephone, beepers or e-mail. Since Generation X have a wide variety of entertainment at their fingertips with TV, video games, computers, and music CD's, this generation seems to best expresses their feeling through music groups, Internet communication, and with what they wear.

Music and dance
Michael Jackson- As a child, he performed with his brothers in their group, The Jackson Five. The King of Pop has made his way through history and become one of the most significant entertainers of all time. His video 'Thriller' not only won awards but also contributed greatly in establishing videography as a respectable art form. Michael Jackson has changed the face of music forever with His chart topping, multi-platinum albums.
Madonna- Madonna, another larger-than-life pop icon, came from the eighties. who is constantly reinventing herself, she may be in fact, the most successful female musician of all time. Madonna is a shocking trendsetter who has shaped the directions of fashion and music for nearly two decades. Many people love Madonna and are devoted fans, but many people also find her vulgar and offensive.

Rap Music- Rap music, is fast becoming one of the most popular forms of music today. Developed by creative DJs who maneuvered the beats of records together, rap music eventually, inspired DJs and others to take on a more interactive role with their listeners.

People and Events
The landmark 1973 court case of Jane Roe, an unmarried woman, fought for the right to have an abortion and won. The right to end an unwanted pregnancy helped the Women's Movement by allowing women the right to decide what to do with their unborn child. Although there have been repeated challenges to this case that have narrowed its scope, it has not yet been overturned.

Fashion
During this decade women seemed to wear what ever thet wanted, they wore plenty of make up and their hair was usually wore permed or wavy. Clothes become more tight and firm fitting, accessories were also worn.
Mens clothing was still pretty basic, though they stated to wear bike caps and bike shorts.

Science and technology
the Internet has opened doors and crossed oceans to connect millions and inform many. This network has continued to expand becoming much more accessible to more of the general public at a reasonable cost. The Internet has created a whole new world - a virtual world. It enables people of all generations to communicate and relate with each other, share their ideas, voice their opinions, and educate each other with the ease of simply typing up what they want to say and sending it off, all from the comfort of their chair. The Internet helps to bridge the gap between different nationalities by bringing people closer together despite the long distances between them.

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$ Interview with a member of the Baby Boomers (8/5/2007)

Boomer Generation Interview
Interview with Anonymous on 10/09/100

this interview was find on the internet:
http://library.thinkquest.org/23440/gather/cgi-bin/boomerint/8.html:

I am what you might consider an acheiver, although I wouldn't consider myself an "all-american" type of kid. I was valedictorina of my high school, captain of my soccer team, and had numerous other acheivements.

Schooling

1. What were teachers like? Who was a favorite teacher? Why? Was there any teacher who made a sufficient impression on you? Who? Why?
My high school teachers were all pretty easy. Expectations weren't really that high because we had a bunch of dumb kids in our high school. Right now, I'm a freshman in college.

2. Was school work difficult? How were classes then different from classes today? What kind of grades did your parents expect you to get?
No, I as pointed out before, expectations were pretty low at my high school.

3. How long was a school day? What was the food like? Cost? How many classes did you have? What was a typical routine in class?
A school day was from 7a.m. until 3p.m. The food at school was allright, but nothing I dream about at night. There wasn't any typical routine in our class rooms.

4. What was the dress code for students?
We had a pretty strict dress code at our schools. No type of clothing with any kind of explicit language or alcohol/tobacco adds could be worn. Also, girls couldn't wear revealing clothes, but that was always a subjective opinion of the administration.

5. Was there violence in your school? Were there many discipline problems?
Oh yeah. Gang fights were a weekly thing, and numerous of my friends got into fights and were suspended.

6. What was the most embarrassing event for you?
As I stated before, I was valedictorian of my high school. However, a week befor school was out my senior year, I was caught cheating on a big exam. My parents were more humiliated than I was, but it was big news in our city. (I didn't lose the honor, and have grown up a lot because of what took place).

7. Did you ever cheat on a test? Get caught? What was the worst thing you ever did in school?
Answere above.

8. Did you have the opportunity to go to college?
Yes. I got a basic full ride to a great university, and that's where I am at right now.

