Departing from social norms could lead to a magnitude of progress. Social practices have a way of dictating what to do and how to react to certain situations. An institution sets rules to be followed and challenging such norms is termed disobedience. Society, including media, is used to portraying the black community as a sad one so seeing them happy seems like a way out of order. Sharing black joy might seem like resistance from the social norms but will have a positive effect on the whole American society. Adam also had to disobey God to be set free from pre-human state to human. Therefore, leaving social norms can lead to many forms of progress for humans.
Resisting the ruling power may seem like disobedience but can result in major human development. For the African Americans, resisting the negative norms of sadness demand sharing more joy with the black community. However, it will take more than individuals to yield positive results. The artistic and media communities need to spread black joy to change the black practice of celebrating sadness and pain. Such actions would communicate the diversity of black, the need to take space and claim their belongings. According to Roderique, sharing black joy “would create spaces of opportunity, possibility, and affirmation” (4). This quote affirms that resisting negative social norms yield positive results. Therefore, if it takes resistance to achieve progress then in this case resistance is good.
Acts of disobedience, although may seem wrong at first when they set in freedom, they are assumed right. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, they seemed to have been corrupted by sin (Fromm 1). However, the sin or rather a disobedience act transformed Adam from pre-human to human and that is progress. The text mentions that it is until the Messianic prophets came to earth they confirmed that the act of disobedience was right that people understood the concept.
Humans have continued to evolve and develop through acts of disobedience. It is through questioning the authority or set social norms that a man can prosper. Fromm says that obedience to rules or practices of a community or institution is submission and shows denial of autonomy (2). Consequently, humans are stuck in one place while submitting to the set norms. However, the moment a man challenges the rules, he is termed disobedience but then finds progress. The decision to submit or disobey is a decision to stagnate or develop.
Following rules and social norms set by the community is like agreeing to the dictation of the superego. According to Fromm “Super-Ego represents the internalized commands and prohibitions of father, accepted by the son out of fear” (3). Fear is known to set boundaries and limit the abilities of people. Social norms are set to limit human abilities and it is only by separating from them that a man can prosper. If Roderique, when shared the happy post about Black Panther allowed fear to limit him, she would not have written the excerpt. She would also not have written to call for black society to publicly share the joy and break the social norm of the sad black community.
Disobeying set social practices is a psychological process that must entail the willingness to sin or make a mistake. Going against such norms will be termed immoral and rebellious thus one must toughen up. People can only become free of social practices by learning to say no to power. When a man frees himself from power and is psychologically free, he or she can develop positively.
Works Cited
Fromm, Erich. “Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem.” pp. 1-5, Web.
Roderique, Hadiya. “The Case for Black Joy.” pp. 1-4, Web.
Institutions are an essential and integral part of society. Their main task is maintaining order based on generally accepted rules and standards (Gowda, 2020). The term Institution can be defined as an established organization whose primary purpose is to serve society’s needs. (Kalu, 2019) For example, as social institutions, schools are a certain standard, which implies acquiring knowledge, raising education, and raising children (Gowda, 2020). The Institute establishes social norms and rules for citizens by demonstrating visible negative consequences for the person who will not follow the standards of this institution.
Trust to Institution
Trust in the institution can be changed in different ways. It is important to stress that nowadays, people strive to be more educated. Therefore, they have more opportunities to be aware of different standards of human behavior which the institution established. For example, according to such institutions as schools, colleges, or universities, obtaining a degree at an early age is vital. With the rise of modern technologies there are many ways to get qualitative education using different courses and programs outside the school or college (Gowda, 2020). Consequently, people will not act according to the standards of these instructions. These changes might mean a more personal approach for every person to their study and career regarding public understanding of science. It will reduce the necessary use of scientific institutions such as universities. In addition, it might mean some level of distrust of medicine because of the increased medical education among the people.
Cultural Influence on Health System in U.S.
