Question

Culture Change

This week you are reading about how culture progresses and changes over time. Many cultures have seen some dramatic changes. This got me thinking about changes to our own culture. Can you all think of a behavior or tradition that was acceptable 50 years ago, (in the year 1965), but is now considered deviant today, and a behavior or tradition that was considered deviant 50 years ago that is acceptable today. For example, 50 years ago, interracial marriages were considered deviant, yet are accepted today, while 50 years ago gender discrimination in the workplace was acceptable, yet considered deviant today. What are some examples you can think of, and why do you think the status of the behavior or tradition has changed in our society?

Answer 1

One such example can be homosexuality. The concept of homosexuality and same gender love was considered taboo and deviant in most parts of society. But now, even though it is a fight for acceptance, this issue has seen new light and these people instead of being termed and tagged as deviant are accepted and integrated within the society.

Whereas something that was acceptable years ago and is not now is the racial discrimination scenario. 1960s was when the Chicano Civil rights union was formed, by the Mexican population in America. Racial profiling and racial discrimination was practiced prolifically within society, but is now an act against law.