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There is no single, true universal reality. What is “real” differs from person to person, based on one’s own ideas, circumstances, and knowledge. For example, a boy with a strict, stern father may not be happy when the father comes home. He may even try to avoid his father as much as possible. A boy with a more lenient and supportive father will be happy to see him and will eagerly seek his company. The reality of “father” for each of the boys, based on their social interactions, is quite different.
Each individual in a society has his or her own perceptions of reality, and that perception has a lot to do with social status. For example, in cultures where women have few legal rights and are not allowed to work outside the home, a wife may think she has a “good husband” simply because he does not beat her and allows her some freedom in pursuing her own interests. A wife working outside the home in an industrialized society may think she has a “bad husband” because he does not do enough housework. The way we create our own identities depends on how we create reality.
Social Construction of Reality
For centuries, philosophers and sociologists have pondered the idea of reality. Sociologists generally accept that reality is different for each individual.
The term social construction of reality refers to the theory that the way we present ourselves to other people is shaped partly by our interactions with others, as well as by our life experiences. How we were raised and what we were raised to believe affect how we present ourselves, how we perceive others, and how others perceive us. In short, our perceptions of reality are colored by our beliefs and backgrounds.
Our reality is also a complicated negotiation. What is real depends on what is socially acceptable. Most social interactions involve some acceptance of what’s going on. While we participate in the construction of reality, it’s not entirely a product of our own doing.
Example: Consider a parent in a low-income community and a parent in a wealthy suburb preparing their children for school. The low-income parent may prioritize ensuring their child has a meal before school and enough supplies to get through the day, as their reality includes managing limited resources. Meanwhile, the wealthy suburban parent might focus on selecting extracurricular activities or tutoring services to give their child a competitive edge. Both parents are shaped by their interactions and environments, and their definitions of what it means to be a ”good parent” are influenced by their economic realities.
How we define everyday situations depends on our respective backgrounds and experiences. For the low-income parent, survival and stability might be their primary goals, while for the wealthier parent, academic and personal achievement might take precedence. Each parent’s reality, shaped by their background and interactions, leads to different perceptions and priorities.
Criticisms of Social Constructionism
One major criticism of social constructionism is that it tends to downplay or overlook the role of objective realities that exist independently of human interpretation. For instance, biological processes such as aging, disease, and reproduction occur regardless of cultural or social context. Although the meanings and interpretations of these processes are socially constructed, their physical existence is not. Another critique is that social constructionism can sometimes lead to a relativistic perspective, where all views of reality are seen as equally valid, potentially undermining efforts to address systemic issues. For example, while cultural perceptions of climate change vary, the physical phenomena driving global warming exist independently of these perceptions. Critics argue that an overemphasis on socially constructed realities may detract from the importance of addressing such tangible, universal problems.
Additionally, critics argue that social constructionism may inadequately account for power dynamics and structural inequalities that influence how certain realities are constructed and maintained. While the theory acknowledges that social norms and realities are collectively created, it may not fully address how dominant groups impose their definitions of reality on others, thus perpetuating inequalities. Despite these limitations, social constructionism remains a useful framework for understanding how social interactions and cultural norms shape our perceptions of reality.