As the cultural values that influence U.S. health policy and insurance, it is vital to highlight combat racial and social discrimination. People who claimed their rights influenced the country’s laws in a context of greater justice for different groups and social strata. In addition, the concept of the American dream is one of the key cultural features of the U.S. (Gowda, 2020). People who aspire to prosperity and financial prosperity believe that hard work and desire will lead them to the goal regardless of external circumstances. This concept of life is not an institution, although, like it, it dramatically dictates how people behave in society. Considering the American Dream concept, it is vital to consider one of the concepts of Gert Hofstede’s cultural dimensions model which is long- and short-term orientation (Kalu, 2019). It is important to stress that the American Dream assumes a long-term type of life planning directly reflected in people’s actions and perceptions of society.
Reference
Gowda, N. (2020). Great institutions and their working style: Governments in UK, USA, France and China. Prowess Publishing.
Kalu, K. N. (2019). A functional theory of government, law, and institutions. Rowman & Littlefield.
A norm is a complex concept traditionally defined as the standard of beliefs and understandings that control human behavior in society (Spillius 75). On the other hand, psychologists define norms as informal understanding that regulates people’s behavior in smaller units such as offices (Spillius 75).
In addition, psychologists accentuate two components of social norms, namely, the behavior exhibition and acceptance by the group. Specific norms may characterize expectations of the culture. Norms are important because they act as behavior guidelines and help maintain order in society.
Norms are classified into four dimensions, which are taboos, mores, laws, and folkways. Folkways constitute daily actions that accord to the custom. Violations of such rules usually do not amount to serious penalty.
A more is a set of norms that promotes moral values in the society, the violation of which is fraught with dire consequences. Laws are written norms enforceable by a state agency, the breach of which leads to criminal liability. As far as taboos are concerned, their violation leads to an extreme penalty such as condemnation from society.
How we learn social norms
Social norms shape the behaviors and actions of individuals to a considerable extent. They represent an unwritten policy concerning the expected human behavior. Social norms are fundamental in promoting order and control in society. These rules reflect the behavioral patterns of members of a certain group. The application of these norms can be achieved through sanctions or body language in case of unofficial enforcement.
Sanctions are the expressions constructed on the approval or disapproval of certain types of behavior that vary depending on the values of the society. Sanctions can either be positive or negative depending on the society’s thoughts (Spillius 175). Positive sanctions are rewarded with prizes such as gifts and money, while negative ones are heavily discouraged.
Socialization and internalization provide a framework for conformity to norms in the society (Spillius 205). In the event of nonconformity, social control tools such as punishments, fines, and ostracism are implemented to restore order and control.
The understanding of social norms begins with the individual’s upbringing. Socially acceptable behaviors become a part of the person’s values from childhood to adulthood. For example; I remember at my tender age, belching while eating was unacceptable in my family. But violations of such rules did not amount to moral punishment. Although the discovery did make me feel uncomfortable about my manners and culture, it only helped me become a decent member of society and learn to meet its standards.
Observations of social norms in college
Different settings have specific expectations on the behavior of individuals. A college is a place that brings people from all walks of life in terms of socio-economic and political backgrounds together (Spillius 65). Due to this cultural diversity, set rules and regulations help in restoring order and discipline.
Values like discipline, sharing, and trusts are highly valued at college and in any institution. During class work, students are expected to raise their hands before making contributions to the debate. I remember one of the students expressing her concern without the lecturer’s permission, which violated the provisions of the classroom norms.
Violation of social norms
Upon detection, the lecturer expelled the student from the classroom pending disciplinary action. Students reacted angrily because they felt that their peer had violated the classroom norms of the college. So I would say the behavior leading to ostracizing the students doing socially biased things is a negative social norm. The behavior resulted in a violation of mores. Secondly, the classroom rules should focus on promoting positive social norms.
Sharing information is encouraged through group discussions and joint assignments, and violations of such norms would amount to breaking norms of folkways. Sharing and respect are some of the norms that we practice in our daily activities, and violations of these social norms usually lead to stringent penalties.
