Social Construction in Literature & Literary Theory

Etymology of Social Construction

1. Social: The word “social” derives from the Latin word “socius,” which means “companion” or “ally.” It was later adopted into Old French as “social” and eventually entered English in the 16th century. In its modern usage, “social” refers to matters or phenomena related to society, human interactions, and communal aspects of life.
2. Construction: The term “construction” comes from the Latin word “constructio,” which means “a putting together” or “a building.” It stems from the verb “construere,” meaning “to build” or “to construct.” In English, “construction” has been used since the 14th century to refer to the act of building or assembling something.

When combined, “social construction” refers to the process by which individuals, groups, or societies collectively build or shape concepts, meanings, and understandings of reality through their shared beliefs, language, and cultural practices.

It is a concept that underscores the idea that many aspects of our reality are not inherent or objective but are, instead, products of social agreements, cultural norms, and human interactions. This term is especially significant in fields such as sociology, anthropology, and philosophy, where it’s used to examine how social phenomena like gender, race, and morality are created and maintained within society.

Meanings of Social Construction

Aspect	Meaning
Social Construction	In literary theory, social construction refers to the process by which narratives and stories are created and shaped by the social, cultural, and historical contexts in which they are produced. It emphasizes how storytelling and literature are influenced by societal norms, values, and ideologies.
Interpretive Framework	Literary critics use the concept of social construction to analyze how texts, characters, and themes in literature are constructed by society’s collective understanding and interpretation of reality. It highlights how readers’ perceptions and interpretations are influenced by their social and cultural backgrounds.
Identity and Representation	Social construction in literary theory often centers on the creation and representation of identities, including gender, race, class, and sexuality. It explores how these identities are constructed in literary works and how they reflect or challenge societal norms and stereotypes.
Language and Discourse	Language plays a crucial role in the social construction of meaning in literature. Literary theorists examine how the use of language, including metaphors, symbols, and rhetoric, contributes to the construction of cultural and social narratives within texts.
Power Dynamics	Social construction in literature theory also addresses power dynamics and how they influence the creation of meaning. It investigates how dominant social groups can impose their narratives and ideologies onto literary works, as well as how marginalized voices can challenge and subvert these constructions.
Deconstruction and Subversion	Some literary theories draw on social construction to deconstruct and subvert traditional literary and societal norms. This involves questioning and destabilizing established constructs and meanings within the literature to reveal underlying power structures and biases.
Reader Response	Social construction is relevant to reader response theories, where it highlights how readers’ interpretations of literary texts are influenced by their social backgrounds and experiences. It underscores that meaning is not fixed but is subject to individual and societal construction.

Definition of Social Construction as a Theoretical Term

Social construction, as a theoretical term, refers to the concept that reality is not an objective or inherent feature of the world but is instead shaped by human interpretations, beliefs, and societal agreements.

It posits that various aspects of our social and cultural existence, including identities, norms, and meanings, are constructed through collective human processes rather than being preexisting or universally fixed.

This perspective is central to social sciences, humanities, and critical theories, allowing scholars to examine how shared perceptions and language contribute to the formation of social realities.

Social Construction: Theorists, Works, and Arguments

Theorists:

1. Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann:
   • Key Work: The Social Construction of Reality (1966)
   • Core Argument: In their seminal work, Berger and Luckmann argue that reality is socially constructed through a process they describe as “institutionalization.” This involves individuals and society collectively agreeing upon and reinforcing particular meanings and interpretations of the world. They also emphasize “legitimation,” where these constructed realities gain authority and are accepted as the norm.
2. Michel Foucault:
   • Key Works:
     • The Order of Things (1966): In this book, Foucault examines how knowledge systems and classifications change over time, shaping our understanding of the world.
     • Discipline and Punish (1975): Foucault discusses how power is exercised through institutions and how they construct and control social categories like criminals and deviants.
     • The History of Sexuality (1976-1984): Foucault explores how sexual identities and norms have been constructed and regulated throughout history.
   • Core Argument: Foucault’s work highlights the role of institutions and discourses in shaping knowledge, power, and social categories. He argues that these constructs are not natural but are produced and maintained through social practices and historical contexts.
3. Judith Butler:
   • Key Works:
     • Gender Trouble (1990): Butler challenges the binary understanding of gender and argues that gender identity is performative. People continually enact and construct their gender through social and linguistic practices.
     • Bodies That Matter (1993): Butler expands on her ideas from “Gender Trouble” by examining how the materiality of the body is constructed through cultural and social norms.
   • Core Argument: Butler’s central argument is that gender is not a fixed biological category but rather a social construct. She emphasizes the performative nature of gender, suggesting that individuals create and enact their gender identity through repeated performances and societal expectations.
4. Thomas Kuhn:
   • Key Work: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962)
   • Core Argument: Kuhn’s work focuses on the philosophy of science and argues that scientific knowledge does not develop linearly. Instead, it progresses through periods of normal science within dominant paradigms and undergoes revolutionary changes when existing paradigms are challenged and replaced by new ones. Kuhn’s theory highlights how scientific reality is constructed within the context of dominant scientific paradigms.