Social Life

1. What were some after school activities? Organized sports? Clubs?
Soccer, golf, odyssey of the mind, peer-tutored, and was a teens as teacher.

2. Was there any peer pressure?
YES.

3. Did you have a high school sweetheart? Did you marry your high school sweetheart?
yeah, I still do have a girl from my high school that I'm dating.

4. What were some of the social activities you did with your friends?
Played nintendo, boxed, tried to pick up on girls, just hung out

5. What were your parents expectations?
My parents were really cool in just letting me do the best I could do, and not really pressure me.

6. What career did you want to enter as a teenager? Did you choose that career?
I am presently studying in the area of business.

7. What were your hobbies?
My hobbies are studying, chillin with my new fraternity brothers, playing any kind of sport.

Historical Event

1. What was a major historical event you remember? Where were you? What was the problem: did it change your lifestyle?
The Oklahoma City bombing really opened my eyes to what kind of world we live in today.

Entertainment

1. What kind of entertainment did you enjoy? Favorite song? Favorite singer? Favorite dance?
I like going to rock concerts, I don't really have a favorite song.

2. What was your favorite television show? Did you have color tv?
My favorite TV show is the "Simpsons"

3. Did your parents have a car? Own a house?
Yeah, my parents have 3 cars, and I they bought me my own new car also. We just bought a brand new house a year ago, so that's nice.

4. What was the cost of a movie? Favorite movie? Favorite star? How often did you go to the movies?
It costs at least 5 buck to get into the movie, plus any drinks or popcorn. I go probably once a month.

Other Information
I don't know, our gerneration is still really young, and the best is in the future, it's exciting

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$ Baby Boomers (1943 to 1960) (8/5/2007)

A baby boomer is someone who was born during a period of increased birth rates. The term, baby boomer is particularly applied to those born during the post-World War II period of increased birth rates. Boomer's seemed to develop personalities that mixed high self-esteem with self-indulgence. Since Boomers thought their parents' world was in need of a major overhaul and because they were taught to think critically by questioning everything, they saw their role in society as not to obey its rules but rather to justify, purify, and force change wherever they believed it was necessary. They would make themselves heard by lighting social and political fuses that caused dramatic changes.

Famous members of the Baby Boomers:

1943 Mick Jagger, Musician Rolling stones
1943 Roger Waters, Musician Pink Floyd
1954Oprah Winfrey, Talk show host
1954 Howard Stern, Satellite radio disc jockey
1955 Bill Gates, Entrepreneur

Music and dance
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular musicians in rock music history. Although he was also a very well known movie actor in musical films, he became one of the most popular entertainers of all time in the 20th Century.

Another success were The Beatles. The original group was formed in 1959 but Unfortunately, today's generations missed history's most popular rock music group ever.

People and Events
On July 21 1969 Neil A. Armstrong stepped down from the lunar module Eagle (piloted by Colonel Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin) onto the moon. where they both proceeded to collect samples of the moon's surface and they planted the American flag into the soil.

National civil rights leaders staged a march on Washington D.C and Martin Luther King, Jr delivered the famous speech "I have a dream." The following year President Lyndon Johnson took up President Kennedy's mantle and pushed the 'Civil Rights Act of 1964' through Congress. The Civil Rights Act prohibited segregation in public accomidations as well as discrimination in education and employment.

Fashion
In the 1950's, there were clothes for every occasion. Clothes were casual, comfortable, relaxed, colorful, and convenient even though a few styles turned out to be a quick fad. These clothes became very popular (and some are still so today) because they were fun to wear - cool and stylish. Not too different from now, both girls and boys spent a great deal of money on their clothes, however, they wore them to both school and to work. In this generation, girls wore flared, knee-length 'poodle' skirts usually made of felt, decorated with sequence, glitter, plastic movable eyes, and fake fur. Teenage girls wore 'short shorts'. Women wore full skirts worn over stiff crinoline slips, and for those 'special outings' strapless evening gowns and tube dresses.
Boys wore casual sports jackets, button-down dress shirts, car coats, and wing-tip shoes. Most wore T-shirts with blue jeans but for that rebellious look chose leather pants or a leather jacket. Men's clothing included tweeds and pinstripes but daring men went for a bold look - even pink Bermuda shorts, slacks, shirts, and colonel string ties for men were popular.