Works Cited
Spillius, Elizabeth. Family and Social Network: Roles, Norms, and External Relationships in Ordinary Urban Families. New York, NY: Free Press, 1971. Print.
Social and traditional norms and restrictions are often ingrained in society to such an extent that they restrain an individual’s interests and desires. This is experienced by Sara Smolinsky, the protagonist in Anzia Yezierska’s novel Bread Givers. Published in 1925, the novel attained instant success as it related a family’s sub-human treatment by the father and ultimate success in the life of Sara by dint of hard work and unwavering determination under trying conditions wherein any ordinary young woman might have turned into prostitution.
Story of Smolinsky
Reb Smolinsky settles down in a two-room house with his wife Shenah and four daughters, Bessie, Fania, Masha, and Sara. Youngest in the house, Sara is witness to harsh treatment by their father. Autocratic by nature and traditional to the extreme, he expects his family to serve his every whim. Bessie, the eldest daughter works in an airless factory and is called ‘burden bearer’ by Reb. The family solely depends on her earnings. Reb repels a potential suitor to Bessie on the same ground. Fania and Masha are fashionable and they select their life partners. Moris Lipsky is a struggling poet, loved by Fania and Masha is attracted to Jacob a concert pianist from an Americanized,
wealthy Jewish family. Their father rejects the proposals and gets his three daughters married according to his wish. Sara is shocked at the turn of events and their mother is a mute spectator to her daughters’ miserable lives. She too bears the brunt of her husband’s cruelty.
Under these circumstances, Sara is determined to carve a niche for herself. To escape from this ghetto, she realizes she has to attain economic independence. Her only outlet is to get herself educated and take up the teaching profession. Her ultimate aim is to not allow herself to buckle under chauvinistic oppression. Her early lessons towards her new life began when she buys herrings for a penny each and peddles them for two cents per piece.
Later, she takes on her father’s inept work only to land in a paper box factory and take on a second shift as a student in night school. Despite her father’s disapproval of her life, she strikes out on her own with perseverance. Her only consolation is her mother’s unstinted support. “The scene between mother and daughter in the cramped, cold room that Sara rents are one of the most poignant in the book. It’s a moment of pure female love and empathy, a moment that transcends generational and cultural obstacles”.
Slowly and painfully she finds her way into college and gradually learns to talk, dress and act like her American peers. Through persistent efforts, she comes out of college rather proudly with her teaching degree and $1000 which she wins in an essay contest. Unfortunately, she loses her mother but decides not to give up. Meanwhile, Reb gets married and this further strengthens the daughters’ hatred for their father. She then joins the school as a teacher in New York and falls in love with the Principal, Hugo Selig, a Jewish American immigrant himself. Sara’s mind is tranquil as she has left her old life completely behind.
Through sheer confidence and boldness, she has attained triumph over her circumstances. She understands that her choices are not limited to an arranged marriage or a life of sweatshop servitude. The harsh realities of life have made her a mature woman, a Jewish woman of valor who embodies one of the Torah’s highest ideals by forgiving her father and promising to take care of him when she finds that his life is in the gutter.
Conclusion
Sara, in the true sense, is more than a survivor of the traditional Jewish culture. Her fortitude transforms Bread Givers into an American classic. Yezierska’s work will remain in the hearts of every reader who yearns for freedom from unjustified oppression.
Reference
Yezierska, Anzia. Bread Givers. New York: Persea Books, 1925.
People differ as well as traditions. The literature of various periods contains works describing lonely people that are isolated. It is not clear whether these people became isolated because they wanted to live alone without experiencing the necessity to take care of somebody else. Another variant of being lonely is hidden in the society to which lonely people belong. Traditions, customs, and social norms can make the most cheerful person an isolated marginal. Though people can be considered outcasts within their community, they are not deprived of dignity and humaneness.
