13 Surprising Ways Woke Culture Has Changed Our Society

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Woke culture has been a buzzword in modern discourse, deciding how we deal with ideas, conversations and behavior. The movement has been booted off as a call for social justice awareness and turned into a force that affects nearly every aspect of daily life. It might be something you love, or something you hate, but you cannot deny the effects of this cultural wave. Woke culture is re writing how we speak as well as what we entertain and educate ourselves.

For some, it’s a polarizing force, a needed spotlight on inequality, for others. If I had to describe it, I’d say it’s the friend who corrects you at dinner, sometimes helpfully, sometimes exhausting. Its impact is undeniable, but whether you dance with it, or you roll your eyes, it goes on. Here are some unexpected things it’s left its mark on.

Transforming Education

Schools and universities are increasingly taking up woke principles, incorporating them into teaching anti racist practice. Diverse perspectives are meant to be incorporated into updates to curriculum, and different communities are heaping praise and protests. Kids today are learning lessons their grandparents never even dreamed about.

Rethinking Holidays

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Traditional holidays have also had a makeover. In a move to recognize overlooked histories, many areas are replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Some of the traditions remain untouched, while others are changed to suit modern times.

Redefining Language

These are those days where words meant what they meant. Within woke culture, we’ve had to rethink phrases that could potentially be offensive. Things like ‘master bedroom ‘ or ‘manpower’. Instead, such words as ‘primary bedroom’ or ‘workforce’ are replacing those. It’s a good reminder of how a language reflects the values that culture places in it.

Redefining Family Dynamics

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The reimagining of traditional family structures are partly thanks to woke culture. Today, families talk openly about gender identity and sexual orientation, and make spaces where they accept. The modern family dynamic is love, not fitting in a societal mould.

Impacting Consumer Behavior

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How we buy is impacted by woke culture and customers are being motivated to support ethical brands and sustainable practices. More and more people are linking social values to their buying decisions — scrutinizing the ethics of purchases. That cup of coffee? It’s not just about taste, it’s about fair trade, and eco friendly packaging as well.

Revising History

Textbooks and place names are being reexamined under the woke lens movements. Statues of historical figures who are now considered controversial have been taken down, and curricula at many schools are being rewritten to include voices that have been left out in the past. It erases history, say those who oppose it. Those in favor say it corrects past omissions. In any case, history will never be the same again.

Influencing Corporate Culture

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Today, businesses are weighing in on subjects that would have been considered taboo. Companies are chasing woke orthodoxy from public statements on social justice to pride themed products as they vie to win over younger socially conscious consumers. However, this comes with backlash – consumers are fast to take to the opportunity of calling out perceived performative activism which has coined terms like ‘woke washing.’

Encouraging Personal Pronouns

Nowadays, it’s very popular to include pronouns in emails, Zoom names, or social media profiles. It’s not insider jargon anymore; it’s cultural norm. The shift is meant to make people feel acknowledged in any place. This is a very simple step, but creating this practice has had such a profound effect because it forces us to think about the way we use language to build inclusion.

Shifting Comedy

Comedians, in a time where humor can cross so many lines, have had to be careful. Good jokes are now scrutinized under the microscope for promoting stereotypes. It stifles creativity for some, and it’s birthplace to humor for others. A debate over where to draw the line is one that has landed Dave Chappelle and other comics in hot water.

Redefining Beauty Standards

Woke culture is shaping conventional beauty ideals and making room for other representations in media and fashion. There’s also an abundance of campaigns around the celebration of natural beauty through body positivity — and Dove is making huge strides in this sector. Mintel’s survey found that 63% of Americans think companies should show more diverse body types in their advertising.

Normalizing the Discussion Around Mental Health

Unapologetically woke culture means mental health is now a staple conversation, something that was once a taboo topic. We see celebrities and influencers openly talking about their struggles, tearing down the stigma around it and making people aware. It’s as if society finally got the memo: “It’s okay not to be okay.”

Changing Entertainment

Thank woke culture if you’ve seen movies, TV shows, even video games with more diverse casts and more inclusive storylines. Now we are having characters, who represent a wider range of gender, ethnicity or experiences in story lines. A 2021 UCLA study found that films with diverse casts outperformed those with a lack thereof at the box office. But inclusivity appears to be more than morally right; it turns out to be more financially rewarding as well.

Evolving Sports Culture

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Athletes are propagating social causes, making it something as common as sports and activism. Players have taken a knee during the national anthem, donned jerseys with social justice messaging and made other statements both on and off the field. This has created controversy, but it’s the kind which sparks crucial conversations.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.