Social Modernization example essay topic

Social modernization brought about a series of major changes in the social structure. One of its strongest influences was the awakening of a woman's consciousness. With rapid economic development and the advent of the women's movement, the changing status of women received much attention around the world. The role of women began to change from the submissive, dependent and the childbearing traditional woman to the modern woman demanding for equal rights, sovereignty, and independence assuming the equally heavy career responsibilities.

The impact of modernization affected the role of women. Modernization is the term used for the transition from the traditional society of the past to modern society as it is found today in the West. Modernization or development theory presents the idea that by introducing modern methods in technology, agricultural production for trade, and industrialization dependent on a mobile labor force, the underdeveloped countries will experience a strengthening in their economies. The impact of modernization on women was significant.

While modernization has opened up economic opportunities in some areas, alternatively it has led to a decline in traditional sources of income for many women, e. g., those engaged in the production of handmade and homemade items. (Inter-American Development Bank, 1987). In the agriculture division, the introduction of computerization and new technologies in general has displaced small producers and interrupted traditional systems of production between the roles of the two sexes in a small family. In addition, women have experienced difficulty in acquiring access to credit, improved technologies and increased services. Nevertheless, these programs have not taken into account of women's specific needs and multiple role responsibilities. As a result, women's productivity has generally remained at a low level.

In industrial societies, women are not able to own land. Their husbands have taken their land rights away, and have lost their important economic and social roles as subsistence food producers. Their household ability also decreased and they have lost a significant source of income. Since there is no other way of making a decent income from their household anymore, women are driven to the cities to seek employment in larger businesses. However, the problem is they can only be hired for low-skilled and low waged occupations for the reason that the majority of the higher paid and skilled occupations are saved for the men, who hold a higher position in "factory society". If a woman does obtain the same occupation usually performed by a man, she would only receive a much lower salary.

In addition, a woman's workload is increased greatly as she has to work long hours at the factories then to go home and still maintain her household. Contrary to modernization theory, socioeconomic modernization often has had an adverse effect on women in the less developed countries in the short to medium run (Sociology of Developing Countries, 2003). In Latin America, women often have to find jobs doing domestic services such as sewing, doing washing and ironing, and caring for young children. In Africa, the commercialization and mechanization of agriculture have frequently benefited male cultivators disproportionately at the expense of women farmers (Sociology of Developing Countries, 2003). While Bedouin cultural traditions restricted women's activity outside the domestic sphere, women were at least in charge of building family tents, caring for flocks of sheep and raising crops. The abrupt change caused by living in settlements has stripped Bedouin women of their traditional roles and responsibilities.

In Asia, employers argued that women, as child bearers, were an economic liability. They required more leave time and were seen as less effective. Women disproportionately were laid off and new women graduates had a much harder time locating employment than their male counterparts. Prostitution, the selling of brides and other manifestations of the 'traffic in women' became more widespread.

Various individuals, both men and women, advocated that women should return home to clear the way for men's employment (Inter disciplining Chinese Women, 2000). We have seen that modernization has actually hindered the development of third world countries. The third world countries do not have the modern conveniences and attitudes that accompany developed first world countries, but in order for them to become developed, they would need to leave their traditional practices behind them in the process. Cooperative production that is fair is the only way that will ease the struggles of third world nations. Through cooperative production between men and women, and through fair compensation, their lives will exist in a better balance as they are recognized as equal contributors to their respective societies.