Etymology of Social Constructionism
The term “social constructionism” derives its etymology from the fusion of two key concepts: “social” and “construction.” It is rooted in sociological and philosophical discourse, primarily emerging in the mid-20th century.
“Social” signifies the communal or societal context in which meaning, knowledge, and reality are believed to be created and shaped. “Construction,” on the other hand, implies the active process of building or forming, suggesting that these aspects of human existence are not inherent or objective but are instead products of collective human interaction and interpretation.
Social constructionism posits that reality, identities, and knowledge are not fixed or predetermined but are constructed and reconstructed within the framework of social, cultural, and historical contexts, challenging notions of objectivity and universal truth.
This perspective has profoundly influenced fields such as sociology, psychology, anthropology, and gender studies, offering a critical lens through which to examine the dynamic interplay between society and the construction of human experiences and understanding.
Meanings of Social Constructionism
| Aspect | Meanings |
| Narrative Perspective | Examines how storytelling shapes our understanding of reality in literature. |
| Character Identity | Explores how characters’ identities are influenced by societal norms and context. |
| Power Dynamics | Analyzes power structures within narratives and their reflection of broader hierarchies. |
| Representation and Stereotypes | Focuses on how literature portrays individuals and groups, challenging or reinforcing stereotypes. |
| Identity and Marginalization | Explores the impact of societal constructs on marginalized groups, addressing race, gender, and more. |
| Deconstruction and Reconstruction | Questions the stability of meaning in texts, revealing the role of social constructs in interpretation. |
| Authorial Intent | Challenges the idea that authors’ intentions dictate meaning, emphasizing reader interpretation. |
| Reader-Response Theory | Acknowledges readers’ role in constructing meaning, influenced by their social context and experiences. |
| Intersectionality | Considers how multiple social constructs intersect to shape characters and themes in literature. |
| Critique of Norms | Offers a critical lens to question and critique societal norms in literary narratives. |
Definition of Social Constructionism as a Theoretical Term
Social constructionism is a theoretical framework that posits that reality, knowledge, and meaning are not inherent or objective but are socially and culturally constructed. It asserts that individuals and societies collectively shape their understanding of the world through shared language, symbols, and beliefs. Social constructionism highlights the influence of social, historical, and cultural contexts in shaping perceptions, identities, and the interpretation of phenomena.
Social Constructionism: Theorists, Works and Arguments
| Theorist | Key Work | Key Argument |
|---|---|---|
| Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann | The Social Construction of Reality (1966) | Individuals collectively create and maintain their shared reality through socialization and symbolic interaction. Society shapes perceptions and constructs knowledge in cultural and social contexts. |
| Judith Butler | Gender Trouble (1990) | Challenges fixed notions of gender, arguing that gender identity is constructed through performative acts. Society and language play a pivotal role in shaping and contesting gender roles and identities. |
| Michel Foucault | The Order of Things (1966) | Emphasizes the historical and cultural construction of knowledge and power. Investigates how societal structures influence our understanding of reality and how power shapes language and meaning. |
| Kenneth J. Gergen | The Saturated Self (1991) | Explores the idea that the self is constructed through interpersonal relationships and communication. Identity is shaped by interactions with others, highlighting social interconnectedness. |
| Erving Goffman | The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (1959) | Investigates how individuals construct and perform identity through impression management in various social contexts. Emphasizes the performative aspects of identity presentation. |
Social Constructionism and Literary Theories
1. Postmodernism:
- Connection: Postmodernism and social constructionism both challenge the notion of fixed, objective truth.
- Relevance: Postmodern literary theories emphasize that reality, including language and meaning, is socially constructed. Social constructionism aligns with postmodernism in highlighting the fluidity and constructed nature of reality and language. Literary works in this context often explore the instability of meaning and the deconstruction of established narratives.
2. Feminist Literary Theory:
- Connection: Feminist theory and social constructionism both examine how gender roles and identities are socially constructed.
- Relevance: Social constructionism plays a vital role in feminist literary theory by emphasizing the constructed nature of gender norms and stereotypes. It helps analyze how literary texts reflect and challenge these constructs. Feminist literature often explores how gender roles are constructed and how they impact characters, narratives, and society.
