Essay on Resistance to Social Change – Though social change is universal, societies and cultures are relatively permanent. The social and cultural functions do not change ‘overnight’ even in the most dynamic populations.
Certain resistance to change is there everywhere. In no society all the changes are welcomed by the people without questioning and resistance. To some extent the removal of the evil practices such as child marriage, human sacrifice, animal sacrifice, untouchability, taboos on intercaste marriages, etc., could be achieved after a long struggle in India.
The opposition to woman suffrage in the United States lasted for more than fifty years, and the opposition to the abolition of slavery was accomplished only after a prolonged civil war. It was only in the beginning of 20th century that women were given voting right in Britain after much opposition. It took centuries for some major reforms to take place-in Christianity.
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In the midst of strong opposition and violence communism was introduced in Russia. Ogburn and Nimkoff wrote: “It is a curious phenomenon that some of the greatest blessings of the human race should have been bitterly resisted, at times with the spilling of blood, before humanity was allowed to profit by them… ”
Reasons for the Opposition to Social Change:
The main reasons for the opposition to social change are as follows:
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1. Lack of New Inventions:
Social changes depend on the invention of new objects, techniques, thoughts, devices and plans to a great extent. Changes will take place without much opposition if the people have the strong craving for new things. Lack of interest in inventions and lack of inventions as such, do not provide a favourable atmosphere for change.
2. Rejection or Non-Acceptance of New Inventions:
No change is possible if people go on rejecting the new inventions. New inventions have been more resisted than welcomed by the people. Dr. William Harvey’s Blood Circulation Theory and Galileo’s theory concerning the planetary system and the movement of earth were opposed in the beginning. Opposition came in the British Parliament for the use of steam energy in British Naval Ships. Several such instances can be quoted from history.
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3. Imperfections of New Inventions:
In the beginning inventions are generally subject to imperfections, such as inadequate performance, easy breakage and difficulty of repair. Social inventions also have imperfections in the beginning. People may oppose them for their inadequacies.
4. Fear towards the New:
Man has not only loved for the past but also fear towards the new. People express their fear towards the new while making use of the new objects, listening to the new thoughts and following a new practice. Indians have shown in the beginning their fear and suspicion while accepting the British medicine, undergoing English education and undertaking sea voyages.
5. Tradition and Reverence for the Past:
People are traditional in their attitude. The old and the traditional practices and things and ideas are upheld by the people. People are emotionally and sentimentally bound by them. Sometimes, people cling themselves tenaciously to the harmful, outdated and inefficient practices. Thus, the traditional attitude of the people will not allow them to accept new things.
6. Ignorance:
Due to ignorance people often oppose new inventions or changes. It usually takes time for a new discovery, tool or technique to be understood. Thus for a long time, the germ theory of disease was rejected.
The iron plough was not accepted easily in America. It took several years to find acceptance with the farmers. Opposition to technical or material invention can be removed in course of time by demonstrating its effective workability. But the social invention may be opposed by the people for an indefinite time, because its concrete demonstration is difficult.
7. Habit:
Habit is another obstacle to social change. Individuals are very much influenced by habits and customs. People dislike or fear the unfamiliar. They are not ready to give up a practice to which they have been habituated to and adopt a new one. Hence the new practice is looked down upon or rejected.
8. Economic Disparity and Difficulty:
Wide gap between the rich and poor and extreme economic distress also come in the way of social change. People who are suffering from various economic problems are not prepared to accept changes, for they are either sceptical about it or they are economically incapable of accepting a new change.
9. Intellectual Laziness and Administrative Defects:
In order to give up the old ideas and accept the new ones, people require some amount of creativity, dynamism and rationality. If these qualities are lacking among people they may fail to realise the importance and usefulness of the new ideas and things.
Further inefficient and corrupt administrative machinery also provides obstacles to change. The bureaucratic element of the administration has been said to be conservative in nature and a stumbling block, on the path of change and progress.
10. The Power of Vested Interests:
The vested interests constitute yet another source of opposition to innovations. Individuals who feel that social change endangers their interests are likely to oppose it. They therefore fight every proposal in this direction. Such persons may organise themselves as opposition groups when their “rights” are threatened.
Similarly, people oppose changes if their self-interests are endangered. The capitalists have been opposing the progressive labour legislations for this reason. The social reforms have been opposed by the so called traditionalist section of the Indian Society.
All Resistances are Not Harmful:
We cannot say that all the resistances are harmful. In some instances, opposition to social change is justifiable. Some innovations or changes will prove to be harmful when they are judged from the point of view of a certain standard of values. The proposal that a totalitarian type of government be substituted for the democratic system is an instance of a reform that is considered definitely harmful.
Opposition to technological inventions is justifiable, if they are unworkable or impractical, or if their disadvantages outweigh their advantages. Resistance to change has its positive side also. All the innovations and changes cannot be welcomed as worthwhile and beneficial.