Modernization of the World - Essay Example

Modernization of the World Modernization of the World Modernization is a dynamic process that regions or nations undergo to change from old ways and adopt new improved techniques for viewing, reasoning and carrying out their lifestyles. Significantly, modernization takes place in phases because discoveries and innovations are progressive events, which keep on improving. However, modernization always refers to irregular development that allows some groups within a society to exhibit change while peripheral ones seem lagging behind.

This paper explores the effects of modernization in the 19th and 20th century. Modernization had both positive and negative impacts on the world’s political, social, and economic affairs. Role of Men and Women Historically, male and female gender in different parts of the world had defined roles prior to modernization. For instance, most societies understood male were head of households, worked, and defended the nation during war. Some works such as engineering and science world were male dominated.

On the contrary, female gender participated in managing homes, especially cooking and caring for children. However, the notion of defined roles changed between 19th and 20th century. For instance, in countries affected by world wars II, many men died during the war; hence, women had to assume roles that were male-oriented. Additionally, a modern woman entered the working group and competed on the same platform with males. As 20th century, women ventured into engineering and science fields while contributing handsomely to home budgets.

Work and Leisure The 19th and 20th century marked an advanced development in the industrial revolution, people increasingly got involve in wealth creation. Some nations adopted socialism while others took capitalism path. Irrespective of direction, individuals felt urgent need to create wealth. Eventually, time became a familiar concept of measuring work quantity. Corporations rose and created systems where people worked for money. Productivity depended on the time value of work, and people got different rewards depending on how much time they spent.

Eventually, leisure became less influential, with most corporations giving their employees off in particular days to enjoy leisure. In other words, the world became a working nation as people struggled to expand their wealth base. Social Institutions Modernization did affect basic institutions as well. First, education became a serious concern because individuals needed to pass intelligence and stories from one generation to another. Schools developed ranging from lower level kindergartens to higher levels institutions of learning (Alexander, 2010).

Additionally, disciplines of study changed to cover many fields. For instance, psychology, law, engineering, and social arena expanded their subjects of study. Increasingly, the 20th century saw a link between level of education and career that individuals pursued. Still, the family views on marriage because people assumed different roles. As more females entered the labor market and educated themselves, they became stable. Most women could raise children without necessarily having the support of male.

Eventually, the concept of single mother became standard as professionals proved not keen on marriage. Some men and women preferred taking responsibility of their families as couples by sharing responsibilities but not based on traditional gender-oriented platforms. For instance, men and women could contribute equally to creating family wealth and shared duties at home equally. In fact, it was during the same period that feminism concepts became famous because women demanded equality on nearly all fronts.

Reference Alexander, M. (2010). History, Memory, and the Modernization of 19th-Century Urban Russia. Kritika: Explorations in Russian and Eurasian History, 11(4), 837-870. Retrieved October 15, 2015 from http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/kri.2010.0003