In some societies, collective harmony is more highly valued than self-expression. If people are reluctant to speak out, prior culture is more likely to persist unchallenged. Caring deeply about social approval amplifies fears of ostracism and motivates quiet conformity. Moreover, where self-assertion is strongly disliked, feminist activism is more likely to trigger patriarchal backlash. Through recent fieldwork in Mexico, Spain, Hong Kong and South Korea, I realise this is a hugely important, but widely overlooked driver of ‘the Great Gender Divergence’.
Loved reading this, a thought-provoking essay. India also presents a similar example of collective harmony. We have a saying, "adjust karo sabke saath", which translates to "adjust your own needs and accommodate other people's needs". There is something very passive-aggressive in the communication styles as well, that one should just anticipate how others would feel or perceive instead of oneself first, in my experience.
"As far as I am aware, this is an original theory of how ideals of collective harmony may shape cultural contestation."
The way you describe this theory, it seems blaringly obvious and surprising that no one else has posited it before. But I guess that's a testament to your success as a researcher and theorist to clearly describe and provide evidence for something that no one had put their finger on before.
But this raises the question: are there any techniques for implementing cultural change that are effective in cultures that value collective harmony?
Collective harmony vs self-expression: some miscellaneous reflections from a European perspective:
* things are not always how they seem...in theory in the 21st c. West, self-expression walks on stilts. But the reality is that most apolitical people (ie most people) increasingly feel that they have to keep quiet for fear of falling foul of various 'woke' pieties that have become embedded in establishment culture. This is a big subject (and one that I have written on extensively) but I trust you will know what I am talking about.
* whilst large parts of the world remain oppressively patriarchal, the idea that in Western societies feminisation has actually overshot has recently gained currency (even amongst some feminists - see below) leading to a situation in which men tend to feel more constrained about self-expression than women.
Loved reading this, a thought-provoking essay. India also presents a similar example of collective harmony. We have a saying, "adjust karo sabke saath", which translates to "adjust your own needs and accommodate other people's needs". There is something very passive-aggressive in the communication styles as well, that one should just anticipate how others would feel or perceive instead of oneself first, in my experience.
"As far as I am aware, this is an original theory of how ideals of collective harmony may shape cultural contestation."
The way you describe this theory, it seems blaringly obvious and surprising that no one else has posited it before. But I guess that's a testament to your success as a researcher and theorist to clearly describe and provide evidence for something that no one had put their finger on before.
But this raises the question: are there any techniques for implementing cultural change that are effective in cultures that value collective harmony?
Collective harmony vs self-expression: some miscellaneous reflections from a European perspective:
* things are not always how they seem...in theory in the 21st c. West, self-expression walks on stilts. But the reality is that most apolitical people (ie most people) increasingly feel that they have to keep quiet for fear of falling foul of various 'woke' pieties that have become embedded in establishment culture. This is a big subject (and one that I have written on extensively) but I trust you will know what I am talking about.
* whilst large parts of the world remain oppressively patriarchal, the idea that in Western societies feminisation has actually overshot has recently gained currency (even amongst some feminists - see below) leading to a situation in which men tend to feel more constrained about self-expression than women.
Rather than make this comment an over-lengthy one I will just link to these two essays in which I elaborate on the above themes: https://grahamcunningham.substack.com/p/shall-we-dance https://grahamcunningham.substack.com/p/life-in-the-shadows-of-metoo
https://spartacus.app/
Perhaps this tool will be very useful if you want to rebel in a collectivist society
Mandatory corruption? Or conscription?
Thank you!! Now corrected.