From the social constructionist perspective, we “build worlds” by creating a collective representation of reality. Rather than experiencing the world directly, our perception is shaped by our society and culture. Our culture determines what things are significant and how we process and respond to them.
For example, the culture in the United States often focuses on the individual rather than the community as a whole. Our culture makes individual success and individual beauty significant. This focus has had both positive and negative effects on our society. On the one hand, this focus has led to materialism and unrealistic standards of beauty and success. Many people may feel lonely and unhappy, because they do not feel that they meet these standards individually. On the other hand, there is an emphasis on equal opportunity and individual freedom that permits people to pursue the “American dream”. This has led to greater individual freedom and opportunities.
In some cultures, the community is emphasized over the individual. The culture in some countries, like Saudi Arabia, emphasizes religious and social rules over the individual. For example, the way that women behave and dress and the roles that they are permitted to play in society are restricted in ways that would be completely unacceptable in the United States. However, there is a different social construction and view of reality. People in those cultures may feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves. The culture has made this more significant than individual freedom.
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I very much agree with your statement with America being a very individualistic society. Every source of media available in America emphasizes the individual. To me this ends up turning into people trying to be individuals, but end up being the same as the next person ina failed attempt to fit in to the culture. There is also a huge emphasis on wealthiness in America that may be different in more collective societies like Saudi Arabia which you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to see what America would be like if they put more emphasis on community or spirituality like many other cultures around the world. When viewing the social constructionist perpective, it is interesting to think about how these people are influenced by the social morms of their culture.
Good Post.
You stated some really nice discrepancies on the human emotional responses towards the cultural norms and values of your examples for an individualistic and collectivist culture. It is also good that you took note of both the benefits and downfalls of each type of culture, instead of describing it in a more one-sided argument.
ReplyDeleteYou also described the social constructionist model in a significant manner when you stated about how culture determines the value of things as well as our understanding, thinking and response to these things. That is true, considering that in the US society, we widely accept that individual beauty and material possessions hold a significant place within the human mind, that the general public typically praises those within the spotlight, whether for beauty, wealth or other such things
Hi Maisy!
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you on the statement you made about America. I think many people would like to still believe in the "American Dream" but it is now overlooked because people aren't really a community anymore. Most people in America now just wanted to be individually recognized because of beauty, wealth, etc. I find this very sad. Society has been really shaped by media in America in both positive and negative ways in the past 50 plus years. And while it is important to look out for number one, you, it is also important to remember there are others in the world.