Science and Technology
Christian Neethling; Giving a Second Chance at Life- Is a South African surgeon who went down into the annals of medical history when he performed the first human heart-transplant operation.

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$ Interview with a member of the Silent Generation (8/5/2007)

Silent Generation Interview

this interview was find on the internet: http://library.thinkquest.org/23440/gather/cgi-bin/silentint/3.html

My two brothers,sister and I grew up in a single parent home as my mother was widowed while pregnant with me. I eventually joined the USMC where I met my husband and we have just celebrated 41 years together. We had two children and both earned college degrees using the GI Bill which was a terrific benefit. I have a degree in business/social service and worked with the frail elderly as an administrator of a government program. We are both newly retired and other than enjoying our family which includes two grandchildren we haven't figured out what to do. We do travel and have been around the world which makes us want to travel more.

Schooling

1. What were teachers like? Who was a favorite teacher? Why? Was there any teacher who made a sufficient impression on you? Who? Why?
As I recall my grade school years I always think of Miss Voight my second grade teacher, she was pretty and so very nice. But then I also remember Mrs. Brown with her glass eye and very stern manner, I liked school and in general have good memories of that time. We were expected to behave and be there which we did. In high school I like Miss Winfrey she was my english and lit teacher, she was cheery and warm yet stern. She had a way of making the subject seem so today. Once I had been ill with the flu and when I returned to class shes said "how do you feel? You look like you have been sick, you're very pale", I thought she was so wonderful for saying something personal - I wasn't just a student but also a person.

2. Was school work difficult? How were classes then different from classes today? What kind of grades did your parents expect you to get?
My mother while supporting four children and doing her best expected nothing from us but to stay out of trouble. Hence as long as I did just that, everything was fine. I earned mostly B's and C's, on occasion I would study some and earn A's. The work wasn't difficult and I do think that school work today is much more difficult. I feel that teachers had much more control of their class and students and the parents and students understood this was the way it is.

3. How long was a school day? What was the food like? Cost? How many classes did you have? What was a typical routine in class?
I imagine school was 6 to 7 hours in grade school. We had to have lunch at home or bring a bag lunch which not many did. I had lunch with an aunt which was usually Wonder Bread (white) with peanut butter and fruit cocktail (which I loved). In high school we had a cafeteria with a lunch ticket and I enjoyed the food. Some kids complained but most thought it was ok, I don't think the cost was high. In HS we had two study halls a day, one in the library with a tyrant overseeing us - the other was in the school cafeteria with a coach and was a bit of a stretch saying we were studying. Our first class was homeroom where we learned the business of the day and other odds and ends from there we pushed on to the regular programs. We had probably 5 to 6 classes a day. There was no one in the halls between class and we had hall monitors sitting at desks checking all who dared venture the hall. If we had a reason to leave our class we had a hall pass. A typical day would be roll call, discussion of the chapter and reading.

4. What was the dress code for students?
Grade school was typical gear, boys slacks and collar shirt,girls a skirt and blouse. High school about the same but boys were wearing jeans and collar shirts. Girls still skirts and blouse and on friday we were allowed to wear jeans and ones fathers big white shirt (not having a father I had to buy one). Even though the weather was numbingly cold we were not allowed to wear slacks - during first period my legs would ache because they were so cold. I hate to say this but I had to walk to school about 2 miles, sound like my mother. Bermuda shorts became popular and we wore them to basketball games and this female teacher said we all looked terrible with our ugly knees, perhaps she was right.

5. Was there violence in your school? Were there many discipline problems?
No violence in our school and not many problems, it wasn't allowed. I guess at the time we were all afraid of authority, didn't know what would happen but didn't chance it.

