Read this first-person account by a woman who worked in the Lowell, Massachusetts, textile mill in the 1830s and 1840s. She describes the role women played in society at the time and recounts one of the first strikes in U.S. history.
Tag Archives: Culture & Society
The Question That Will Help You Define Success
Amy Morin, the author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, argues that individuals should focus on their own personal definitions of success rather than compare themselves to others.
How Apple and IBM Marketed the First Personal Computers
Early personal computer advertising needed to explain the need for such devices.
Brazil’s Students Occupy Schools In Rio De Janeiro To Protest Conditions Ahead Of Olympics
Students in Brazil have been protesting declining conditions of school facilities in the country, which recently saw the impeachment of its president over the state of its economy.
Why a 1920s legal move is responsible for the gender-segregated bathrooms we have today
Public Radio International gives some background to the United States’ separation of men’s and women’s bathrooms.
The risk and reward of sport
Columnist Timothy Boyle contemplates the risks of playing sports, even in the face of increasing awareness of their danger.
California’s gardens tell an immigrant story
Most of the laborers who maintain lawns and gardens in California are Latino immigrants. Read to learn more about the history and culture of these gardeners, or jardineros.
A Ride Home from Prison
The day a long-time prisoner is released can present overwhelming challenges. Watch this short documentary to learn how one former prisoner is working to make the transition to freedom smoother for others.
‘Hamilton’ the Broadway musical is now a dazzling book
Usually books inspire plays and movies. However, the smash Broadway musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, inspired a book that details the play’s social and cultural significance.
Politicians Should Make America Better for Parents by Thinking Swedish
Writer Lola Akinmade Åkerström argues that Americans should officially build outdoor sports and recreation into their schedules.
Using data from social networks to understand and improve systems
Researchers at MIT are looking at how data collected from individuals and groups can be used for functions such as predicting sociopolitical change or measuring the effectiveness of policies in the developing world.
Reform the Nation’s Food System
Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio argues for farming and food reform and outlines steps government officials can take to ensure food quality and healthiness.
Peace Learning Center assists youth in conflict resolution
Read about an Indianapolis initiative to teach students how to resolve conflicts and ultimately create a more peaceful world.
What It Means to Live Life Working in the U.S. on a Visa
In an online art exhibit, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center explores the lives of individuals who have visas to work in the United States. Read the article for background and click “H-1B” in the first paragraph to access the artwork.
Today’s Teens: More Materialistic, Less Willing to Work
Adults often complain that teenagers in the 21st century are lazy and overly concerned with material possessions. Do these opinions have a basis in reality, or are they unfair generalizations? Read to learn about the findings of a study published in 2013 that sought to answer this question.
From Ghana to Greyhound: One immigrant’s story of getting by in New York
Edmund Marfo came to the United States from Ghana in 1998. Read about his experiences as an immigrant and his enthusiastic approach to his job managing Greyhound Bus Lines’ arrival and departure gates of New York’s bustling Port Authority.
Fatal crashes involving teen drivers decline sharply in U.S.
A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the number of fatal crashes involving teenage drivers in the U.S. has dropped significantly. Read to find out what researchers believe are the reasons for this positive trend.
Gypsies, Roma, Travellers: An Animated History
The Roma people, sometimes called gypsies, are scattered across the globe but tied together by both shared heritage and the shared experience of prejudice.
The Forgotten Female Action Stars of the 1910s
Action-adventure heroes aren’t only men. Early films starred many women in action roles, even performing daring feats in ankle-length skirts! Learn about the tales told in their films.
WI-Fi-enabled school buses leave no child offline
Superintendent Darryl Adams decided that every student in his California school district would have access to the internet. Read about how he put school buses to work at night to get students connected to their schools.