Introduction
Humans are social beings. It is a part of their culture to come together and interact with each other (Peterson 110). The modes of socialization vary depending on place, time and culture. The way people socialized in the 19th and 20th century is different with the way people socialize in the 21st century.
Also, the way people socialize in Africa is different with the way they socialize in America, Europe or Asia. Socialization is an important aspect in the life of humans. This paper therefore investigated the manner in which people socialize in malls in the 21st century.
Socialization in Malls
A shopping mall is composed of one or more buildings which are interconnected with walkways and contains a number of merchandises that enable visitors to have an easy access. Malls have become favorable places for shopping and recreation especially in the western countries since the 1920s (Channel 2).
They are mainly located in suburban areas where they give an indoor impression of the traditional markets. Due to their rise in popularity, they have managed to affect the behavior and culture of people.
Their impacts on the lives of people of the United States and the whole world in general vary depending on age, sex and nationality. Man has therefore used this fact to his advantage and utilized mall to fulfill his needs of socialization (Berns 6).
Malls have become one of the best places where people go to spend time, socialize and purchase goods and services. This is because malls have a variety of merchandises which offer the goods and services which are needed by the people of the society.
They therefore play the role of modern day market. Due to this fact, they attract people of all ages, sexes and cultural backgrounds. As a result, they have been one of the favorable places where people meet and socialize (Silverman 54).
From my observations, it is evident that malls can accommodate different groups of people (Hicks 45). Children for example visit malls because they contain places where they can have fun. In the process, they mix, interact and have fun together.
The type of fun varies with age and sex but in general they would visit arcade shops, movie theatres, restaurant and food shops and in some occasions clothing shops. Women on the other hand love to spend a lot of time shopping at the mall.
They visit a number of places, do a lot of shopping. In the process they get attracted by new things which they see around hence spend more time investigating them and deciding whether to buy or not. Unlike men, women like to explore the mall. Most couples also love to spend time at the mall.
In the process they tend to interact with other people and couples. From the observation most couples felt that it was a way to bond and make their relationship stronger and more interesting.
Conclusion
From these observations, it is therefore evident that malls have evolved to be one of the favorable where people come to spend much of their free time and socialize.
They are a representation of the modern world market. Different people visit the mall for different reasons and in the process they meet, interact and socialize with other people. Malls have therefore influenced the culture of cultures and societies in the western world. This is because it can accommodate the needs and cultures of people of different ages, race and backgrounds.
Works Cited
Channel, Discovery. Why (most) women like to shop. MSNBC, Jan 2011. Web.
Berns, R. M. Child, Family, School, Community Socialization and Support. New York: Cengage Learning, 2010.
Hicks, C. Art therapy Portfolio: Gender, Culture and Ethnicity Factors in Family Functioning. Belmont: NDNU, 2008.
Peterson, A. L. Being human: ethics, environment, and our place in the world. California: University of California Press, 2001.
Silverman, J. L. Forums, fairs, futures: a journey in time through markets of the world. Boston: Leadership Publishers, 1992.