6. What was the most embarrassing event for you?
When I was in 11th grade my best friend and I decided to take a walk at lunch time and we kept walking until we reached home so we decided to stay home. The next day we were called into the principal's office and expelled. Our parents had to come to the office to beg for us to be allowed back in. My mother had to take time off from her job at the J.I. Case factory and come to the school. I was embarrassed because she was there in her jeans and work clothes and I felt horrid because I felt that way. The teachers looked at me like I had started WWIII and I had violated my mothers rule of no trouble, so in general I learned never to put myself in that place again. Because of this lesson I think it limited me in many choices I made through the years.

7. Did you ever cheat on a test? Get caught? What was the worst thing you ever did in school?
Yes, I did cheat on a newspaper test, but I was so terrified of getting caught I didn't often endulge. I remember one time I was accused of cheating as a boy and I had the exact same score so we were humiliated by having our desks put in the hallway and taking another test where the same thing happened. The teacher apologized but were seen as trouble makers by the other teachers.

The worst thing was being expelled.

8. Did you have the opportunity to go to college?
As I said I was fortunate to have the GI Bill as a result of my three years in the USMC. I started college when I was 36 and finished in about 7 years. At times I was taking several classes, working part-time and trying to provide my children with the home life I felt I didn't have. I loved my classes and wanted to take everything in the catalog. I am one of very few women from my HS class that did go on to college and I am indeed proud of that achievement. Not only am I the first in my family to graduate a regular high school but then went on to college.

Social Life

1. What were some after school activities? Organized sports? Clubs?
In grade school I had none but run the streets. I did join Brownies and had to pay .25 but didn't like the structure and asked for my money back.
In high school I belonged to GAA a girls organization, more for the fun than the sports.

2. Was there any peer pressure?
Peer pressure was great, we all wanted to fit in. I of course never did and tried desperately to do so. How could I ever have that nice two parent smiling happy family with out the two parents. I thought all other families were happy just like in the books and ads. I don't recall many single parent families out there. I didn't even realize there was a fathers day until I was older. We all wanted a cashmere sweater and some girls had many,I eventually was able to earn enough to buy one.

3. Did you have a high school sweetheart? Did you marry your high school sweetheart?
I had a boyfriend for a time, he had a wonderful family and house and I could sense that his mother was less than happy to see me.

4. What were some of the social activities you did with your friends?
We went to school dances, football games, basketball games, movies, ice skating (lots of this) bike riding, swimming in the sand pit(my favorite), record store to listen to records in the booths. Sounds so 50's and quaint and wonderful.

5. What were your parents expectations?
Don't cause trouble. Make enough money to make a decent living. My college graduation was 'nice'.

6. What career did you want to enter as a teenager? Did you choose that career?
I thought I would have some kind of camp for children especially from broken homes (wonder why?). That I eventually worked in the social service field and have a soft spot for the less advantaged kids I guess this is the same catagory.

7. What were your hobbies?
Working and running around (not causing trouble). I did work in our yard which I liked. To this day I still have a garden and enjoy yard work.

Entertainment

1. What kind of entertainment did you enjoy? Favorite song? Favorite singer? Favorite dance?
Well, for some very strange reason I was taken with Al Jolson, can't figure that one. I did love Rock & Roll and Elvis and all of them. The music was so exciting and fun and different, the teachers hated it and I guess most parents did too. The music belonged to us which meant it was ok to act a little deranged when we danced. I also liked dixieland jazz and Joe Fingers CArr. I eventually bought my own 45 record player and I was living. With my record player came two free albums, Perry Como and ? both duds in my view. I did not like Eddie Fisher or Pat Boone but I did like those shoes.

2. What was your favorite television show? Did you have color tv?
Wagon Train and Playhouse 90?. We got tv when I was in 9th grade and we had two channels. What a wonderful invention. On saturday all that was on was wrestling, pretty horrid. No color tv until 1967 and it cost a bundle.

