In our dynamic world, human civilization seems to be the one constant. While institutions and processes mutate and break down, the basic culture and way of life of humans are relatively stable. Newborns observe and learn ways of life and humans continue to learn how to behave like humans throughout their lives.
Constant socialization
Socialization is a sociological term that is accepted as the basic process that permeates through a person’s life. It’s how we learn to walk, talk, dress, behave, and think in ways that are socially acceptable and enduring. Our family values, media trends, the rules of our school, and the corporate work culture are all elements of socialization. They mold an individual, guiding and shaping their narrative of how the world works or should work.
Socialization is a necessary process required for the stability of human civilization. It leads to the formation of ‘norms,’ or traditions which one automatically accepts simply because they have been part of society for generations. This also, however, becomes the reason for the continuation of hierarchies and unequal structures. The lack of rational thoughts before accepting norms leads to inequalities becoming ingrained in society. They become hard to pull out or often even recognize them as separate from the entire social structures. We always think about the structures that bind our society and not the individuals within those institutions. Integrative laws—whether social or human—are used to maintain uniformity, not always benefitting the individual. We think about what is rather than what should be.
How behaviors become norms
The concept of norm creation is of particular interest to social scientists to understand human behavior at the most basic level. In a more nuanced way, it helps understand why some systems persist while others don’t. The root cause of almost all systems of discrimination and oppression can often be found in this idea of normalization of certain behaviors that exclude a particular group. Through the process of socialization, this behavior is then passed on and becomes a part of society and is difficult to undo. This is true not only for social group behavior but also for how we perceive ourselves and our own values.
Certain ideas have become ingrained in our minds that pertain to how we should behave, react, perceive, and interact with others and ourselves. This includes the milestone theory of success, the normalization of the hustle culture, the necessity of marriage, and other similar cultural truths. Such norms limit the scope of choice and individuality and can make people who don’t conform to them feel lesser than others.
Embracing re-socialization
Re-socialization is the concept of unlearning old habits and adapting to new social situations, norms, and values, typically in adult life. In this context, re-socialization can be the tool to rationally analyze behavior, consciously choose the appropriate norms, and reject and unlearn others. Conscious re-socialization can help us become more aware of conditioned responses to situations. In turn, we can relearn the values of being more accepting of newer ways of thinking that are relevant to the current society.
Socialization often leads to subconscious mental frameworks that view things in a certain way. However, sociological introspection can lead to the deconstruction of these parochial mindsets and the relearning of broader perspectives.
Unlearning and Relearning
The idea of socialization and the concept of resocialization is particularly relevant in the conversation of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Several pre-conditioned and subconscious biases that promote exclusion in modern society are evolutionary instincts developed during our existence as tribes. They stem from the core ideology of survival of the fittest. However, in the more evolved society today, these ideas have become outdated and need to be unlearnt.
Difference Instinct
One of the most primordial instincts humans have is being vary of any change or differences. New means danger. Within the same parameter falls the idea of thinking anything different from one’s way of thinking or living is ‘wrong’ whether ethically or practically. We prefer living in a comfortable space where we recognize all actions and conform to them.
However, there are a number of ways of living that can coexist. There can not be any definition of one universal right or one way of progressing that can work for everyone. Unlearning the idea of a moral black and white, we must learn to accept that everyone has their own path. As long as it doesn’t hurt another human being, everyone’s journey is valid. Happiness for one person may mean pursuing their passion. For another, it may be just getting a day job and having enough money to live comfortably. Both are equally valid.
A similar understanding holds true for the idea of privilege. We are all privileged in some form or another and have things better or worse in relation to different groups. Having privilege is not inherently wrong. However, feeling entitled to the good in your life and not being willing to share the same is exclusionary. Rather than safeguarding just your own rights, consider how you can share them so that everyone can benefit from each other’s experiences.
Us Vs Them
A common sentiment regarding affirmative action is that giving protections to some communities will mean fewer opportunities for the “general” pool. Such notions are often heard regarding immigration from Asian countries to the West, from the mainstream Hindu community regarding reservations for SC/ST/OBC classes or rights for women, meaning suppression of male rights.
These protests stem from a place of understanding the world in terms of limited resources, where more for another group means less for the primary groups. However, the people protesting often fail to take into account the undue portion of opportunities available to them by virtue of their privileged position. Re-aligning the share of opportunities does not take anything from them. It simply allows others the rights that have been historically denied to them.
Moreover, most of these affirmative actions and welfare schemes are in proportion to the population. So they, in fact, do not take away any rights from the general groups. This idea of separate entities needs to be relearnt. Rather, the understanding that increasing economic and social equality benefits all needs to be fostered.
Perpetuation through Language
Language is perhaps the strongest pillar of socialization. It tells us how to perceive a lot of things, describe them, and feel about them. Especially in a society like India, with a history of both diversity and discrimination, the oppressive systems have survived in our languages. For example, gendered or caste-based slurs, gendered pronouns, or the use of female before professions considered to be for males.
Often these differences are ingrained into everyday speaking, and when pointed out people tend to take the defense of intention. However, carelessly used words can frame the mindsets of vulnerable minds or trigger people who have been oppressed by these systems.
Being careful of everything you say might sound like an overwhelming by-product of woke culture. But being conscious of the words, adjectives, and pronouns we use can mean the difference between someone being alienated or accepted. Gender-affirmative pronouns can avoid dysphoria for a big group. Not being defined just by her looks can empower a young girl to not internalize beauty standards. Not defining progress in terms of Western nations can help reaffirm Eastern history and traditions.
As we move towards a much more interconnected world that is evolving at an unprecedented rate, unlearning past understandings and adapting to new ideas is necessary. Starting to question the structures we are comfortable with is necessary to remain relevant and empathetic in the mechanical world. The core of relearning is that there is no one right answer but a tapestry of lived experiences. Independent choices are central to these experiences, making them relevant and equally valuable.
Respecting everyone even without understanding their reasoning will lead to an inclusive space for all ideas, cultures, and values. Resocialization is the practice of the future, where separate societies become connected through universal values of love and harmony.
