Notes on Socialization and the social construction of self and identity

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Sociology Classwork

Pg.46-50

Socialization and the social construction of self and identity

Identity is something that is socially constructed.

Identity is not something that is given by biology or nature

        e.g.  Being black or white, female or male, only have significance in society because people attach some importance to these characteristics, and define people in terms of these categories.

There is a close link between culture, identity and socialization.

        The Socialization process passes them both on generation to generation.

Jenkins (1996) argues that identities are formed in the socialization process.

Learning the culture of a society involves learning the roles, or patterns of behaviour, that are expected by individuals in different positions in society.

Through meeting other people, individuals learn to know what they can expect from others, to have a particular view of themselves, and also learn about how others see and define them.

Theoretical approaches to the roles of socialization in the formation of culture and identity

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Structural approaches:

Adopt from a macro approach 

Structural approaches see identities formed by the wider social forces making up social structure of society

Individuals are seen like puppets or programmed robot, who are socialized and manipulated by social institutions.

Criticisms of structural approaches:

Individuals are seen as puppets- this is what Garfinkel (1984) called ‘cultural dopes’- controlled by the social structure with little input from the individual.

Structural approaches don’t like to recognise that individual have free will, and have a role in carving out their own identities, being with others.

Social action approaches:

Adopt from a micro approach

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