Ethics refers to a collection of principles that act as a guide in deciding what behaviors are proper, good, right, or wrong. It is worth pointing out that ethics does not provide a single course of action, rather, it provides a platform for evaluating competing options. On the other hand, morals are the standards of behavior accepted within a society at a particular point in time. Despite the distinction, both concepts are used in shaping the behavior of individuals within a given society. Based on the dynamic nature of the U.S. society, its norms and traditions have witnessed a gradual change over the years. Behavior and lifestyle choices that were once normatively considered as taboo are accepted and sanctioned in the society. The gradual shift and change in the ethics and morals have been deeply hinged on the American concept of liberalism debunking the once rooted social conservativeness. As such, it is true that the basic ethics and morals of the American society have changed. In this regard, this paper seeks to provide a detailed discourse regarding the evidence of how the American society has shifted in terms of morals and ethics.
On a general perspective, the central social concepts that have been subject to the change or shift in the United States include polygamy, getting a baby out of wedlock, sex outside marriage tentatively referred to as adultery, as well as lesbian and gay relations. In a broader spectrum of the above social concepts, there has been a proliferated change towards liberal attitudes. The issues and values affected by the change have not precisely been marginalized to a particular age group or cohort of the population. From recent observations, older people aged sixty-five years and above have been seen to follow the trend just as much as the young individuals. However, the youths have been more active in the change than any other group. Essentially, the young millennials adopt new stands on the historical moral issues entrenched in the society by the forefathers, and as they age, they take with them the new values gradually replacing the older values, morals, and ethics thereby killing them off.
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In this accord, one of the significant new trends and values accepted and carried along by the millennials is acceptance of gay and lesbian relationships. According to Gallup statistics, the trends in recognition of gay and lesbian relationships have been on the rise in the last decade with high precedence on the young individuals aged between 18-34 years. Remarkably, the trend is also high and increasing in older individuals as well those aged fifty-five years and older. Deducing from the statistics, it is easily observed that not only is gay and lesbian relationships on the rampage among the young individuals but also accepted and practiced by the elderly. However, it can also be concluded that since the trend has been going on in the United States for a long time, the increasing trend in the elderly could be due to the movement of the young individuals into the older age group. Nevertheless, the upshot here is that this notion of liberalism acts as a downward force pushing individuals across all age groups to change their ethics and morals and conform to the more liberal ones.
Another push-to-shove factor that has been materialistic in the change of the American basic morals and ethics is the fact that the behaviors are happening in the real world and are no longer hypothetical like before. For instance, despite the fact that ethics on extra-marital affairs and sex outside marriage remain unchanged and widely condemned, a portion of the American society still accept and view the practice as inevitable. On the same accord, the pressure to allow this practice arises from the fact that the public observes it happening in their peers and influential individuals such as presidents, celebrities, and other important people who have a blanket influence over the public. As such, most Americans would accept the behavior despite it not being sanctioned or welcomed by the society as a norm.
A cultural shift in attitudes and ethics has also been a pivotal factor in the erosion or change in basic ethics and morals. As the society’s culture changes so does its ethics and morals. This is even evidenced in the constitution and the judicial systems. Despite same-sex relationships initially being considered wrong, they are accepted owing to the fact that the practice has been legalized and protected by the U.S. Constitution. In essence, this elaborates on the cultural shift that has swept through the American systems thereby causing a general acceptance of the practice as a norm. Moreover, the fact that the constitution protects the practice with legal jurisdictions, adamant individuals regarding the practice in the society are forced into compliance by the law. Further pressing the change is the public declaration and acceptance of the practice by national leaders as well as the mainstream media and the entertainment industry. As such, young generations grow up accepting the practice as a norm without a regard or knowledge of how or where the practice came from.
Compared to the past, very few Americans in the recent times have formal religious identities and affiliations. Looking at this issue from both a sociological and psychological point of view, the loosened grip on religion has been a driving factor in the change in morals and ethics as observed. Due to the erosion of Christian morals accruing from lack of religion, practices such as polygamy, same-sex relationships, getting children out of wedlock, and extramarital affairs have been accepted since there is no conformity to religion to keep people in check. The shift is blatantly evident that Americans themselves recognize and agree that the change in ethics and morals is getting worse within their society. As such, individuals show less regards to each other and accept taboos leading to change in family structures, dishonesty, as well as other morally unexpected vices. By accepting the changes in basic morals and ethics, other unwarranted practices are promoted and accepted.
Politics and its influence also play a pivotal role in the change of basic ethics and morals in the United States. For instance, for a candidate affiliated to a certain party such as the Republican or the Democratic Party, he or she has to abide and conform to the beliefs and agendas pushed by the party however immoral or socially unethical they are. Be they issues of racism, sexual orientation, or gun policy, the candidate has to stand by them as decreed by the party. This creates a ripple effect throughout the public whereby in electing the preferred candidate one has to accept the agendas pushed by the party at the expense of changing one’s morals and ethics. On this accord, conservative candidates pushing for moral agendas are less likely to get the nominations in an already marginalized society that has accepted some of the key behaviors. As such, since the system is designed to support and promote certain stands on moral behaviors, the change and shift in morals and ethics are further promoted.
On a general note, some of the changes and shifts have accrued from intercultural attraction whether directly or indirectly. For instance, international students interacting with the American students could influence them in terms of cultural practices or religion thereby leading to their change and shift in ethics and morals. Based on the peer pressure present among young individuals, these borrowed cultures and practices become norms and soon afterward generally accepted. All of these are hinged on the liberal phenomenon of the U.S society entrenched in even young individuals.
As such, it is recommended for religious societies to revamp their outreach and appeal to the masses on the fundamentality of morals thereby curbing the issues arising from lack of religion and its ethics. Additionally, awareness programs should be set up to educate the American society on the significance of upright morals and ethics. Ultimately, institutions should be erected to push further the agendas of morality and ethics on crucial topics such as abortion, marriage, and the importance of maintaining culture and traditions in the society.
