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Social construction of reality and persistence of inequalities
Cory Roberts
Syracuse University
December 10,2017
Abstract
This paper consists of three main aspects of sociology that is: the social construction of reality which covers the media and social identities (primary sites) particularly the meaning of the social construction of reality, how social reality is structured by race, gender, sexuality and class and how they act like structures. The first aspect also defines the sources of power and inequality in U.S, the nature of gender, class, race/ethnicity and sexuality in the creation, maintenance and perpetuation of inequality; how social differences contribute to inequality on basis of gender, race, class and sexuality and the role of media in the social construction of reality. It also includes how globalization and capitalism contribute to inequality and social identity and the role of intersectionality in wealth, power and inequality. All these are discussed in the paragraphs below.
The social construction of reality through two construction sites
(The Media and Social Identity) Social construction of reality is the idea
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The journalism of the citizens and the private ones normally agree on the relevance of the news of the social construction of reality after which the agenda of the construction of reality. (Owen, Well and Pollock, 2017) The journalists collect the reports and frame the context of the ideology of construction of reality. The concept of ideology encompasses the policy and culture which represent the image that will be produced for individual pictures, the world and formulate their
Ideology is created by the double-movement of idealization and desire. The model, the idealized Capitalist figure for the self, creates its own ideological structure as a means to selfing, as an objectified desired on the official apparatus of the communication and creation of Capitalist ideology, the television screen:
The Social Construction Theory is defined as the event of individuals and or groups perceive real life events and objects and put a meaning to them. Social construction is an ongoing process and views can be modified because the concept is relying upon the communication from one person to another and different people can interpret things differently. One way society has constructed ideas is with animals. Throughout history people have created stories using animals as characters and those stories were passed down from generation to generation. Those stories can influence how people feel about the actual animals.
Social constructionism was the theory described by Joel Best that explains how things in life become controversies or problems. The ways in which society thinks about situations and uses categories to analyze events in the world structures experiences and understandings of these events. Humans look at events beyond an objectivist approach, and instead subjectively, affected by the framework in which one lives. The social constructionist theory can be used to look at the relationship between science and the people that it serves, illustrated in Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.
Social concepts are mental constructs that represent people in a simplified form, such as the idea of a social class, differences between groups due to culture, power, or other characteristics. However, concepts may be operationalized or abstract, whereby
In social construction of reality, we shape our beliefs and ideas because our social group beliefs on those ideas. The society creates its own definition of reality, and imposes rules for all individuals of the group. Communication is the essential tools for maintenance of the social structure. Our society for example, has the same jointly build ideas of the world, but other society in china for example has another group of ideas of the world. This is social construction of reality.
To start with an overview of social constructionism in very general terms leads to build understandings of child and childhood in a social world more explicitly. Notion of social construction is defined in diverse disciplines and instead of generating a description there are a number of thoughts. “It is sometimes called a movement, at other times a position, a theory, a theoretical orientation, an approach; psychologists remain unsure of its status (Stam 2001, p. 294)”. Vivien (1995, p. 10) points the origin of social constructionism stems from two to three hundred years ago in the period of enlightenment, modernism and postmodernism. By all means, Berger and Luckmann’ (1966) book The Social Construction of Reality as a first book have a title of “social construction” has influential contributes in recent studies (Hacking, 1999). In this book, questioning everyday life realities and giving examples from it, shows the importance of social relations and language that we used. Hacking’ The Social Construction of What? (1999) offers up-to-date and logical instances which supports to comprehend those aspects. He listed a number of things to be socially constructed and X as a generic label is used by him to work things as they are. First X does not exist or it is not generated by any natural thing then X existed by history, social interactions and with similar things. He discussed all too often after this process, using theory of social construction results in to change or destroy X render ‘normalisation’. Gender is one of the good examples that he gave which always come to mind whether it is constructed or not. Put it in a simple way, when X is gender; inequalities between men and women caus...
