By: Erol

Erol — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:38:31 +0000

I hear and read same things in my own social context. I wonder how was the situation in the past. I mean the weight of the job in a person’s life in ancient times. I really don’t like the condition that a job occupies a central place ones lifetime. More than the job, it is the level of income that makes the things complicated. (plus the desire for higher social status through the job and income.) Recently, there is an interesting discussion going on in Turkish press. It is about the consequences of finding a satisfactory job and income that pushed the marriage age higher in our time. (the issue of late marriage due to lack of enough “financial freedom.” The core of the discussion, however, is about how the late marriage has led to the emergence of the idea self-sufficiency. The idea that ‘I am sufficient for my self both socially and physically’ is a culmination of the capitalist system of pressure and social expectations. “I need a good job that brings high income and social status to marry, If I don’t have these, then I have to work more till I become successful in my career.’ The ‘success’, for most of the people, comes in late 30s. And for the pious young people, this means the suppression of sexual urges at least 15 to 20 years more at the cost of earning economic welfare. (that is to keep chastity) This was the discussion briefly.

I think the points are valid. I am agree with observation that the late marriage trend due to high social expectations (or read as capitalist mode of production!) gives birth to solipsist personhood who views the world meaningful only if it leads to good career and high income. On the other hand, I am disagree to extent that the fight for the life needs (the whole education, work, family process etc.) is not something modern. Probably, this condition was a problem for the ancient people too.

Comments on: “Some Indians Find it Tough to Go Home Again”

By: Erol