Social Change h 253- By the twenty-first century, almost all women
across the globe
(A) were freed from traditional homemaking
roles
(B) were allowed to serve in combat in the
armed forces
(C) were granted educational opportunities
equal to men
(D) were given career opportunities equal to
men
(E) had been granted the right to vote
2. In the twentieth century, a blend of African and
Western cultures could be found most readily in
(A) architecture
(B) literature
(C) painting
(D) sculpture
(E) film
A Global Culture
In today’s world, the global culture has been dominated by Western trends and styles, a
situation that has especially produced disapproval in East Asian and Islamic cultures. Eng-
lish is the language of commerce and of the Internet. The Western appreciation for science
has been a hallmark of the global age.
Sometimes reactions to globalization created changes in religious beliefs and practices.
Beginning in the 1960s, New Age Religions, dependent upon astrology, emerged. Fun-
damentalism, or the return to traditional beliefs and practices, became the goal of many
practitioners of major religions, especially Christianity and Islam.
The new global culture placed more emphasis on monetary wealth, education, and
professional position rather than on land ownership or inherited position. At the same
time, traditions continued. In India, for example, remnants of the caste system caused some
Indians to cling to caste restrictions even though they had been outlawed. Laws of almost
all nations allowed woman suffrage. The global culture continued to display regional tradi-
tions and characteristics, while national pride surfaced in international athletic competi-
tions such as the Olympic Games and World Cup Soccer, or FIFA.❯ Rapid Review
In the interim between the world wars and after World War II, labor-saving devices
transformed leisure time in Europe and the United States. Movies and television provided
family entertainment, whereas the automobile created a new lifestyle for Western teenag-
ers. Governments instituted welfare programs, and women’s political rights were broadened
worldwide. Religion declined in popularity, especially in Europe, and the Soviet Union
denounced the importance of religion. Although women’s rights were increased, women
were expected to continue to carry out traditional roles. The new global culture emphasized
the importance of professional status and knowledge over family social position. The domi-
nance of Western culture and the English language met with disapproval in some Eastern
and Islamic cultures.❯ Review Questions
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