The world today has assumed a variety of lifestyles that have changed the way people relate and has enhanced interactions among people from different backgrounds. This is fuelled by a number of factors. It is however imperative to note that the world is discarding the old traditional practices by upholding the new liberal lifestyles.
A good example of such changes is the notable transformation in gender representation. In the past, the male gender dominated entirely and women were placed in the lower positions in the social hierarchy. However, this has taken a new turn and women, just like their counterparts the males, are equally represented in the society.
Today the society has changed in its thinking especially on the popular ideologies that thrived in the past. Self in society has changed and an identity is no longer a fixed fate but a transformable and a fluid characteristic. The media has contributed to the mass changes that have taken place in the world today by pushing for transformation in the society.
The media has pro-actively highlighted the plights of women and sensitized the world against leaving the girl child out of the children development process (Gauntlet par. 10). The society held women in a low position in the society such that the female gender was seen as inferior to the male gender.
The girl child protection campaigns that were very rampant in the 90s have seen the transformation of the societal change from a male dominated society to an all inclusive one. The traditional view of a woman as a house wife and minority in the society has been overtaken by the liberal acceptance of a modern and successful career lady.
At the same time, the masculine perception of the male and their assumed absolute power over the female gender has lost its prominence in the modern society. In fact the society holds the view that men also need advice on emotional control to counter the problems that arise with masculinity.
Other than the media, education and knowledge has seen the society transform from a conservative male dominated social setting to a more liberal world. Education has brought out a variety of identities which have diversified the number of identities available for humans to uphold. This has consequently allowed a liberal shift in the society since there are diverse identities enough for all of us.
Young girls are today going to school and becoming great people in the nation and this has transformed the thought that women can only hold a low position in the society (Gauntlet par. 5). The number of female leaders is rapidly rising and we actually have seen a number of female presidents. This has only been made possible by giving the girl child an education. Through education, both male and female are equalized and set on an equal scale.
Generational difference is also a crucial factor to consider while identifying the contributors of the shift from the traditional to the liberal vision of society. As some surveys have shown, the younger generation is more liberal compared to the older generation. For instance, people born in the early 21st century are highly intolerant of the idea of homosexuality and singlehood (Gauntlet par. 7).
The younger regeneration of the late 21st century on the other hand is quite liberal of same sex relationships and single parenting. In this generation, a male and a female living together without getting married is not formidable like it was in the past. People have assumed a more liberal view of living hence abandoning some of the iconic traditions that were held dear in the past.
The transition from the conservative traditional practices to the modern liberal ideologies is mainly a European phenomenon. This new wave of doing things differently has a very dominant role in influencing change in the society especially in the world’s traditional view of things. Considering the fact that European countries are the most civilized in the world, they define and compose liberal ideologies and modern world views.
European countries are the epitome of modern civilization and their liberal approach was passed all over the world during the colonial period. The transition from conservatism to liberal civilization is as a result of Europeans colonizing the different parts of the world. Owing to this reality, it suffices to say that the transition from traditional views to liberal world vision is a European phenomenon.
This paper identifies several factors that are believed to be the main influencers of the change from traditional to liberal vision of the society. The most profound factors as discussed in this essay include the mass media, education and generational changes.
These factors have been discussed interminably to bring out their role in the shift of the societal traditional beliefs and practices to the modern liberal view. In the essay, the way the girl power has overshadowed the masculine predominance has been shown. This includes the academic pursuit whereby the girl child has thrived even better compared to the boy child.
Works Cited
Gauntlet, D. Media Gender and Identity. 2012. Web.