Good Case Study On Social Interaction At The Micro Level: The Sociology Of Subjective Experience

In order for people to understand others, it is important for them to first understand and know themselves. How others treat and perceive us is often a reflection of how we treat and see ourselves. Each person in this world has their own unique sense of self, because it is through people’s experiences that they begin to discover and establish their own perception of themselves. At first, the concepts of “I” and “Me” may seem similar, but George Herbert Mead’s discussion has shed light on how these two concepts differ in the context of the society. The concept “Me” pertains to the established perception that an individual has for him/herself. “I” on the other hand, refers to our self-perception in response to the people, events, and other factors that we encounter in the society.
This difference on how people perceive themselves can be explained using Symbolic Interactionism. This concept highlights the relevance of verbal and nonverbal communication on social interactions. Through communication, people are able to establish shared meanings with each other. This is also one of the reasons for the existence of stereotypes in society, which often leads to prejudice. For example, nowadays, there are many societal norms that have been set for genders. These norms have become the standard that should be followed by men and women in the society, that when deviated would result to prejudice and condemnation. For example, women in many parts of the world continue to experience prejudice and humiliation for not being able to comply with the society’s standard for beauty. Such stereotypes have also influenced how people consume nowadays. For example, women are prejudiced for eating an equal amount of food than that of a man, and even hygiene products have been labeled with gender. Many people may take this lightly, but these stereotypes are actually the cultivating agents of discrimination in society.