Life Events

Modernization: How life has changed since 70’s

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Everything needs a change with the transit of span. Industrial Revolution to Technological Advancement both have shown immense transformation. Wildman outlined the strong foundation by inventing how to hunt, cook, wear, etc. after its great scientist came up to this world and changed almost everything.

They invented light, cement, gadgets, and some unimaginable things that become the necessity of life. Then there comes modernization that increased the perfection of the lifestyle we are living in.

In 1879 Edison filed a patent for an electric lamp, in 1796 the first vaccine came, then transportation and it took only two decades for immense modernization. It has both pros and cons but we will discuss it at the end. Before it letโ€™s date back to the โ€™70s and letโ€™s see how long we came.

Learn more about the inception of gadgets and events like the first refrigerator, first photo, first camera, first accident, first car, and many more. You can read it here.

Within these transit weโ€™ve seen a change in lifestyle, change in behavior, change in thinking, change in mindset, change in perspective, and a lot of other changes that your parents or grandparents can tell you more accurately.

Modernization Definition

Modernization is a process of the transformation of democratic, socio-economic, scientific perfection. It requires both constructional and functional changes. It improves life by technical changes, socio-economical changes, etc.

5 Things Describes How Modernization Has Changed Life Since the โ€™70s

1. Social Change

Yesterday, I was playing with my grandmaโ€™s hair, because that is what I do when I get my free time. Just kidding. But I noticed that her hair is still strong and silky even at this age. Out of curiosity, I asked her the same. She replied that they used Reetha (soapnut) as a shampoo for hairs back in her old days. That makes me curious to know more about their era. And we really had a long conversation about the changes she has seen since she was young. Iโ€™ll try to tell you in a short.

Back in her days, there were no chemicals or gadgets for daily works and beauty products. People at that time used nature for their basic needs rather than chemicals from money-making enterprises.

Ash with lemon for washing utensils because of no soap detergent, POKHARA (a kind of water purifier) they used to dump earthenware pot on land and it works as a water purifier and refrigerator, Charcoal & Neem tree for brushing their teeth, Cow Dunk as a mosquito killer also work as fire fuel. These things hardly come back but their values are long-lasting.

2. Modernization in Marriages

It looks vague about modernization in marriages but if you look closely, the way has changed a lot from an Indian perspective. Before if there was restriction then there had innocence too. There was no concept of love marriages, it was just a childish notion. There were child marriages. Women had to compromise the most, expected to adjust, leave their families, give up their careers.

The restriction was there in the dating. Arranged marriage was the only concept that couples were bound to follow. No showoff, very Simple decoration, no costly banquet halls, no DJ night, nothing. Only traditional ways and songs fill up anyone into extreme happiness rather than worrying about money.

A glimpse can be seen in this pandemic whether itโ€™s by law but people are following it.

Now online dating overpasses the restriction, the couples have enough time to know each other better. The Dowry system is now losing its grip. Now women are considered to have equal status as her husband rather than being โ€˜Propertyโ€˜. A positive mindset and education make a strong transformation, but still, there is so much to do.

3. Education

Education is paramount, helps in building a strong nation, and requires graduation sporadically. A lot of transformation has been observed since the โ€™90s. The way of teaching has changed. With technological advancement in education, knowledge becomes easier to learn as well as teach.

Blackboard with chalk was the tool teachers used until the whiteboards came as a successor and now with the involvement of technology smart classes are taking over the old ways of teaching. Hand gestures replaced the dusters. Fingers replaced the chalk.

A major reform can also be seen in this pandemic where online classes have shown us how much education depends on technology. Technology holds the future of education.

Modernization in teaching style

I remember, my father once shared his experience of writing on a slate board and having to wash that board again and again and then have to wait for a while till it becomes dry to write again, itโ€™s very admirable and unique. Kindle, tablets, or E-books are now taking the place of books. Students are now learning coding from primary classes.

4. Entertainment

The first movie ever made was โ€œRound Garden Sceneโ€ in 1888 then transformed to the First color movie โ€œCupid Anglingโ€ in 1918. Entertainment exhibited an exponential variation. CRT television and Big Cinema hall to Multiplex, and LED television our experience also changed from the โ€™70s onwards towards more realistic.

Photo by Huแปณnh ฤแบกt on Pexels.com

Earlier people either had to go to theatres miles away or waited to come out in tape to rent it or sometimes waited even longer for the movie to come out on television. There was only one television in the village mostly the landlord owned and the whole villagers waited for one single famous series โ€œMahabharatโ€. Modernization can change our life but not that fond memories.

I think that entertainment has gone through a major advancement from the โ€™70s than anything else. Just think, now in 2020 everyone has their own personal theatres at their home. The first smartphone was made by Rob Stothard/Getty in 1992, named โ€œSimonโ€ then tech modernization never turns back.

We have Netflix, Amazon, and other entertainment platforms. We are just 2 clicks away from watching the latest movie. 10 years back Apple launched and it changed the market completely. 1.52 billion smartphones sold in 2019 the data will increase in the future for sure.

5. Banking Modernizations

Money Isnโ€™t everything ,

But Everything Needs Money.

Earl Wilson

Itโ€™s true that everything needs money. Itโ€™s how every man-made thing is in function, it works as a medium of exchange. As we know, the early period Barter system was the only medium of exchange i.e., goods for goods. From the barter system to the digital payment monetary system turned into something that was considered unimaginable.