Moreover, it is possible to trace the marginalization of separate individuals in the works of literature written by Kate Chopin, Franz Kafka, and William Shakespeare. As people become lonely, society changes its position and attitude towards those people. Thus, Edna, Othello, and Gregor are lonely people regardless of their living in the very middle of society; they experience isolation in spite of living with people they love and appreciate.
Introduction
The concept of isolation can be traced in the literature of different periods. People differ as well as traditions. It is not clear whether these people became isolated because they wanted to live alone without experiencing the necessity to take care of somebody else. History saw a great number of cases when people were talented and had great potential, though isolation was the only possible way for them to live without harming other people’s lives. Another variant of being lonely is hidden in the society to which lonely people belong. Traditions, customs, and social norms can make the most cheerful person an isolated marginal. Isolation was caused by social norms which did not let people be those who they appear and feel to be.
The nature of changes can be traced in Othello who is treated as a person with different color of skin as well as Edna who is not accepted by the Creole community; Gregor Samsa is described as a man who has nothing in common with his family which is the society, he lives in. Different reasons make these people change their opinion, behavior, and even appearance. Though people can be considered outcasts within their community, they are not deprived of dignity and humaneness. The literary characters are different as well as their lives and reasons for becoming marginalized. People experience marginalization without being aware of changes that can influence their lives and the lives of people around them. Moreover, it is possible to trace the marginalization of separate individuals in the works of literature written by Kate Chopin, Franz Kafka, and William Shakespeare.
As people become lonely, society changes its position and attitude towards those people. Thus, Edna, Othello, and Gregor are lonely people regardless of their living in the very middle of society; they experience isolation despite living with people they love and appreciate. The concept of isolation is described in different ways by Kate Chopin, Franz Kafka, and William Shakespeare. Thus, we can see Othello as a strong man without any problems; the only difficulty appears when he happens to choose the wrong woman as a wife and promoting Cassio instead of Iago. Envy is the reason for isolation while analyzing the changes in Othello’s life. Gregor Samsa is introduced as an ordinary young man who finds himself as a giant cockroach; he is the only one who gains money in order to maintain his family, while the family feels relief after his death. Edna is a young woman who experiences marginalization as her husband wants her to act like all other women in the Creole community, whereas she finds herself changing as Edna awakes from a deep dream of being like others.
Characters Isolated in Literature
Isolation is one of the techniques to make the character look different than others; some authors invent hardships and adventures for their characters, while Shakespeare, Kafka, and Chopin had made up social outcasts that can be considered marginal people within the society. It is unclear whether social norms or their own decisions make them isolated; Edna, Gregor, and Othello experience changes in their lives. Othello becomes a murderer and a self-murderer; Edna becomes a woman involved in an affair with a man other than her husband; Gregor becomes a burden for his family which needed his help before.
Othello as a lonely Moore. William Shakespeare presents Othello as a Venetian Moor who is treated as a person who does not have a right to marry a white woman. The reasons for introducing a Moor are ambiguous. It is possible to assume that the author was trying to talk about racial discrimination, though the color of skin cannot be an object of envy. Another reason for presenting the main character as the image of a strong, freedom-loving, ambitious, “man of natural elegance and dignity” (Grebanier, qtd. in Kolin 91), and an independent Moor is that Shakespeare was a “racist who condoned the negative image of blacks in his culture” (Hadfield 77). The reasons can be unidentified, though the result is available at any bookstore. The tragedy of the Moor can make anyone believe in the unexpected changes that can happen in the life of every person. People are likely to change their decisions without thinking about the consequences of different actions and steps in their life and the lives of other people. Iago was free to change the lives of people as they did not resist his lies and deception.
Othello was treated as a good soldier that was promoted to the general of the Venetian army; however, it did not make him happy because people envied him, his beautiful wife, and his obtaining a higher position in life than all of them. A society is opposed to the desire of being happy; social norms can make a man kill his wife and himself because of deception and a chain of misunderstandings. Would a modern man kill his wife due to a handkerchief? It is not reasonable to blame someone because of ungrounded assumptions. As the social norms require some decisions to be made concerning certain events in the society, one who suspects his wife of being unfaithful should beat her and raise hell in public.
