The "Me" Decade: Life in the 1970s

Heather Chavis
4th block, Mr. Turner
Ch 32 Sect 4

The New Age Movement

• The New Age Movement was when young people sought fulfillment through secular movements and activities.
• They believed spiritual enlightenment could be found in common practices, not just in traditional churchgoing
• To achieve fuller spiritual awareness, they tried activities such as yoga, martial arts, and chanting.
• To improve life, some new agers praised the power of crystals and gemstones.Others touted astrology through reading horoscopes. Some were inspired by the belief in reincarnation.

Transcendental Meditation

• Originated in Asia and centered on the teachings of gurus, or mystical leaders.
• One of the more well known gurus was Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
• Transcendental meditation suggests daily meditation and the silent repetition of spiritual mantras as a way of achieving higher intelligence, better harmony, and better health.
• Advocates believed that if people practiced transcendental meditation, the world would enjoy peace.

Changing Families

• Women's movement campaigns changed how many women viewed their roles in the home.
• By 1970, 60% of women were working outside of the home.
• Between 1970 and 1980, most of the workforce was made up of women.
• The number of births in 1976 was at an all time low.
• The divorce rate doubled from 2.5 per thousand people in 1966 to 5 per thousand in 1976.

Television in the 1970s

• Shows featured unmarried women with meaningful careers at its center.
• The sitcom All in the Family took risks by confronting sensitive subjects like racism through humorous situations.

Music of the 1970s

• Music became more reflective about fulfillment and less political.
• Disco music began in African american and Latin nightclubs.
• The loud, and persistent beat, fast pace, and easy rhythm attracted many fans.
• Disco became more popular after the film Saturday Night Fever was released
• The soundtrack for the movie sold millions.

Works Cited

• Appleby, Joyce, et al. The American Vision Volume Two. New York: Glencoe, 2005.
• The "Me" Decade: Life in the 1970s. 2015.Google. 7 May 2015 http://www.google.com
• The "Me" Decade: Life in the 1970s. 2015. haiku deck. 7 May 2015 http://www.haikudeck.com