The first thought that often comes to mind when selecting a particular outfit for an occasion is how people may react to this. Some care about it and few even fear the comments that wearing a particular outfit may bring. It is true that the tolerance level of these opinions varies from person to person but people in general are enslaved to the society. They feel a particular pull, a morbid attraction, to these judgments and a desire automatically blooms from within to fulfill the invisible requirements society has concocted for them. Social obligation justifies all the descriptions above. It highlights the fact that every single human being-- regardless of age, culture, ethnicity, class, and race-- is legally and ethically constrained to the society.
There are several causes of social obligation. The aspect of perception of not just the society's, but also a person's, plays a vital part in the decisions we make. "My parents regularly told me that I should not dance because it will create a negative impression on my reputation and that my future in-laws will not think nicely of me," said a female student of BRAC University. As you can see, the perceptions start accumulating over a range of time. Young children, starting from three to four years old, tend to rapidly perceive memories and facts that they retain, like small boxes glued to their brains, for a lifetime. This is the most crucial time for an individual, and it is the primary duty of parents to teach their children about diversity. It is a suggestion for parents that they should not merely state what is right and wrong to their children since this prompts to the formation of prejudice. Instead, parents should demonstrate the so-called rights and wrongs on a spectrum and tell their children that every individual, just like a rainbow, occupies different portions of the spectrum and that this is what leads to individual personality development.
There are always two sides to everything, and similarly, the social obligation is not only about the dark parts. There are many dimensions of social responsibility such as legal, economic, ethical and philanthropic that merge to establish a concrete sphere of peace and stability around the society. Let us consider assault. There is an array of legislation for any sort of attack, be it physical, sexual or psychological. Moreover, although the crime rates have not diminished over the years, many potential criminals do hesitate before committing a crime due to the severe consequences that await. Business organisations continuously strive to generate profit from investments to maintain a good reputation to the stakeholders and contribute to a global and sustainable economy. Also ethical and philanthropic perceptions aid people in being more compassionate and install a constant consideration of social welfare in people's minds. For example, giving donations to the financially disadvantaged people help create a bond; a connection between people of two different levels and emphasizes generosity in a society. So basically, being magnanimous is a social obligation which in turn counteracts an aspect of social obligation by removing prejudices and stereotypes and planting concern for the general society.
Being socially obligated distances individuals from their real personalities. People tend to think so much about other's opinions, values, and beliefs that they often deviate from their dreams and goals. They try to carve and mold themselves into entirely new identities which are, to be honest, impossible because they are mainly descending themselves to a distinct platform; a platform whose source of the foundation is unknown to them. As a result, the individuals start questioning about their existence which is not an issue to be neglected. Also, parents who discourage their children to participate in various activities due to societal pressure do not realise that they are encouraging bigotry and are keeping their children away from opportunities that could potentially make them successful in the future. Peer pressure is another dimension, especially in the lives of teenagers. It is high time that educational institutions take this matter seriously and organise campaigns and seminars to teach the students from a very early age about diversity and acceptance.
Social obligation is nothing but a social construct. "People told me that it is important to work in a physical environment to secure my future. However, today I am working as a freelancer and am making good money. It gives me immense pleasure," said a graphic designer, a recent college graduate. Human beings have certain insecurities about themselves, and they implement them on other people, judging them based on their allotted criteria, and if others fail to meet them, which they often do as everyone is unique, he or she starts discriminating and form opinions about them. Hence, it is vital that people view societal pressure as a hurdle, a small bump on the road and not as a life-defining factor. At the end of the day, society does not form human beings; human beings create a society.
The writer is a first year student of BBA programme at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Dhaka. She can be reached at [email protected]