These theorists have made significant contributions to the understanding of social construction by examining various facets of human experience, including knowledge, power, identity, and reality. Their works emphasize the role of social, cultural, and historical contexts in shaping and constructing these aspects of human existence.

Social Construction and Literary Theories

1. Reader-Response Theory: Social construction is highly relevant to reader-response theory, which focuses on how individual readers construct meaning from literary texts. Readers bring their own cultural and social contexts to their reading, influencing their interpretations of characters, themes, and symbols. This theory emphasizes that meaning in literature is not fixed but is actively constructed by readers.
2. Feminist Literary Theory: Feminist literary theory often draws on the concept of social construction to analyze how gender roles, identities, and expectations are constructed in literature. Feminist scholars examine how literature reflects and perpetuates societal norms and stereotypes related to gender, and they seek to deconstruct and challenge these constructions.
3. Postcolonial Literary Theory: Postcolonial theory explores the social and cultural construction of colonial and postcolonial identities. It examines how literature reflects the power dynamics and hierarchies inherent in colonial systems and how these constructions continue to affect postcolonial societies. Social construction plays a crucial role in understanding how colonial narratives shape perceptions of identity and culture.
4. Queer Theory: Queer theory challenges socially constructed norms of sexuality and sexual identity. It examines how literature can subvert or reinforce conventional constructions of gender and sexuality. Queer theorists analyze how characters and narratives can disrupt or conform to heteronormative norms, emphasizing the fluidity and complexity of sexual identities.
5. Critical Race Theory: Critical race theory applies the concept of social construction to race and racial identities in literature. It investigates how literary texts reflect and perpetuate racial hierarchies and stereotypes. Scholars in this field examine how narratives construct and deconstruct racial identities and how literature can be a tool for challenging racial inequalities.
6. Marxist Literary Theory: Social construction is relevant in Marxist literary theory when analyzing how literature reflects and critiques the social and economic structures of society. Marxist critics examine how literary works can either reinforce or subvert the dominant ideologies and class structures present in society.
7. Deconstruction: Deconstructionist literary theory, influenced by philosophers like Jacques Derrida, focuses on the instability and indeterminacy of language. It often challenges the notion of fixed meanings and highlights the socially constructed nature of language and its role in literature.

Social Construction in Literary Criticism

Work	Social Construction Critique
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee	In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee critiques the pervasive social construction of race and class in the 1930s American South. The novel highlights the deeply ingrained racial prejudices and stereotypes constructed by society, particularly through the unjust trial of Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell. This critique underscores the constructed nature of racial hierarchy and the profound injustices it perpetuates.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath	Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar offers a poignant critique of the social construction of mental illness and gender roles in the 1950s. The novel explores how these societal constructs affect the protagonist, Esther Greenwood, as she grapples with her identity and mental health in a society that imposes strict expectations on women’s behavior and stigmatizes discussions about mental well-being. The portrayal of Esther’s struggles in a psychiatric institution emphasizes how society constructs notions of normality and deviance in mental health.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez	Gabriel García Márquez’s epic novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude, delves into the intricate social construction of reality and history in Latin America. Through characters like José Arcadio Buendía and Aureliano Buendía, the story blends magical realism with a critique of power, politics, and societal norms. It illustrates how history is profoundly shaped by the dominant societal constructs, including political power and patriarchy, and how these constructs perpetuate cycles of violence and instability in the region.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald	In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald explores the influence of societal constructs, including wealth, status, and the American Dream, on characters like Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, and Daisy Buchanan in the context of the 1920s. The novel provides a critical examination of how these societal constructs lead to disillusionment and moral decay, as exemplified by Gatsby’s extravagant parties, Nick’s observations, and Daisy’s longing for material wealth.

In these literary works, social constructionism serves as a lens through which we can analyze how societal norms, expectations, and power structures shape the lives and choices of characters. This, in turn, leads to the development of themes and messages within the stories, revealing how literature can effectively convey the constructed nature of our world and its profound impact on individuals and society.

Suggested Readings

1. Berger, Peter L., and Thomas Luckmann. The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge. Anchor, 1966.
2. Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. Routledge, 1990.
3. Foucault, Michel. The Order of Things: An Archaeology of the Human Sciences. Vintage Books, 1994.
4. Gergen, Kenneth J. The Saturated Self: Dilemmas of Identity in Contemporary Life. Basic Books, 1991.
5. Goffman, Erving. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. Anchor Books, 1959.
6. Haraway, Donna J. Simians, Cyborgs, and Women: The Reinvention of Nature. Routledge, 1991.
7. Hacking, Ian. The Social Construction of What? Harvard University Press, 1999.
8. Law, John, and John Hassard. Actor Network Theory and After. Wiley, 1999.
9. Wacquant, Loïc. Body & Soul: Notebooks of an Apprentice Boxer. Oxford University Press, 2004.
10. West, Cornel. Race Matters. Vintage Books, 1994.