Cultural Change | Respect : The Upbringing Values

This article precisely talks about the cultural issues that are prevalent in our society. The questions are much relevant. This boy is asking these questions from everyone in society. He is also questioning how a male should behave. just being an 19-year youth. These are his own thoughts. We feel they are much relatable in today’s world. We all need to have a cultural change. Can we imbibe that disciple to walk the talk?

Introduction to childhood learnings

Things taught in our childhood most likely stay with us forever. Even the incidents that occur in our childhood times, whether worse or good. They have an impression for a longer time in our adulthood. The former even affects our whole life, maybe some fear or phobia. Since we are born, our parents, family members, teachers, and elders in fact everyone around us wants to respect and honour them.

If it’s a girl, then she bears this burden even more. She is taught to prepare herself for her future husband every day, giving up her childhood to learn cooking, etiquette, and other household chores like cleaning the house, washing clothes, and how to take care of her parent-in-law. Along with all this, the most important thing she is being taught is to respect her husband and follow his orders. His duties are prime to the family and whatever he does is suitable for the family and her children.

Let’s look at different sides by tossing the coin!

Shall we respect our parents inherently? Should you respect a bastard husband who abuses every night? Would you be silent while your father beats up your mother? Shall you follow the odd ways of your abusive and drunkard father? Will you support your parents even if they are morally wrong and maybe legally as well? Will you even respect if your parents or husband are not performing their moral duties as expected by society?

Follow default norms

Society brainwashes your mind and erases you from reality. Forcing you to respect your teacher, parents, or husband. You are a mannerful child or wife. Does this not lands you in a different world? The world where the shackles of societal thoughts and stigma are tied to you. You aren’t you anymore! 

You become a mere puppet without much sense; your parents or husband handle the right or wrong strings. The most significant loss is that you give up the decision-making power. The destiny of your life is hooked by someone else. They may not be worthied or know your potential, nor respect that. 

Domestic Violence in Nation

The domestic violence happening in the streets of this vibrant India is a blot on the nation. Thousands of women fail to fight against this because they have accepted this as their fate. They don’t think it is a problem and believe that husbands have the right to punish them for their wrong deeds. Even abuse, shout, even beat or thrash them. As a good wife, you have to be submissive, impress them. Try every effort to keep them happy and receive their abuses happily. 

The patriarchal society has sown the seeds of blind husband-worship. They succeeded in eradicating their strength and generational thoughts of revenge and aggression against the violence. And it is also one of the leading causes of domestic violence. Other reasons are lack of financial support to stand up, vulnerability to homelessness, pressure from society and families to compromise for the sake of children and their future.

Act out of Fear

Even children, when instigated with fear from their elders, parents, and teachers for respect and honor, their chances of supporting the badly become thousandfold. Also, observing and tolerating violence makes one equally guilty. Blindly following the bad habits of the elderly will end them up in a mess. Many children don’t stand against the violence done by their fathers on their mothers, the torture on themselves (sexual abuse, mental or emotional), the ill ways of their parents because they have lost the power of judging what is right and what is wrong.

Insights from Bhagavad Gita

Bringing up another thought, how could it be possible to respect someone only because they play a default role in our life. Bhagavad Gita says those who don’t do what is expected of them in their particular station/position in life will lose the respect of others. At all times, strive to do your duty concerning your commitments. Honor your obligations in life. Isn’t this stands true for all those husbands who are expected to honour their wives? Parents and teachers should teach and preach good morals to their children? Cultural change is not required may we need to go back to roots!

Give Respect. Take Respect.

Nobody should enjoy respect just by default or as per the norms. Be it parents or husbands because it’s pretty easy to make babies. At the same time, it’s most difficult to nurture them the right way! According to my the respect has to be earned not just enjoyed for the sake of it. 

Conclusion

My speculations are on the basis of age-old philosophical principles and traditions. Also, my real experiences of visualizing a dozen siblings of grandparents. Even get married by disposing bucks as dowry. With a proud truck of materialistic pleasures for in-law parents. But to be accepted as good and loyal husbands. Those who are caring and reflects respectful behaviour towards their wives and parents. Those males who do this are spreading ideal virtues, morals, and values. They are indeed contributing to society by boosting a child’s self-esteem. Before I end, loving the most than anyone else in this wicked world is quite tricky! I personally feel that this is the time to bring cultural change to society.