3. Queer Theory:
- Connection: Queer theory and social constructionism share an interest in exploring how sexual and gender identities are constructed.
- Relevance: Social constructionism informs queer theory by highlighting how societal constructs influence the understanding of sexuality and gender. Queer literature often challenges normative constructions of identity and sexuality, emphasizing the fluidity and socially constructed nature of these concepts.
4. Reader-Response Theory:
- Connection: Both social constructionism and reader-response theory recognize that readers play an active role in constructing meaning.
- Relevance: Social constructionism aligns with reader-response theory in emphasizing that meaning is constructed through the interaction between the reader and the text. This perspective allows for the exploration of how readers’ social contexts and experiences influence their interpretation of literary works.
5. Cultural Studies:
- Connection: Cultural studies and social constructionism share a focus on how culture shapes individual and collective identity.
- Relevance: Cultural studies often incorporate social constructionist principles to examine how cultural constructs influence literary works and characters. It explores how social norms, values, and power structures impact the creation and interpretation of literature within specific cultural contexts.
Social Constructionism in Literary Criticism
| Argument | Explanation | Example |
| Deconstruction of Binary Oppositions | Social constructionism questions binary oppositions (e.g., male/female) as socially constructed. Literary works can be analyzed to reveal how these binaries are challenged or reinforced within the narrative. | In Shakespeare’s Othello, the racial binary of black/white is deconstructed as the characters grapple with the complexities of racial identity, challenging the prevailing social constructs of the time. |
| Exploration of Identity | Social constructionism emphasizes that identity is constructed within societal and cultural contexts. Literary works often delve into characters’ identity struggles and self-perceptions. | In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, the protagonist Holden Caulfield’s search for his authentic self highlights the influence of societal norms on identity construction. |
| Gender Roles and Stereotypes | Literary works frequently address gender roles and stereotypes. Social constructionism can be applied to examine how gender identities and expectations are portrayed and questioned in literature. | In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper, the protagonist’s descent into madness reflects the confinement and oppression imposed by gender roles and stereotypes in the 19th century. |
| Narrative Perspective | Social constructionism emphasizes the role of narrative perspectives in shaping reality. Literary analysis can reveal how meaning is constructed within the text based on the choice of narrative style and perspective. | In Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, the shifting narrative perspectives of multiple characters contribute to the construction of a complex and layered narrative, allowing readers to interpret events differently. |
| Intersections of Identity | Social constructionism recognizes the intersectionality of social constructs. Literary works often explore how these intersecting identities influence characters. | In Toni Morrison’s Beloved, the character Sethe’s experiences reflect the intersection of race, gender, and motherhood, illustrating how these social constructs profoundly shape her identity and choices. |
| Challenging Social Norms | Literature frequently challenges societal norms and conventions. Social constructionism can be applied to examine how literature critiques or subverts prevailing social constructs. | In George Orwell’s 1984, the novel critiques the construction of a totalitarian society that tightly controls information and manipulates reality, challenging the social construct of a dystopian regime. |
| Authorial Intent and Reader Response | Social constructionism questions the idea of authorial intent as the sole source of meaning. Analyzing reader responses to literary works highlights the active role of readers in constructing meaning. | In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, readers from diverse backgrounds interpret the story’s themes differently, constructing their own meanings and responses, demonstrating the social construction of interpretation. |
Suggested Readings
- Berger, Peter L., and Thomas Luckmann. The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge. Doubleday, 1966.
- Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. Routledge, 1990.
- Gergen, Kenneth J. The Saturated Self: Dilemmas of Identity in Contemporary Life. Basic Books, 1991.
- Goffman, Erving. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. Anchor Books, 1959.
- Haraway, Donna J. Simians, Cyborgs, and Women: The Reinvention of Nature. Routledge, 1991.
- Hacking, Ian. The Social Construction of What? Harvard University Press, 1999.
- Law, John, and John Hassard. Actor Network Theory and After. Wiley, 1999.
- Wacquant, Loïc. Body & Soul: Notebooks of an Apprentice Boxer. Oxford University Press, 2004.
- West, Cornel. Race Matters. Vintage Books, 1994.