Throughout lecture 5-9b we get introduced to Social Inequalities and explore the opportunities and rewards that are disbursed to groups and individuals. Trying to understand inequality patterns based on different varieties of sources. Through these lectures we focus how sociologist define social class, gender, age, region, race, and ethnicity. We also began to learn about the variables that affect someone’s access to opportunities and resources. We have explored how those resources and available opportunities are closely connected to the theory Structural functionalist by looking at the privilege and power in a society. Another important aspect is the study of Social stratification, which is an understanding of how those patterns of inequalities are maintained and challenged. We should have a basic understanding of how societies differ based on inequalities that they show and different varieties of inequalities that come together and reinforce one another. By that, this section is dissect how race, classs, gender, and age come together through structure of a society. Throughout these we also take a look at deviance and conformity. We get up close to the sociological definition of deviance, and emphasizing the importance its social reaction in societies. We begin to understand what forces society to allow or even encourage breakdowns of social order and disorganization of socialization and social control. By that, this section is dissect how race, class, gender, and age come together through structure of a society. We have been taught to answer questions like: what actions are defined as actually threatening to social order or deviant and who get to be the judge? Also what sorts of things lead to individuals to “deviant actions” a...
how we were raised, what believes that were instilled into us and how other might view or perceive us. This matters in the study of social problems, because it allows us to understand the individual or group of people. An example of something that is socially constructed is a wealthy man purchases organic locally grown fish food for his pet fish, when he checks out the cashier, who makes $6 an hour makes note the man is spending $50 on fish food and thinks to themselves, WOW! This fish is going to eat better than me. The man thinks to himself, I am taking great care of my fish and everyone should feed their fish this food. The cashier thinks, his man is wasteful with his money and has no sense of
The term social construction is the understandings childhoods are not the same everywhere and that while all societies acknowledge that children are different from adults, how they are different and what expectations are placed on them, change according to the society in which they live and what culture they are born in to. Every individual child goes through emotional changes that occur between birth and adolescence. A Childs development is impacted by the environment and nurture during this course. For example having both parents can add stability to the child’s life which encourages a healthy development. As opposed to being raised by one working parent who can’t provide the child with the same amount of time a two parent family can which some may argue impacts the child’s progression. Social construction of childhood and youth is how culture dictates the way people act and treat children and the way this impacts their adulthood. Ideas about children and childhood
There are three main theories of sociology; functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism. This paper will focus on two of those theories, functionalism and conflict theory. The objective is to delineate the assumptions of two out of the three theoretical perspectives and apply these assumptions to an analysis of social stratification. How this will be accomplished will be by comparing and contrasting their assumptions and by analyzing the two theories affect on social stratification. Then I will state my opinion on which of the two better fits my personal sociological views. Functionalism is many people's way to view the world sociologically. It states clearly that the objectivity of the researcher is necessary and can be accomplished. There are three main points, which make up a functionalist theory on sociological expression. The first point is that culture is made up of interacting, interdependent parts. Each of these parts has a function in maintaining the society as a system on the whole. The second point states that shared values and expectations(or beliefs) among the members of the society help hold the society together. The third point states that these systems have a need for stability and a need to try to keep all the parts working together congruously in a sort of system. Social change in this system is uncommon, and when it does happen, it is a very gradual change. Conflict theory is centered on the tension, or struggle that goes on in everyday life. There are many different parts, which make up the conflict theorist's view on the sociological perspective. The first main part is that society promotes general differences in wealth, power, and prestige. Wealth...
The Impact of Sociology of the Social Divisions Examine critically some of the ways in which the sociology of the
One way in which government achieves this objective, is by its ability to misuse the media’s ability to set the agenda. Contrary to popular belief, media is in fact an enormous hegemony. In fact, separate independent news organizations do not exist. Rather than creating an independent structured agenda of their own, generally lesser smaller news organizations adapt to a prepared agenda, previously constructed by a higher medium. Based upon this information alone, it is quite apparent that media functions in adherence to the characteristics of a hierarchy.
One of the ways through which social constructs are developed is through the approach to sacredness and or profanity. People with similar views of sacredness and or profanity develop social association due to the similarities birthed in their undertakings. Profanity and sacredness are important elements through which the world is understood. In its simplest definition, the term social construct refers to the manner through which social groupings are formed because of jointly constructed definitions and understandings of the society and the world at large. Social construction assumes that definition, meaning, understanding, and significance are not only shared, but also developed in a societal setting as opposed to a secluded or individual
Numerous sociologists have contributed to research society and social interactions. In other words, society has been studied through how humans interact and shape their environment. There are many developed theories and different approaches for these findings, and sociologists have helped us understand the ways society functions. Amongst their many findings is that we construct reality through our interactions with others. This is also known as the social construction of reality, which is defined as different social behaviors, patterns and rules, influencing the human perception of reality. Social behaviors, like ethnocentrism and cultural relativism, plays a role in human behavior. Understanding, significance, and meaning are developed not