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Message: <blockquote data-quote="SHARK" data-source="post: 4654911" data-attributes="member: 1131">Greetings!Wow.<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Well, while I am quite familiar with Cultural Anthropology and theories of materialism (the "Structure" at the base; materialism of primal needs and resource management, in doing what works the best and most efficiently is ultimately largely irresistable by the culture, regardless of opposition and resistance from elements of the Superstructure) that are the essential driving factors towards significant changes in society--as opposed to the "Superstructure"--(Elements that are generally the more complex, and esoteric factors on major social and cultural change, such as religion, politics, etc). Yeah, so I understand all that. I understand how for example--using an old example used by my Cultural Anthropology professor:American women proceeded to enter the work-force especially in the 1960's and continuing in the early 1970's in unprecedented numbers; this is a factual development. However, within the popular mind and general consciousness, the reasons may be many and widely debatable. My professor then made the point that among the main reasons or explanations for this great change in American culture--put forth by "Superstructural" reasoning--(1) They were all brainwashed hyper-Feminists, determined to work against the "Patriarchy"(2) Greedy women, simply overjoyed and enthralled by the vast avalanche of consumer products, technology, goods and services, and consumed with materialism;(3) Foolish and selfish women have become enamoured with the lies and deceptions of Satan, and have forgotten their faith in God, and have scorned their traditional obedience to their husbands and as fulfilling their roles as mothers and homemakers.No, none of these explanations offered by politicians, academics, journalists, or priests or preachers then or now really answers the "why factor" as well as an explanation found from Cultural Materialism--from the "Structure" base of motivation; American women entered into the economy in such unprecendented numbers because the U.S. Congress had raised taxes; the cost of living was steadily rising; and a complex of other primarily economic, work-related and materialist-related goals and factors are what drove women to enter the workforce in higher numbers.Essentially, it comes down to helping to better feed their families; paying bills and taxes that are eating up more of the husband's paycheck at a faster rate than he can earn it; broader, future goals of home-ownership, rising costs of houses, as well as funding college funds for their children. This explanation is much stronger than the others so often put forward.The professor went on to explain that with most such conflicts of change in any society, he said that a "Structural" reason would prevail more often than a "Superstructure" reason, and/or serve as a better explanation and predictor of past changes as well.Having said all that--I still think S'mon is right, though.Culture, Values, Ideals--these things are important, and do have great scope for influence as to why a society does things, and how it goes about doing them.Semper Fidelis,SHARK</blockquote>

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