3. Did your parents have a car? Own a house?
My mother did buy a car and eventually her own little house. I was in 7th grade and we moved from downtown to the suburbs which I hated. I loved my city life, movies, library, stores, city hall, parks and swimming pool and just about everything a person needed. They were tearing down our city house and we had to get out.

4. What was the cost of a movie? Favorite movie? Favorite star? How often did you go to the movies?
It was either .12 or .25 for a movie. I loved the saturday afternoon shows, if I could find the money. My favorite movie star was Doris Day I thought she was great. I loved that Al Jolson movie about his life. In high school I went to the movies at least twice a month.

Other Information
Why is it we don't read about our generation and have stats available, no one seems to care about us. We are just here as usual. I think that my generation fell for the don't make waves, but perhaps I did more so as I had no realistic role model to show me what was indeed of value. I went for the Ozzie and Harritt when in truth there is some of that but in degrees. We should have asked more questions and been more demanding at times at least at the appropriate time. I thought the beats in New York were exciting but it was a million miles away. When the 60's came we were kinda swept away to different degrees and while I thank them for taking me with them I still retain some of that very 50's attitude.
I can't believe I spent all this time answering your questions but it was nice to stroll back and examine some of what we did. Bye

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$ Silent Generation (1925 - 1942) (7/5/2007)

Members of the Silent Generation are considered cautious, unadventurous, unimaginative, withdrawn, and silent. Remembering World War II from their childhood, many Silents were looking for a cause, with some finding the Peace Corps as a way of achieving a generation bond. A vast majority of this generation wanted job security which was offered by big corporations with only two percent took the risk to be self-employed. Silent generation knew hardship and knew how to struggle through tough times as most of them were born during the era of depression and war.

Famous members of the Silent Generation:
1926; Queen Elizabeth II
1927; Allen Ginsberg
1932; Peter O'Toole
1937; Dustin Hoffman
1941; Bob Dylan

Typical household and community
Parents of this generation were strict with their children. Youth felt pressure to conform from the adults than from peers. Housing developments increased and many of the Silent generation moved to the suburbs. Affordable standardized housing became available by Levitt. Cars were no longer a luxury but a necessity for transportation from the suburbs.

Music and Dance
Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller were the top band leaders. Ballroom dancing, cha- cha, Jitterbug, Lindy were popular dances. A new style of music developed combined the musical styles of country-western, black rhythm and blues, and gospel singing as Bill Haley and his band The Comets recorded "Rock Around the Clock."

People and Events
Cold War- Was the struggle between the Communist nations and Democratic nations that took place after World War II. The post 1945 struggle was between the U.S.A. and its allies and the group of nations led by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.). Intense economic and diplomatic struggles between the nations occurred but was no military conflict. Between the years 1939 and 1945 the U.S.S.R. and U.S.A. both fought against Germany in World War II. This alliance between countries started breaking down when Joseph Stalin, Soviet leader, gained control over some of Eastern Europe in the years 1944 - 1945. President Truman made it a goal to unite Europe under American leadership.

Fashion
Women in the Silent Generation wore skirts knee high length and started to wear trousers, bobbed hair with a permanent wave. As the startling impact of visible legs began to diminish, the bosom started to become the center of attention. In the 1940's fashion was not that big of a deal for the public, having no change from its previous couple of years. Women wore hats that tipped over their foreheads or that laid on the back of their head. During the war, many factory working women wore scarves or turbans instead of hats. The gowns would usually be long and off the shoulder or sleeveless, which gave it a classic and timeless design. Teenage girls would wear bobby sox, pleated skirts, sweaters, round collars, tied back hair, and sometimes penny loafers. When it was time to hit the beach or pool, women would wear a two piece bathing suit or a one piece bathing suit. In both suits the bottom portion is really short shorts.
Men would usually wear a suit with a hat but sometimes if they wanted to dress casually they would wear pants with a T-shirt. Men wore really short shorts when swimming.

Science and Technology
American physicists; John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley worked together in 1947 to invent a tiny device called the 'transistor.' This component would allow the manufacturing of pocket calculators, high speed computers, satellities, small TVs and radios, etc.

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