This copper Coin I found at my grandmaโ€™s almirah of 1893 1 ANNNA (quarter).

First Bank โ€œBanca Monte Dei Paschi Di Sienaโ€ in 1472 came into force. King Alyattes of Lynda was the creator of the First known currency. The evolvement of the banking sector is huge. The monetary system has shown immense diversification like any other sector from Currency notes to Currency less ( digital payment) to Bitcoin.

Digitization is safe for monetary transactions because of easy to use, reliable, and quickest method but also has some disadvantages of hacking and of cyber-attacks.

My Grandma still doesnโ€™t believe that I pay all the bills online.

Pros and Cons of Modernization

Pros:-

  • Increase In Literacy:- Through better education and by the adoption of new technology learning has become easier and education is on the doorstep.
  • Rise in National and per capita income:โ€“ Better technological advancement and mechanization helps in Developing nations and creates employment. This encourages more money flow and an increase in individualsโ€™ wealth.
  • Social mobility:- With the modern advancement and in search of better facilities, education rural areas are turning to bare. Migrants are moving towards Urban Area for Employment and these are increasing the value of metro cities.

CONS:-

  • Financial mischief:- Modernization could cause financial mischief as the advancement of technology and hardware may reduce human work. This is a world of machines and artificial intelligence.
  • Cultural Loss:- Well it has mixed views some argue that immense modernization can turn religious activities to modernize but some contradict with having so many changes that can be a threat to religion. People may forget traditional pursuit, alteration on the norms, etc.
  • Pollution:- This might be the most discussed topic ever and still need discussion. Urbanization, Automobilization, technical advancement all works as a life support system but it has affected our ecosystem also. Natural habitats are at threat, wildlife is on extinction.

Final Thoughts

As a result, Modernization has mixed reviews. On one side it provides financial stability and technical advancement to Increase literacy rate and comfort in life, but on the other side threats of cyber attacks and bullying, increase in Environment pollution by industrial revolution and development.

What we need is strong law against the mischiefs and wrong conduct and awareness about ecological changes. It is effective only up to mark when it doesnโ€™t harm our resources.

There are so many other things to describe modernization and how it has changed our lives. About shopping, food delivery, transportation, smart devices, and so many things have a strong impact on lifestyle.

Modernization is an ongoing process, things that seem impossible today might be the perpetual habit for future generations.

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Edited By:- Ritish Sharma

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Deepak Joshi

Deepak Joshi is a Writer and a Co-founder of Aspiring Blog. He writes about the social norms that are very less discussed in society. He also writes about certain Life-events and fascinating & compelling real-life stories. You can find his work on his author's page.

View Comments

  • Life has definitely changed. But, have we evolved emotionally is a big question mark.
    Interesting read.

  • Yes. Modernization is a mixed bag. So many miraculous inventions and yet we are in the midst of a huge wave of extinction + climate change...

    • Indeed its a matter of concern and self awareness is required only than we can cope up with the situation and can enjoy the modernization.
      Aspiringblog

  • Things are definitely changed !!! Some for better some for worst !!!!
    Nicely written ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘

  • Whoa! Those are a lot of big, BIG changes. I never really analyzed them before reading this post.

  • My dad, who's 92, always says "Take the bitter with the sweet."
    If everything was sweet all the time it would mean nothing, wouldn't it, without knowing what bitter was? :)

    • Indeed, we have to face both the aspects. Success and failures are the part of our journey, without failure success means nothing.
      Thanks for visiting seliza.

  • Very elaborate and exhaustive analysis of modernisation. Hats off to your effort.

    It is really astonishing that the major scientific advances have all happened in the last 100 years, more so in the last 60 years.

    I realise this so much in the field of modern medicine..

    • Indeed from the invention of first vaccine to fighting for the Corona vaccine we Had done great and still on to this. Whole world is in search of vaccine hope soon it will come.
      Thanks for your appreciation ๐Ÿ™‚

  • My daughter was born in 1969, so this is her lifetime you are describing. There certainly have been a lot of changes in the USโ€ฆsome good, others not so good. Very comprehensive write-up, Deepak! I enjoyed reading it. Have a good week! Cheryl

    • Wow thatโ€™s makes me overwhelmed, yeh modernization has changed the world and some are benefiting us some are not.
      Thanks for your continuous support cheryl

  • As someone who came of age in the '70s, I found this an interesting post. Truly, much has changed in my lifetime. There are though several worrisome trends developing.

    I will not address cancel culture, the dangers of a one world government, or the disappearance of privacy. Those have been discussed at length elsewhere. But there is a widening gap between rich and poor which the heavy focus on technology has only increased.

    While automation may lighten the world's workload, it will, also, eliminate a great many jobs. Long distance hauling was until recently a well paying job for those w/o a college education. That is about to disappear. Automated trucks are already on the roads in the US.

    Even w/ the financial means to purchase new technology, those of us who are less than tech savvy are being left behind. I spent an hour and a half w/ a Help Desk yesterday, trying to install a simple printer. I was not successful. That may sound comical. But it was, also, enormously frustrating.

    The world belongs to the young. The future is in their hands. I wish them well. But I have serious concerns.

    • Thankyou for the kind word and as u said there was a wide gap between rich and poor since 70โ€™s. I left the demerit of modernization that it will cost the jobs but according to me workers have to update themselves according to the requirements.
      We hope a better tommrw as a youngster we hope that our future will be brightened and i respect your efforts 70s to till now.

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