Society is the cause of its own problem!
This is a phrase you might have heard in the past but looking at this with insight should allow us explore contemporary socialism and its impact of on young adults.
Firstly, you should be made aware that socialism is a double entendre but for this text, let us define socialism as the social system where individuals make decisions and take actions based on what their society see best fit. Or in other words, it’s giving power and equality to the people.
Robert Owen (1858), a social reformer and philosopher stated that character is formed by a combination of nature or God and the circumstances of the individual experience.
Character can also be viewed as personal behaviour and traits; and I believe these are what it entails to be an individual.
Socialism promotes the development of men and women in different aspects. Physically, morally, intellectually and emotionally. But with opposing features like capitalism which corrupts this system, behold contemporary socialism is born. This goes past the first aim of equality and personal development but focuses more on social class and status or in other words classism.
Contemporary socialism aims to put individuals into social class or groups, promote ideologies about these groups and controls individual growth.
Race, countries, boarders, political parties, activity groups right down to young adults and kids in school. The cool kids, the losers, the rich, the famous etc. Classism plays a major role in contemporary society and classism can be seem as the extreme form of socialism.
This leads to the question of if classism has disadvantages on the personal growth of an individual.
Could society be at risk of chaos due to a lack of individual dominion? Is this caused by the need to chase economic profit?
There are various context that could be applied on why this could be an issue and raises questions on how one sees themselves. As an individual or as a product of their society?
Being a product of your society could be following trends, peer pressure, living your life in the shadow of others down to what shoes you decide to wear before you leave home. This shows that society is influential and plays a major role on your actions. Now how does one maintain individuality?
Being an individual doesn’t mean being an outcast. An individual should have intuition, the ability to understand right and wrong, the ability to set standards and limits for themselves, the ability to acknowledge the views of their society and be aware of their actions.
Now I say to you, who are you?
Robert Orizu
POTS 