Introduction
Women in modern society can choose one of the two opposite worldviews to establish their values. Traditional women prioritize creating the nuclear family and supporting the patriarchal family structure. Traditional perception is often considered outdated in modern society because it is often associated with religion and supports conservative political views. On the other hand, modern women strive for equal opportunities for both genders and build their careers to be financially independent. There are many differences between traditional and modern women; however, these differences can be linked to two core aspects of women’s life: finances and political views.
Discussion
Firstly, the financial dependence on a man distinguishes traditional women, who often do not have their sources of income, from modern women who can provide for themselves. In traditional patriarchal families, the husband’s finances are the main source of the family’s income, giving men a dominant advantage (Dewan, 2019). The sole source of income should present the foundation of a family’s financial stability; however, studies show that joint earnings provide a higher level of stability and a higher quality of relationships between spouses (LeBaron et al., 2019). Moreover, financial dependency can expose women to the risks of domestic violence and limit their ability to leave the relationships (Pereira et al., 2020). The topic of women’s financial independence is widely discussed in the media. For example, the Maid series on Netflix shows how men’s willingness to provide for the family can present an attempt to increase control over a partner (Maid, 2021). The women’s need for independent income in films is often portrayed through stories of single mothers (Hustlers, 2021; Herself, 2020). Thus, the media positively portrays modern worldviews to promote women’s financial independence.
Furthermore, traditional women often support the interests of men in politics, which leaves them with no opportunities to fight for their rights. One reason modern media rejects traditional women’s values is that these views reinforce conservatism and white nationalism (Gawronski, 2019). Moreover, the traditional anti-feminist views fit all women to the same standard of femininity using negative pressure levers, which rob women of their individuality (Zahay, 2022). Many films capture the negative influence traditional women have on modern women. For example, The Help (2011) captures how traditional wives treated Black maids and supported racist stereotypes enforced by their husbands. The recent film Don’t Worry Darling (2022) suggests that behind the illusion of the ideal life of traditional wives lies a horror in which women are forced to live in a golden cage (Hendy, 2022). Therefore, while modern women actively fight for gender equality, traditional women risk losing their rights because they support men’s views.
Lastly, the recent trend of the popularity of traditional femininity aesthetics can also be linked with the negative influence of capitalism and the excessive promotion of feminist values. Thus, it appears that many women consciously reject the values of feminism, justifying it as the manifestation of freedom of choice (Kelsey-Sugg, and Marin, 2021). However, a deeper examination of reasons women switch to traditional values determines that their actions are sourced from the rejection of capitalism (Iovine, 2022). Capitalism prevents women from being housewives because they cannot afford it financially. Furthermore, capitalism forces women to work more because they also have to do household chores after work (Thomas, 2020). Experts connect women’s transition to traditional values with burnout in work/life balance (Froio, 2022). Thus, financial independence presents the main difference between traditional and modern women.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this essay explored the core differences between traditional and modern women. The essay initially proposed that financial independence and freedom of political views distinguish traditional women from modern. However, after examining the recent trend of the switch to traditional values in women, the essay defined that the desire to be financially independent presents the main difference between modern women. Moreover, the trend shows how economic conditions in the country can force women to shift to traditional values.
Reference List
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