Dimensions of Difference - Construction, Power, and Agency (CDP)
Dimensions of Difference: Construction, Power, and Agency
Social Construction & Socialization
Dimensions of difference: are often value-neutral but acquire value due to social meanings assigned to them.
Social Meanings: Not always consistent; arise from negotiations of various messages (Baxter, 2011).
Example: Older adults perceived variably as wise and esteemed vs frail and forgettable.
Social Construction: Process of collectively assigning meanings to differences.
Example: Societies' norms for relationships (monogamous relationships as standard).
Common family perception: nuclear family with two heterosexual parents and biological children.
Media largely depicts families fitting this prototype.
Importance of context: Meanings ascribed can change depending on the circumstances.
Example: People's experiences in single-parent households may differ from societal messaging about them.
Historical and geographical contingencies: Meanings are not static and can change over time.
Stigmatization of Fatness: Increased stigma in the U.S. at the turn of the 20th century; non-Western societies had different associations with fatness (Stearns, 1997; Brewis et al., 2011).
Dimensions of difference can influence access to resources, power, and inclusion; termed social identities.
Impact on inequality arises not from the identities themselves, but from the meanings assigned.
Agency of Meanings: These meanings are treated as if they are true with tangible consequences (Bell, 2016).
Example: Social constructionist lens on disability suggests disability is the interaction with the environment, not merely a physical state.
Example: One may not walk in a society designed to accommodate non-walkers, resulting in no disability experience in this context (Osiguy et al., 2016).
Impact of Body Size Stigmatization: Dramatic societal implications, affecting hiring practices, perceptions of intelligence, pay disparities (Manne, 2024).
Fatphobia: Seen as a structural phenomenon; change in societal norms needed for true accommodation of all body sizes (Manne, 2024).
Socialization Processes
Socialization: Described as a way to understand both structure and agency (Darmon, 2024).
Messages about differences are embedded in society, cannot merely be willed away.
Systemic Training: Harro (2010) describes how we receive training on how to navigate social identities:
Reinforced by relationships, culture, institutions.
Example: Gender binaries reinforced by family, schools, media.
Often, interactions create assumptions about intelligence based on location (urban vs. rural).
Ongoing Process of Socialization: Reinforces meanings through personal actions and messages shared via media/socialization.
Example: Political affiliations can be perceived differently across the spectrum; affec=tive polarization reinforces distrust between parties (Druckman et al., 2021).
Counter-attitudinal messages may reduce polarization by exposing individuals to various viewpoints (Levy, 2020).
Positive and Negative Influences of Socialization:
Example: Socialized roles in childcare vs. its empowerment for women.
Questions for Reflection
Reflect on a dimension of difference you hold and its varying meanings across contexts.
Examine different social meanings that are relevant to your life versus others’ perceptions.
Analyze social meanings learned through socialization and their influences on actions and beliefs.
Power Dynamics in Dimensions of Difference
Analyzing Power Dynamics: Understanding power related to dimensions of difference enhances society's understanding.
Dominant Narratives: Narratives that maintain existing power structures (Adams & Zúñiga, 2016).
Example: Beliefs that legitimize inequality; not all dominant narratives reinforce inequality.
Example: Counter-narratives may challenge or reinforce inequality based on context.
Levels of Analyzing Power:
Societal/Systemic Level:
Examining overarching belief systems about different identities; impacts include oppression and privilege.
Examples illustrating societal power dynamics:
Discrimination against queer individuals leading to legal sanctions.
Blame on immigrants for societal issues fueling restrictive policies.
Historical context of Black lives devalued leading to systemic inequality (Althoff & Reichardt, 2024).
Institutional Level:
Rules, policies, and norms set by institutions reflect social meanings surrounding differences.
Examples:
Employment discrimination against formerly incarcerated individuals.
Educational calendars centered around Christian holidays.
Medical neglect of menopause in healthcare training (Wolff, 2018).
Interpersonal Level:
Power interpersonal dynamics manifest in relationships; assumptions impact interactions?
Liberality versus conservativeness may affect participative dynamics in academic settings.
Dynamics of veterans connecting over shared experiences versus civilians.
Individual Level:
Power dynamics shape personal identity, beliefs, behaviors, and values.
Impact of societal messages on aspirations and self-perception (e.g., disabilities, career choices).
Questions for Assessing Power Dynamics
Consider a power dynamic based on a social identity. How does it manifest across various levels?
Policies or norms?
Interpersonal relationships?
Personal beliefs and actions?
Agency
Understanding Agency: Through comprehension of social meanings and dynamics, individuals can exercise agency.
Encourages curiosity and analysis of society’s ingrained messages about difference.
Example: Rethinking beliefs regarding political agency beyond just politicians.
Reflection and Evaluation: Challenging existing assumptions opens avenues for understanding and connection.
Collaborative exploration of social meanings enables richer understanding of complexity in society.
Example: Outreach campaigns to de-stigmatize social services have demonstrated effectiveness (Lasky-Fink & Linos, 2024).
Questions about Agency
Illuminate how dimensions of difference could hinder or foster connections in personal and organizational contexts.
Identify specific societal or institutional issues linked to social identities relevant to you and their potential for change efforts.
Resources
Center for Dialogue & Pluralism (CDP): Intended for educational use; represents intellectual property.
References
A comprehensive list of works cited throughout the notes, providing foundational texts for deeper learning and exploration of themes discussed.