Othello can be treated as the embodiment of justice as he attempts to reestablish the right which was violated. When the Moor is deceived, he turns angry and impulsive, which brings all his strength, evil, and stubbornness outside his inner world. Social norms, in this respect, are the reason for the explosion of the volcano of feelings of the free-loving and just Othello. As the Moor was envied, he was in danger as well as his reputation, position, and his beautiful wife Desdemona as his family because the people’s envy is worth than any evil in the world for it incorporates all mean and greedy features those human beings can possess. The evil, in this case, is not universal but exercised by people to get something that does not belong or is not appointed to them. The same happened with Iago who considered himself to be “worth no worse a place” (Shakespeare 7). This is one of the basic reasons for deceiving Othello for the latter had appointed Cassio to the position craved for by Iago.
Society (presented by Iago) was against justice when the best candidate was appointed to a certain position; therefore, Iago did everything possible to deprive Othello of everything he loved most, namely his career and a beautiful wife. The means to fulfill the meanest plan were chosen by chance which added even more vividness to the entire picture of the way society can make a person refuse everything and let people provoke him. When everything was opposed to the concept of justice and happiness, it was unlikely for Othello to fight for his wife and position as he did for Venice as a general. Circumstances can break the strongest man, though the strongest man cannot fight circumstances when he is not aware of the reasons for all problems. It is easier to overcome difficulties when you know what to do and what arguments to oppose to those presented by the enemy.
Metamorphosis in the life of Gregor Samsa. As “traditional artistic forms and structures in literature, painting, poetry, music, and the theatre were undergoing innovative, and in some cases, revolutionary changes that were taking place in the post-war Europe served as an appropriate background for a short novel written by Franz Kafka, as argued by Taikeff (2-3). As changes in the life of the main character of The Metamorphosis are extraordinary, it is necessary to analyze the image of Gregor Samsa in terms of strange behavior, envy, or very high position. Unfortunately, the readers are sure to fail while trying to find the young man’s high position, a beautiful wife, or a great number of enemies. “One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered that in bed he had been changed into a monstrous verminous bug” (Kafka 1). Gregor Samsa is set as a common person who has to maintain his family and the only thing he thinks about after being changed into a giant insect is his job which fed the whole family.
The society in this short novel is presented by the members of Gregor Samsa’s family, while only the wooden door made Gregor’s change unnoticeable to others (Kafka 3). In this respect, we can assume that the door may be considered a symbolic means of defending oneself from the social prejudices and discrimination of society and norms established by people living in the society. The mother of the main character is a very kind woman and the readers can clearly see Gregor’s warm attitude towards her, though she refuses to believe that he is her son when the family experiences benefit from Gregor’s position. His younger sister Grete becomes the main caretaker of this monstrous insect that had been her brother; she treats him as her brother only at the very beginning of the novel, though she changes her attitude towards the insect which does not seem to be her brother anymore.
The family of the protagonist can return to a normal life only after his death (Taikeff 13) because they cannot bear the existence of the giant cockroach which does not resemble their son and brother. The memories about the way he disappeared as soon as he becomes a heavy burden to each and every member of his former family. When Gregor finds himself in the appearance of an insect, he does not think about the way his family would treat him, about his future life, about personal communication with other members of the society; the only thing Gregor thinks about is the impossibility to work and maintain his family. Gregor, with regard to his position in life and towards society, is a marginal who is not able to interact with other members of the same society.
As life in society presupposes the acceptance and adherence to certain rules, norms, and principles existing in this society including physical appearance and personal hygiene, it is necessary to mention that Gregor can be considered an outcast of his society which is presented by his family and a clerk from his job. Marginalization is the main theme of this novel because it emphasizes the bitterness of a situation when a person cannot live as he used to. It is possible to assume that Gregor was always taken by society as an outcast, though the real appearance was concealed behind adherence to social norms.
