It is sometimes claimed that many cultural practices and long-standing social norms are not aligned with the current fast-paced era. While the proponents of this view often cite the loss of practical relevance in some traditions as a main reason, I contend that it would be unwise to discard them entirely since they have enduring values that help enhance social stability and a sense of belonging.
Those who subscribe to the idea that traditions are not worth preserving have a few valid arguments. One of these claims is that some traditional ways of behavior such as fixed gender roles are mostly incompatible with modern life. A clear illustration of this statement can be seen in periods before the Industrial Revolution when women were supposed to prioritize their husbands’ opinion over their freedom. Females (especially young adults), therefore, used to allocate much more substantial time to child rearing and household chores rather than professional ambitions. Fortunately, these kinds of primitive outlooks have faded over time, and women have been using career opportunities and receiving public support to pursue personal growth in recent years. In this context, there is no use keeping outdated customs; rather, they ought to be adapted to modern life.
However, there is still enough evidence to support the preservation of many social norms and traditions. For example, shared meals and family gatherings – two of the most common customs in many cultures – have contributed significantly to maintain social trust and community support. If they were paid less attention, many would feel isolated, which leads to psychological and social problems as the lack of integration prevents individuals from cooperation and partnerships. In addition, other conventional ways of behavior, including respect for elders, voluntary activities and non-profit organizations have proved to develop countries like Japan through reinforcing social stability.
In conclusion, while there are some traditions that have lost their value like gender roles, I firmly believe that it would be misguided to eliminate all cultural practices as they are crucial to develop our society.