The term symbolic interactionism was coined by Herbert Blumer to describe a distinctly different theoretical approach to sociology than the predominant orthodoxies of the day. The symbolic interaction perspective has come to be one of the principle frameworks of sociological theory. From the symbolic interaction perspective, we come to understand the social world through an understanding of the symbolic meanings that people develop and depend upon in the process of social interactions. Symbolic interactionism is rooted in the assertion that individuals act according to their interpretation of the meaning of their world (Blumer 1962). Sociology, from a symbolic interactionist perspective, should attempt the interpretive understanding of social
…show more content…
All of my days consist of various interactions that can be seemingly mundane and anonymous and other interactions which may be prolonged and deeply personal. However, in all of these actions, interpretations of my actions are being made by others, along with my attachment of a subjective meaning to the various interactions. My days routinely begin with coffee and conversation with my husband enjoying the relative quietness of the house before the kids get up. Then, depending on the day, I am both working as a commercial real estate broker and running the day to day operations of the brokerage; or attending school in pursuit of gaining acceptance into law school, fall 2018. Regardless of the ‘role’ I am playing on any given day, I find myself in constant and perpetual interaction with strangers, family, clients, co-workers, fellow students, professors, and the far too infrequent indulgence of time with friends. I am a wife, a step-mom, a daughter, a real estate broker, a boss, a sister, a friend...and ‘white’ and female, all of which have socially constructed meaning from a symbolic interactionist …show more content…
Based on this principle, it is possible that this particular woman’s interpretation of Asian people might shift overall because social interaction is a learning experience that has the power to alter how we understand others and the world around us. It occurred to me as I sat there eavesdropping on this conversation how very different my experience is because of being white. It is probably a safe assumption for me to make that whenever I am asked, “Where are you from?” people generally are just curious to know what American city and state I was born in. The question, when posed to me, is never tied to my race or whether or not I am an immigrant in this county. My physical appearance of blonde hair, blue eyes, and light skin serve as a set of symbols that communicate information to others, which they in turn interpret and attribute meaning, I am white and therefore it is most likely that I am not an immigrant to
All of my days consist of various interactions that can be seemingly mundane and anonymous and other interactions which may be prolonged and deeply personal. However, in all of these actions, interpretations of my actions are being made by others, along with my attachment of a subjective meaning to the various interactions. My days routinely begin with coffee and conversation with my husband enjoying the relative quietness of the house before the kids get up. Then, depending on the day, I am both working as a commercial real estate broker and running the day to day operations of the brokerage; or attending school in pursuit of gaining acceptance into law school, fall 2018. Regardless of the ‘role’ I am playing on any given day, I find myself in constant and perpetual interaction with strangers, family, clients, co-workers, fellow students, professors, and the far too infrequent indulgence of time with friends. I am a wife, a step-mom, a daughter, a real estate broker, a boss, a sister, a friend...and ‘white’ and female, all of which have socially constructed meaning from a symbolic interactionist …show more content…
Based on this principle, it is possible that this particular woman’s interpretation of Asian people might shift overall because social interaction is a learning experience that has the power to alter how we understand others and the world around us. It occurred to me as I sat there eavesdropping on this conversation how very different my experience is because of being white. It is probably a safe assumption for me to make that whenever I am asked, “Where are you from?” people generally are just curious to know what American city and state I was born in. The question, when posed to me, is never tied to my race or whether or not I am an immigrant in this county. My physical appearance of blonde hair, blue eyes, and light skin serve as a set of symbols that communicate information to others, which they in turn interpret and attribute meaning, I am white and therefore it is most likely that I am not an immigrant to