In this respect, the appearance of a giant insect appears to be an allegory that is aimed at explaining the concept of marginalization. When a person does not look like others, cannot perform functions that others can, is not able to maintain himself, and is rejected by other members of the same society. Gregor Samsa is a lonely person who feels it necessary to leave the family not to make them ashamed of him and his appearance.
Sexuality and loneliness of Edna. Another example of marginalization can be observed in the novel The Awakening by Kate Chopin where the story of a young woman is described. Edna Pontellier is a wife of a successful businessman who has two adorable children, though she does not feel happy at all because she has to perform all duties attributed to women in contemporary society. Social norms exclude the minor possibility that a woman can be independent, ambitious, or self-sufficient. When Edna experiences emotions different from those encountered in marriage, she realizes that she was sleeping all her life. In this respect, Edna can be considered an outcast of society because she dared to violate the norms established by people living in the same society. Her husband is one of the representatives of the society which had created certain roles and functions for women which contradict Edna’s new cognition of the world.
Edna is a woman whose “manner was engaging” (Chopin 7); she is a good wife and mother, though her awakening affects her family as well as her reputation within the society. When Edna Pontellier experiences certain freedom from social norms which seem to have been bounding her wishes, desires, and will, she becomes out of control and cannot stop creating gulfs between herself, her family, and the society they all live in. however, Edna is not likely to realize the true damage she brings to her family because they are not the ones to blame, though the closest people are always the first to be blamed. The family rejects her as well as did the family of Gregor Samsa in The Metamorphosis, this happens because she is not able to return to the previous lifestyle and become adherent to social norms that bound her.
The person who contributed greatly to the awakening of the main character of the novel is Robert Lebrun, a man who is younger than Edna and who got used to flirt with all women without being obliged to marry any of them. When Edna realizes that she had totally divided herself from society, she tries to establish relations with Robert, but he refuses to be with her because she is a married woman. Though Lebrun knew from the very beginning that Edna was married to Mr. Pontellier, he did not cease seeing her. However, Robert had crossed the t’s when Edna was not any longer able to return to the previous lifestyle. “It was you who awoke me last summer out of a life-long, stupid dream” (Chopin 283); these words can be considered the essence of her awakening as all her life was senseless.
As the marginalization is described here as the constant condition and the only remedy is the refutation of the social norms and traditions, the social roles of women in the society, it is obvious that Edna has recovered from the disease. “The Awakening is the new narrative that Mrs. Pontellier was unable to create: not (it is true) a story of female affirmation, but rather an excruciatingly exact dissection of the ways in which society distorts a woman’s true mature” (Beer and Nolan 63). Edna feels free and goes away for society cannot accept her in an image different from the one commonly attributed to women in numerous cultures.
Conclusion
Marginalization is a concept described in the literature as the one which divides the individuals considered to be the outcasts from the rest of the society. When people see someone, who does not follow the common rules of behavior, they treat him/her as an alien that has no right to live in the same society because this person is not able to be adherent to the social norms. The current essay dwelled on the marginal characters existing in the literature. The Awakening written by Kate Chopin, Othello by William Shakespeare, and The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka present characters treated as outcasts of the society because of the social norms.
Edna is treated as marginal because she refuted social roles commonly attributed to women; as soon as she refutes her roles, she becomes a lonely person and nobody understands her desires. Othello is envied and has to act according to social norms to save his reputation in society. Gregor Samsa is described as an originally lonely person, though the understanding of marginalization comes suddenly and no one can help him.
Works Cited
Hadfield, Andrew. A Routledge Literary Sourcebook on William Shakespeare’s Othello. New York: Routledge, 2003.
It can be argued that two primary aspects affect social changes in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). On the one hand, citizens of these countries have more access to various media platforms, including international news organizations and social media, which present various aspects of daily life not widely accepted by Islamic countries. On the other hand, economic difficulties the states have experienced create a necessity to partner with other nations for business cooperation.
