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Identity (SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM (Action Theorists who explore the way…
Identity
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
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Herbert Mead argued that a central characteristic of human beings is that we have self-identity, a sense of who and what we are.
This self-identity is built up through the process of interaction. Cooley referred to this as the looking glass self, as we see ourselves reflected in the reactions of others.
According to the labelling theory an individuals' identity will be strongly shaped by the labels others give to him or her.
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However, we do not have to be moulded by the opinions of others. Mead- I and the Me. The 'me' is a passive part of the self-identity.
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Interactionists also argue that identity can change over time, we do not have a fixed self.
Goffman- The Dramaturgical Analogy. He refers to an individual as a social actor and to others as the audience. Arguing that everyday social interaction individuals are trying to create an impression of themselves in the minds of their audience- impression management.
POSTMODERNISTS
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No pressure on identity in society, identity is chosen, flexible and ever changing.
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Rapid Social Change:
Postmodern era has a different society, largely due to changing technology.
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STRUCTUALISTS
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Identity is created and maintained through socialisation, people are passive in this process.
Identity is not fluid, flexible and negotiable but instead fixed and controlled by the society in which we live.
FUNCTIONALISTS
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We are socialised in acceptable ways of acting out our social roles through social institutions (family, school).
If we act correctly we will be rewarded not punished- legally or socially. In this sense our identity is controlled by forces beyond our control and not created on a daily basis.
MARXISTS
Marxists agree with functualists in that identity is shaped externally to the individual, however they differ in that they argue the identity of the proletariat is not formed through value consensus, or through interactions, but through ideology created by the ruling class to further thier own intrests.
The identity of the proletariat is fake and distorted, with no true sense of who we are.
Social institutions spread ideology, we think we know our place but are actually being manipulated and exploited.
FEMINISTS
Identity is formed during gender-role socialisation, the identity of a woman as submissive, passive and domesticated in comparison to men comes from patriarchal assumptions about gender roles.
Girls and boys are taught from an early age how to act appropriately for their gender and this is further reinforced in other social institutions.
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