Cultural Changes in Society

In my opinion, the changes we can see in the ethnography “Meaning of Macho” regarding the Mexican society are more or less the same kind of changes that are taking place in the rest of the world. Actions and behaviours that 50 years ago were attributed to women only as if they were part almost of their intrinsic nature, are now the daily bread in men lives.

When talking about the reasons why these changes are being produced, the text highlights that they occur “por necesidad” meaning that since women also have to work outdoors to contribute in making the family’s living, men have been forced to cope with the daily chores and household activities in general. However, I agree with the assumption that states that these changes are taking place as part of a change in culture in general. What I mean with the latter is that there has been a historic change regarding gender roles. What many years ago was considered as a female task (everywhere, independently of the country) now it is considered also a male’s task thanks to the modern thought of gender equality.  In fact, I think that the main reason why the proposal of gender roles is being reformulated is because of these cultural changes.

Thick Description

Two adolescents walking towards each other in a Park, a guy and a girl. They say hello and kiss each other’s cheek, they are both smiling, and they walk along but keep a certain distance from each other. Then they both sit on a bench and start looking at each other neither staring at each other nor glimpsing, just looking as if they were a little bit insecure. The girl is cross legged, her hands in her lap and the posture of her body is a little drawn back. The guy seems quite uncomfortable, his Adam’s apple trembles a little bit and he moves his hands nervously.

Then the guy starts talking, he seems to have some problems letting his words come out (though I am not able to hear what he tries to say), the girl looks at him directly into the eyes and they make eye contact. The girl gets closer to him. He also looks at her and seems to get calm, she smiles and he finally speaks properly. While he is talking to her he takes her hand, she seems to be nervous but happily surprised. Now, the boy is down on his knees (he seems to be asking something to the girl), she blushes slightly and after smiling, she winks at him. Then they guy gets up and taking her hands helps her to get up too. They look at each directly in the eyes. Then he presses her body close to his, she slowly winds her arms around his neck, and they kiss.

The Problem with Social Facts

Both slavery and capitalism can be considered Social Facts in the history of the United States of America (especially during the colonial period) as these two practices were in the mind of the people of the time and were approved and consolidated by collective practice. In the case of slavery, the way in which white people from the Southern Colonies treated African people and the imposition of slavery itself springs from the perpetuation of manners and customs that were part of the collective. This is to say that people saw slavery as something that was part of culture and therefore did not have a critical stance towards it merely because it was what others were doing. The practice itself may have had its origin in the need that men had for other’s approval which in the end led them to self- approval. This goes hand in hand with Durkheim´s idea that social facts posses a compelling and coercive nature. You do it just because, because it is something that everybody does, as it can be taken from Twain’s text Corn-pone Opinions in which the author states that one supports a given custom as a way to fit in society.