To carry out the policy efficiently, the GCC domains use media outlets to portray GCC as a more modern establishment, with social norms that can be understood and accepted by Western countries. This paper aims to examine the influence of media on GCC’s citizens and international partners to determine ways in which it affects social norm changes.
Literature Review
For this research, several news articles regarding recent social changes in GCC and scholarly pieces on media influence were studied. To understand how international newspapers portray GCC, an article by Dyer (2016) was examined. In it, the author presents several examples of state punishments, including execution, which is accepted in Saudi Arabia. While the piece primarily focuses on the legal system, it reflects the perspective through which GCC domains are presented to the international community. A work by Arias (2018) was included in this paper because the author conducted an experiment to understand the specific ways in which media affects society. The article has presented a valuable insight into why people within GCC may want to change their moral standards.
The societal view of the need to conduct social norms change was researched. Additionally, Abokhodair, Hodges, and Vieweg (2017) presented statistical data regarding GCC’s population and social media engagement. The information is valuable because it provides an understanding of the scope and nature of changes. Newspaper articles by Alhussein (2017), Mahdawi (2018), and McKernan (2018) were used for this paper to illustrate the specific alterations which take place in the domains in question. The presented literature provided an understanding of various factors that contribute to media influence within GCC.
Social Changes in GCC
Unarguably counties of the GCC have a strong adherence to religious norms. Western media has often portrait Islamic countries as violent due to their standards. For instance, Dyer (2016) examined the legal system of the country, which was guided by the Islamic religion to explain harsh punishments that the authorities within the domain carry out. Mass executions and unclear legislative codes that would define the civil system have created a gap of misunderstanding between western countries and GCC. It is valid in the context of social norms as well because of religion guides GCC domains and provides advice on everyday life for the people in these countries. The societies in these domains are conservative, which makes social changes carried out by government officials difficult.
These distinct differences have an impact on the international relationships of counties. Dyer (2016) states that “these actions make it difficult for Western allies to defend the kingdom” when providing examples of court trials and other punishments imposed on people in Saudi Arabia (para. 10). Such a portrayal of GCC countries in the international media may be considered as a component that affects social norm changes in the domains.
Furthermore, McKernan (2018) states that the recent social norms changes carried out through legislative initiatives were necessary to help GCC deal with the oil price crisis. The government officials aim to create a better business environment, for which it is needed to ensure that international partners support GCC. The alterations help portray GCC countries in the media as domains that are ready to execute necessary changes.
Prior to examining particular changes that transformed the social environment in GCC countries, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms that media can apply when conveying information. Arias (2018) states that two primary channels of media influence exist “media provides new information that persuades individuals to accept it (individual channel), but also, media informs listeners about what others learn” (p. 1). While the author located little evidence to support the individual channel theory, the transition of ideas through social approach proved to affect the perception of social norms.
Another critical aspect of social norm changes is a view of a young generation on particular standards. From this perspective, social media has an immense impact on these norms, especially in GCC countries. According to Abokhodair et al. (2017), Saudi Arabia ranks seventh in the world’s rating of social media accounts per citizen. In addition, the authors argue that this is because half of GCC’s population comprises of young people.
Considering Arias’ (2018) view on the topic of media influence, and Dyer’s (2016) perspective on differences when compared to Western countries, it can be argued that the combination of easy access to the Internet and specific portrayal of Islamic domains in online newspapers provides inhabitant of GCC with a different view on their counties’ social norms. Thus, media influence social norms by both providing a platform for the popularisation of opinions and by giving an incentive to create a better image of a domain.
Entertainment
Entertainment can affect the viewpoints of people by presenting various aspects of a problem. Thus, it is not surprising that for years GCC’ countries strictly regulated this field. Alhussein (2017) states that Saudi Arabia is going through massive changes, both culturally and socially. Primarily the transformation is promoted by the government as they strive to create a more open domain. According to Alhussein (2017), “the current changes also shed light on the different voices that are emerging within the conservative establishment” (para. 5).
