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In America there used to be union halls, fraternal societies, and clubs. The decline in these things in the U.S. occurred with desegregation. I don’t know eno
by syzarian 4y ago
In America there used to be union halls, fraternal societies, and clubs. The decline in these things in the U.S. occurred with desegregation. I don’t know enough of social history to say desegregation was the cause but it certainly was a contributing factor. For instance, municipal pools used to be a thing and they were shutdown as a result of desegregation in many cities. Whatever the causes we see an increase in social isolation, a decrease in desire for municipal investment in community activities, a decline in men in universities, and other ill effects.
- vidanay 4y agoI joined a fraternal organization about 12 years ago (AF&AM) and the social and physical deterioration was blatantly obvious from the inside as well as the outside.
- ghaff 4y agoShifting gender roles probably played a part as well. I'm sure there are sitcom examples from the 50s/60s as well but look at even a show like The Flintstones. The guys are down at the lodge while the women look after the kids. Yes, it's just a cartoon, but that sort of working class lifestyle wasn't fabricated out of whole cloth. My very limited exposure to such places in recent times--for a time I played in a work softball league at a Knights of Columbus location--was that they were very past their prime.