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One of the most regular events in life and history is change. As people and circumstances evolve, so does a whole nation. When we think of American culture, we can identify the many ways that it has truly changed in the passage of decades, and even centuries.
What were the significant changes in the last 10 years, and even the decades before then? The writer of this sample essay talks about cultural shifts in America, as well as social changes in the US.
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How Has American Society Changed Over Time?
They say that time heals hurts or deepens wounds. But I believe that it is what we do with time itself that can make all the difference.
I can definitely say that when I look at the events of the past decades, plenty of things have changed America. American life as we know it today looks very different from the life of our founding fathers.
In this essay, I would like to share the different ways in which American society changed drastically over time.
Flourishing economy for the northern states during the Civil War period
During the Civil War years, the northern states experienced rapid industrialization and urbanization, which led to mass modernization of their transportation and manufacturing businesses. There were some great rags-to-riches stories at the time, although the gap between the rich and the poor continued to be very much evident. However, the economy spiraled during the period of the Great Depression, with unemployment at an all-time high and Gross Domestic Product and industrial production falling to all-time lows.
Slow but steady strides in advocating for the rights of black people
With slavery very much present in American history, the issues of racism and inequality continue to be rampant today, particularly against black people and now, even minority groups. An important change that moved us leaps and bounds forward is the Black Lives Matter movement, which champions the lives of the black community and advocates for their voices to be heard.
Becoming a superpower after World War II
One of the ways America has changed coming out of the Second World War is that it emerged as one of the world’s superpowers. With it came increasing involvement in international affairs, lending its voice to military, technological, political, economic, and cultural discussions from around the globe.
Polarization as the key theme of political change in the last decade
As the years go by, more and more Americans have become divided over key political issues such as their choice of president, preferences on political parties, key issues in the White House, even issues that event everyday life such as gun control laws in Texas and healthcare. National politics also entered dinner table discussions, causing rifts between family members and close friends.
Most people continuing to mistrust the government
The American people continue to be one of the social groups that are increasingly cynical about their leaders. They always think that anyone who is elected to a government position probably has a personal stake and agenda that they will push for. It is very rare for them to champion and back a person who they believe is really pushing for change in society. Skeptical and suspicious, they tend to always look at what went wrong than look for the ray of hope in a situation or issue. It is a lot easier for them to assume that these politicians are simply after their own special interests rather than the good of the American people’s lives today.
How Has American Culture Changed Over Time?
As worldviews and perspectives evolve over time, so does culture. With the richness of American history and the events that comprise it, it is no surprise that American culture also looks very different today.
A layered phenomenon, this concept can be broken down into four parts. At the core is a worldview, which determines a group’s ultimate reality. These are essentially the lenses that people use to view and understand the world. A shift in worldview affects the three other layers: beliefs, values, and behaviors. Beliefs are the narratives that the group perceives to be factual or true. Values are the ways in which they act in a way that is beneficial to all of them. Lastly, behavior refers to the outward and external acts committed by the group.
Looking at culture in this manner, what are the major changes in early twentieth-century America? In what ways have we become better or worse as a people?
Women continue to be undermined
In post-war America, there was a perception shift on women that caused society to see them primarily as caretakers of the home. While we have changed much since then, the undermining of women as leaders and career achievers continues to be prevalent today. Many amazing and competent women are bypassed in organizations for the leadership roles, only to be given to men who are sometimes not even as qualified as their female counterparts.
People still raise their eyebrows skeptically at the thought of having a female at the helm of companies, even nations. They are perceived as “soft” and are thought of as incapable of playing hardball. Even though they are praised for their hard work and contributions to society, it never seems to be enough for higher recognition. More conservative American people believe that females, particularly those with families, should stay at home and look after their children.
A lot of issues being fought for in the name of democracy
As we pride our country as “The Land of the Free,” this term is being put to the test today as new issues rise to the surface, causing us to redefine what American democracy means in specific spheres. We have started to rediscover each fundamental freedom as specified in our Bill of Rights. For instance, the plight of the LGBTQIA community to be accepted through the provision of civil rights is commendable, yet somehow it clashes with other people’s freedom of religion.
Local business owners are heavily criticized for refusing to supply products for an LGBTQIA wedding or civil union for reasons of religion. There are clearly more problems than just preference here, and key stakeholders and decision-makers need to come to the table to find a reasonable compromise.
Social media gaining power to influence and incite fear
Perhaps one of the key changes in this decade alone is the role of social media and the Internet in shaping the mindsets of the nation’s different generations of citizens. From children and parents to young professionals and the elderly, it seems that every American citizen of every age is now dependent on the opinions and news posted on social media to determine their stand on key concerns in the nation.
A so-called method of consolidating important data, these platforms also filter information through evolving algorithms, causing users to only see what they want to see. The problem with relying on social media is that Americans find themselves interacting with a very small bubble of like-minded people, due to the algorithm. It is easy to assume from our newsfeed that we belong to a vast majority of American people who think alike, only to find out that our newsfeed has been automatically been filtering out updates from other connections who think differently.
Technologically-dependent lifestyles
Finally, the way that we communicate today is heavily reliant on technology – from laptops and mobile phones, to fast data and mobile apps. We let these technologies lead the way we live our lives and control our schedules. We expect our errands and transactions to take a shorter amount of time and our entertainment to be immersive because all of them now happen from the comfort of home. We have come to the point where the breakdown of technology makes us anxious and fear losing control. In a sense, one could say that we have allowed it to shape our idea of safety.
Conclusion
When I read up on history and look at my country today, it is clear that we have always been people who have been in pursuit of opportunities and freedom from the very beginning. Although we have been through a lot of tumultuous twists and turns as a nation, we have emerged today as a people who are learning to be kinder, more accepting, and more loving.
One thing I noticed about us throughout history is that we take stock of what different events have taught us and try our best to live them out. I look at our national politics, our economy, our executive branch and the rest of our government, and the state of our democracy, and see so many things that still need to be changed. But I can’t help but feel a strong sense of hope, knowing that we are on course to make things better for our children and future generations. I imagine that they will one day be sharing their perspective on the history they’ve witnessed to their own kind, too.
It is my ultimate wish that just as we have learned from history, we will fight the battle against silence and cynicism and really fight for the lives of future Americans. Let’s aim to make American life better for them when it is their turn to live in it. Let’s emulate the best definition of democracy and freedom for them and show that the most important change that could ever be made is the one you start within yourself.