Systems of Inequality and Social Constructivism

Social constructionism is fundamental to challenging beliefs that individuals in society hold to be true in terms of inequality due to economic, racial, and gender disparity. It is, indeed, what C. Wright Mills coined as the “power elite” that control, not only money, but power. This power includes the ability to influence large scale political decisions in the global market down to the more micro-level ideals for individual entitlement. Essentially, the idea of entitlement can be encompassed in conflict theory and is evident in corporate competition and rifts in the balance of power among individuals and states. Functionalist perspectives do not allow for the challenge of ideas and instead look at the power structure of evolutionary Capitalism as an essential part of growth and these outlooks simply break down the stages and interacting pieces to make sense of these systems. Finally, symbolic interactionism is becoming more helpful in an increasingly globalized world to demonstrate the ideas of different cultures in what is considered indigenous or Westernized and whether or not these totems of culture are acceptable or a part of a new type of Imperialism. Social constructionism, though, is by far the best lens to view

CREATED BY : JESSICA SANDRA