The question whether people are more reliant on one another at present or less has become a matter of debate. Although both perspectives can offer rational supporting arguments stemming from ongoing shifts in social values, I do not gravitate towards one side due to clear discrepancies in the way world countries choose to live.
The reason why some assert that we are becoming less independent is that the less influential commonly held conventions become, the more complacent most people are. What this means is that the majority of stereotypes are being abolished now, with traditional gender roles being less and less followed. This is especially true, if we take into account cooking, sewing, repairing appliances, and gardening practices. At best many individuals cannot perform these chores without others’ support, and at worst, they completely rely on others on these everyday tasks, raising their dependence.
Others do, however, believe that personal interests are mostly placed over collective ones nowadays, substantiating our growing independence. This is because the impact of peer pressure is not as powerful as it used to be in most countries. The rising popularity of once socially rejected lines of work can serve as a notable example: no matter what others’ expectations can be, the younger generation may pursue their desires by becoming Internet influencers, bloggers, or online vendors, making them independent thinkers.
Little do these two groups know that a “one-fits all” position is likely to fail in this question, since this mostly depends on whether the society is traditional or progressive. Conventional cultures, as well as mostly encouraging a collective lifestyle, also tend to suppress any attempts to stand out from the crowd by individualistic thinking. Compared to this, not only do industrial societies normalise traits such as self-centredness and opportunism, but they also prioritise personal space and self-sufficiency. With both of these trends continuing, it is quite irrational to generalise and speak for the entire world population.
In conclusion, the fact that what individuals value today has been constantly changing may be a driving factor making them appear either more independent or dependent. However understandable their perspectives are, one-sided approach in this case is rather short-sighted, as different cultures function differently.