It can be argued that the media, both social and traditional, presented an opportunity for these voices to speak out on critical social aspects. This, in its turn, led to the governments rethinking their policies to adhere to modern standards, which led to legislative and societal changes.
Recently, the government of Saudi Arabia has introduced a new policy regarding the entertainment industry within the country. Before this, religious organizations were in charge of this component. Therefore, their perception mainly affected approaches taken to music, films, and other art forms. McKernan (2018) argues that social norms change is carried out to transform the world’s perception of GCC towards moderate Islam. It is because, after the changes, religious leaders voice their opinion regarding the issue, stating that such an approach is unacceptable. Media outlets have portrayed such alteration as a positive step towards a new direction of Saudi Arabia’s development, which arguably fulfills the primary objective of such social changes.
Women’s Rights
One of the most notable changes in the social norms that occurred in Saudi Arabia is the diminishment of the guardianship system and the enhancement of women’s rights. For a long period, women in Islamic countries could not do things such as go to school without the permission of their male guardian. Additionally, female citizens were not allowed to drive on their own. These social norms obstructed women from doing many things, acceptable in Western society. News outlets highlighted the activists’ fight towards a change in the field for years, and recently the government intrigued legislative initiative, which would implement the changes.
As was previously mentioned, the young population of GCC and their access to social media had a significant role in the transformation of social norms and their perception. Such platforms, more specifically Twitter, played a role in this change. Alhusein (2017) states that the demand for Saudi women was a widespread topic for discussion on the website for months. Through this channel of communication, the citizens were able to voice their opinion and provide examples of the actual state of women’s rights in GCC. It can be argued that the plan of Saudi Arabia to create a more open country and the impact of the media outlet’s presentation of the issue affected the decision to change the laws.
Many news outlets have talked about the story since the implementation of the initiative. Mahdawi (2018) argues that women’s rights change is dictated by a need to convince Western countries that distinct reforms take place in Saudi Arabia.
The kingdom uses this expansion of women’s rights to portray Saudi Arabia as a modern country. It can be argued that the social norms reform was dictated by the need to enhance a good image of the country in the eyes of Western domains. However, Mahdawi (2018) points out that the act should be considered as a PR move, as many women’s rights activists were jailed several weeks before the implementation of new laws. News outlets did not report this story, as they focused on the rules that the government of Saudi Arabia created.
Regardless of the underlying reasons for the alterations, the media has affected norms, which guided Saudi Arabia’s society for decades, providing more freedom to the inhabitants. According to McKernan (2018) that women will be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia for the first time since 1990. This change may lead to other prominent alterations in the way GCC’s society functions. Additionally, McKernan (2018) states that the move will “transform women’s lives in a country where they must still seek the permission of a male guardian to fulfill needs and desires” (para. 6). Thus, it can be argued that media can affect society in several ways. It can present an outlook on the differences in social norms. In addition, the need to change a country’s image may dictate a societal change.
Conclusion
Overall, two essential changes in the social norms were examined in this paper. An adaptation of an alternative approach to women’s rights, carried out by the Saudi Arabia government, proves to be among the most significant developments in the country within the last decades. Additionally, a new outlook on the entertainment industry highlights the essential transformation in the GCC in regard to religious norms. A critical aspect of these transformations is social media, which has created easy access to the lives of millions of people across the world for the youth. In addition, the governments of these countries aim to create a better media image for their domains, which affect the initiatives as well.
References
Abokhodair, N., Hodges, A., & Vieweg, S. (2017). Adapting social media to Arabian Gulf norms. Anthropology News, 58, 171-177. Web.
Arias, E. (2018). How does media influence social norms? Experimental evidence on the role of common knowledge. Political Science Research and Methods, 1-18. Web.