Madison Whitmer

English 1
David Turley
December 21, 2016
Individulism vs. Collectivism
Ever since society was created there has been the decision to either focus on him/her as
an individual or sacrifice personal beliefs and needs to help others and society as a whole. As an
individual there is the freedom to solely be an independant person without care and, without
rules. Collectivism is the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in
it. Being apart of society means that the person must give up their needs, values, and views for
the greater good. Individualism is a social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over
collective or state control, by definition. A society based off collectivism does not allow people
to adopt their own thoughts and views, and holds the minds of individuals constraint.
Individualism can help pursue more flexible and open opportunities for people. Education
is an extremely important quality in today's world, and people who are under a dictatorial rule
which is what most collective societies come to at some point, don't get to learn and experience
this wonderful thing. Saudi Arabia is a prime example of a collective society, by restricting
women from basic human rights. Saudi Arabia has twenty-nine different laws that limit women's
economic opportunities. Not allowing women to have an education/ have a job is an extremely
disgusting act upon the world. About 155 countries have at least one law that limits womens
economic opportunities, while 100 states put restrictions on the types of jobs women can do and
eighteen allow husbands to dictate whether their wives can work at all. Individualism allows you
to better yourself through more opportunities, and without fear of the higher power taking

something away from the people. Animal farm, Harrison Bergeron, and The Giver are all
dystopian novels that share the same themes of powerful government with collective ideas, that
are bad for people as the end result. Weve also seen it through history that collectivism always
causes problems such as Nazi Germany, Russia, Italy when under the power of Mussolini.
Individualism allows everyone to get the recognition the deserve. It allows people to be
who they are with their own uniqueness, and not follow what everyone else is doing.
Collectivism forces people to be something they aren't so they can fit better with society. The
unoriginality makes people's lives seem boring, and routine. Not allowing society to dictate
people into someone they aren't is so important in today's world, because it can be very easy to
get swept up with society and follow what everyone is doing to seem more pleasing to the eye
from the view of others. If we allow society to continuously tell us what to do, and how to live
our lives we will be walking round like toy soldiers just waiting for our next order. Individualism
allows minds to be free and not worry about miniscule things that don't matter.
Collectivism can have its pros such as chaos can be more controlled, and there would be
more of an order to things, however when there is so much control over the society there is a
chance just like in the short story Harrison Bergeron that someone will realize how much
power is being held over them and rebel. The dictatorship never benefits the people and only
restrains people from doing things that might not help society. Collectivism is a very selfish act
among the people. It tricks people into thinking they are being helped but that isn't true. People
are constantly being lied to and held restraint from the rights that people deserve. With a
collective society nothing will fully be under control, and kept in order.
Society does not make it possible for individualism to thrive as much as it should be able
to. So many restraints are held to not allow people to think freely. People deserve to have the

right to believe what they want, and be who they are as an individual. As Ayn Rand said, You
would be surprised how quickly the ideologists of collectivism retreat when they encounter a
confident, intellectual adversary. Their case rests on appealing to human confusion, ignorance,
dishonesty, cowardice, despair. Take the side they dare not approach; appeal to human
intelligence.

Works Cited
@ObjectiveStndrd. "Individualism vs. Collectivism: Our Future, Our Choice - The Objective
Standard." The Objective Standard. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.
Callero, Peter L. Myth of Individualism: How Social Forces Shape Our Lives. Lanham: Rowman
& Littlefield, 2013. Print.

"The Education System in North Korea." Studycountry. Web. 18 Dec. 2016.

Ford, Liz, and Mark Anderson. "Women's Prospects Limited by Law in 155 Countries, Finds
World Bank Study." Women's Rights and Gender Equality. Guardian News and Media, 09
Sept. 2015. Web. 18 Dec. 2016.
M1776, Mark. "Individualism vs. Collectivism: Our Future, Our Choice." Individualism vs.
Collectivism: Our Future, Our Choice. 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.
Vonnegut, Kurt. Harrison Bergeron. New York: Mercury, 1961. Print.