Modern society’s concept of individual autonomy has influenced human behavior in ways that have contributed to equity and equality. Autonomy is defined as a person’s ability to be governed by their own moral, political, and cultural standards (Renger et al., 2017). This contradicts the traditional mechanical solidarity, in which the society was held together by collective responsibilities and cultural values. According to Durkheim’s functionalism theory, a deviation from mechanical solidary to organic solidary has led to a lack of collective conscience. Analyzing modern society from Durkheim’s perspective, the society is more oriented toward personal gratification in terms of economic status, education, and social class (Sohrabi, 2019). Autonomy has enabled women to engage in political and economic fields that were prohibited in the traditional society, translating to equity and equality.
Modern society upholds competition for available resources and allows people to engage in diverse economic activities regardless of gender, age, or race. The development of feminism, civil rights activists, and Amnesty international organizations have encouraged social integration, limiting inequality. According to Marx’s conflict theory, the competition for scarce resources in modern society conflicts with the traditional consensus perspective. Marx purports that human behavior in contemporary society is guided by competition for class and social status (Fuchs, 2017). The extensive involvement of women in income-generating activities has facilitated their roles in economic building and given them a voice in global politics. In conclusion, modern society is guided by the autonomy that has promoted civil rights activism and women’s rights that have encouraged equal participation in all sectors of the economy. These behavioral changes are supported by Durkheim’s and Marx’s sociological perspectives and have led to equality and equity in modern society.
References
Fuchs, C. (2017). Critical social theory and sustainable development: The role of class, capitalism and domination in a dialectical analysis of un/sustainability.Sustainable Development, 25(5), 443-458. Web.
Renger, D., Renger, S., Miché, M., & Simon, B. (2017). A social recognition approach to autonomy.Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 43(4), 479-492. Web.
Sohrabi, H. (2019). A Durkheimian critique of contemporary multiculturalism. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 42(8), 1283-1304. Web.