Social Construction of Reality, Essay Example

In the introduction to the book “The Social Construction of Reality,” the authors state that “what is ‘real’ to a Tibetan monk may not be ‘real’ to an American businessman” (Berger and Luckmann, 1966). This simple quote goes a long way towards explaining the theory that reality is socially constructed. We see the world around based on the ways we are socialized, and the rules, expectations, and behaviors of our societies. I was raised in a conservative society where there is no divide between religious culture and secular culture. The religious element of society in Saudi Arabia is a part of the entire culture, and it defines how the members of that society see the world around them. My sense of what it means to be a woman in society was shaped by my experiences there, and it has been challenging for me to adapt to the new reality of life in the United States. I am learning to accept the social reality of a different society, and facing the challenge of what that means in terms of my own consciousness and sense of self.

In the book “Introduction to Phenomenology,” the author states that “we stand out, each of us, as central, as the agents of our intentional life, as the one who has the world and the things in it given to him” (Sokolowski, 2000 ). I found this phrase interesting, because it seems to me that it is an example of the author’s socially constructed reality. We all see the world through our own eyes, but I am not sure I agree that we all see ourselves as the “agents of our intentional life.” For women raised and living in conservative religious societies, life can be very restrictive. Many women are not allowed to drive, to hold certain jobs, or even to leave the house unless they are accompanied by a male family member.  It is difficult to have a sense of intentionality about your own life if you are not allowed to do many of the things that other people, especially men, are allowed to do. The expectations for how women live their lives in these societies are all made up by men, and many women have no choice but to go along with these expectations.

The social construction of reality theory helps to explain how this sort of society can exist and function, because the people that live in this society only know this way of life. It is the reality that men and women have certain roles in these societies, and women have no way of even thinking that life could be any different. This was difficult for me when I came to the United States for my studies, because I found myself living in someone else’s reality, and I had to try to organize my personal self to fit into this new reality. The social reality that I was now in would allow me to live differently, but it was challenging because I had no way to understand this new reality. This created a lot of anxiety for me, and left me feeling out of touch with myself and the world around me.

The process of change, for me, has involved developing a greater sense of self. Women in my home country have so little freedom, and their identities as people are socially constructed according to the men in their families. Their fathers, brothers and husbands are the center of the family, and of society. In the United States the idea of individuality and self-determination is something that both men and women can enjoy. As I have started to understand how reality is shaped by society and by the processes of socialization, I have also started to realize that it is possible to change how I see myself, and to get a better sense of my own identity and consciousness. I am only at the beginning of this process, but I am glad that my eyes have been opened to the idea that reality is what we make of it, because that means I can work to make a better reality for myself.

References

Berger, P., & Luckmann, T. (1966). The social construction of reality (1st ed.). New York, N.Y.: Penguin Putnam.

Sokolowski, R. (2000). Introduction to phenomenology (1st ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.