The Changing patterns of social life by Cole and Altorki is quite an interesting article that depicts the social change that

Summary

The Changing patterns of social life by Cole and Altorki is quite an interesting article that depicts the social change that took place in the Unayzah after the region discovered the need to carryout urbanization. Men and women were able to take the change that took place in the ancient city in the 20th century; however, these changes brought impacts. It is depicted that the creation of the real estate led to the change in the family life and socialization among the people of the town. In addition, the author also shows the changes that were transformation in the manner of living. The modernization of things made old generation to feel uncomfortable. The nature of the family living from the old cosmopolitan nature where all members of the family lived together, share responsibilities, as well as sharing values of the kinship has transformed and the young generation is now drifting from it and embracing the independent nuclear family. Socialization in all aspect from the adults to children has also changed. According to the aged population, the change has affected the manner and ways of upbringing the young generation. It has contributed to waning of the community social norms and result in self-centeredness.

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The social change has happened in the Unayzah since the urbanization. As the first anthropological investigation of an urban group in Saudi Arabia since that oil blast, Arabian Oasis City is additionally the first to archive progressions. However, there are the changes that have happened in the Utah-Unayzah all through the twentieth century: the formation of the present neo-logical and the nuclear family focused around the independence and evading the financial exploitation realized by the increased and the extended family in the cost-sharing principle. Also, the authors uncovered the progressions achieved by real-estate investments starting in 1982 and examine the issues facing ‘Unayzah in its family.

The presence happening of the advanced Unayzah as well as creation of the full advancement of neighborhood and transport systems demonstrates that change in taking the center stage. Women in the past were hidden and assumed dynamic parts in the work inside the family unit. I agree with the author that the social effect of progress through the years is, in any case, significant particularly the continuous substitution of the broadened family by the nuclear family, changing spouse wife connections, the effect of earned toward the status of ladies, and the development of another working class of representatives and business people. Due to the high level of isolation, Altorki and Cole provide us a blessed joint effort at Unayzah in transforming the social nature from the olden days system to the current state based on modernization. Irrespective of the fact the olden day’s people used to have a close extended family bond, the cost that goes with it is immense. First, there is no secrecy in the newly married couples in the family as they have to live within the extended family. Secondly the burden of covering the extended family is immense and overwhelms the ne couples. In the modern era, it might lead to break-ups. Even if the author illustrate that the bond and socialization was so close and kept the people united, it is at the expense of other people. The nuclear family has many advantages. There is secrecy, space of taking care of the needs of the family and the wife is able to remain and build the family. However, while material circumstances have changed totally, the populace has not possessed the capacity of sustaining. Unayzah’s numerous advances help supportable improvement as it focuses on the most essential issue confronting the town: the need to completely embrace and learn how to live in the cosmopolitan city.

The socialization aspect depicted in the article was a very unique one. Women had their own different socializing platforms that enabled them share ideas of the family. It was augmented by the literacy education as on way of creating awareness and removing ignorance amongst the women. Despite all these, I see a society that is still stubborn to changes. Even if they complain of erosion of values, I tend to believe that the values still hold. The only varying aspect is the manner of delivering the act of socialization. Compared with the modern society there is no change. The modern socialization aspect has taken the use of modern facilities such the internet-social media. The modern woman is able to socialize and interact in the available media.

Men other hand had their own way of socializing. In the same manner as women, there is nothing new in socializing aspect during those days and the present day. There only different is that in the modern day; there is use of new technologies. Besides, there are no socializing places or restaurants in the town of Utah-Unayzah. People used to meet in specific places as a group, a kinship as well as the neighborhood. Exchange of ideas as well as ways of transforming and making the society better got discussed.

Even if there are transformations, there is however still a positive urban aggregate perception over the city’s past picture counterbalancing its monetary decay. The sort of social activism maintains the city’s cosmopolitan memories by advancing it through different manifestations of online networking (online discourse gatherings, clubs, and casual get-together gatherings. Its notoriety for social, religious freedom and successive contacts and solid associations with neighboring territories made the city an appealing stopover for Western and Muslim explorers. Histories identified with these occasions are profoundly engrained in the aggregate memory of the city and help to save a positive picture of the past.

I conclude by saying that the people of these towns have differing views on the changes. The old still want to hold on the ethnic values whereas the modern young generation requires change. The two are not agreeing and thinking in the same line. I support the young people in that there is need for transformation to the contemporary principles only that there is need of caution not to downgrade the old.

Reference

Altorki, S., & Cole, D. P. (1989). Arabian Oasis City: The Transformation of’ Unayzah (Vol. 15). University of Texas Press.