THIS country has tried — unsuccessfully — to evade globalisation. However, the technological era, especially the internet, means we must deal with the delayed effects of globalisation.

As mediums such as the social media and the electronic media become dominant, our traditions are facing its consequences. French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu gave the concept of habitus, which refers to the physical aspect of cultural capital, socialised habits and the characteristics we acquire due to our experiences: indicators such as food, music, films, clothes and house decoration help in determining this habitus.

This theory stands true if we observe the Pakistani youth of today. The use of Whatsapp, Facebook and Instagram every hour is common. Eating out regularly or ordering fast food is not for special occasions any more; clothing trends have also changed. These changes have slowly integrated into Pakistani culture. It was earlier thought that traditional roots could not easily be broken; the clear effects of the media have shown that this is not true.

Khedija Suhail

Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2018