Are you going to eat that? The Social Construction of Reality; 1SocPerspective Lesson 5

We have learned about three paradigms that influenced the beginnings of sociology as a discipline.  They were the foundations of sociology as a discipline and most of what sociologists study can be viewed through one or more of these three paradigms.  These three paradigms are also three ways of having a sociological perspective.  Other sociologists have tried to explain the sociological perspective in their own ways.  There are three other theories or ways of having a sociological perspective that are helpful and important within the discipline. 

Saliva in a spoon?  

The first theory that will develop your sociological perspective involves spitting into a spoon.  Yes, spitting. into. a. spoon.  This is a lesson first published in Teaching Sociology (2003) by Brouillette and Turner and updated in ASA's Trails.  Here is a little experiment to try:  Get a clean spoon.  Put some of your saliva in it.  Then read about all the ways all of the ways that saliva is beneficial:

Saliva continuously moistens the linings of the mouth, throat, and general bronchial area. Saliva aids in the prevention of infection in these areas. Some cold remedies, for example, so dry out the linings that the microscopic cracks in the linings often bleed and are very susceptible to infection. Also, the admonitions of parents to their children to eat slowly and chew well is not just to prevent choking on large pieces of food. The leisurely eating of food mixes saliva with the food, which shortly thereafter is blended with the gastric acids in the stomach. This compound now sets the stage for a catalytic combination of saliva, food, and gastric juices, which produces optimal digestion. The addition of an adequate amount of saliva allows the body to extract needed nutrients throughout the digestive tract. Finally, saliva offsets the possibility of too much acid in the stomach, and therefore lessens the possibility of heartburn or ulcers.

Here is the Google Form for this lesson.

1.  After reading all of the beneficial uses of saliva, would you take it back from the spoon?

Is that gross?  Why?

Sociological Literacy: What is the social construction of reality?  What is the Thomas Theorum?

Simply put, the average American will be repulsed by the idea of spitting into a spoon and then swallowing it back again.  However, we are constantly swallowing our own saliva all day long.  But we have defined a difference between saliva and spit.  Saliva is in our mouth and is not gross.  Spit has left our mouths and is gross.  But 


There is no difference between spit or saliva except for how we think about each.  But how we think about each matters greatly to how we feel about the experience.  In other words, our reality is how we experience the world. The social construction is that our society or the people around us influences how we experience the world.  Hence our experiences(reality) are created (constructed) by others (society).  This is called the social construction of reality. Spitting in different cultures or different situations (baseball) can be experienced differently, i.e. more or less acceptable.  For example, many of us have been to baseball games and watched players spit all throughout the game. We didn't get repulsed by that.

During one World Series, Reggie Jackson averaged 19 spits per at-bat! Another example is when parents or siblings use their saliva to wipe off a baby's face. We don't find that repulsive, but if a teacher even accidentally drops saliva onto a desk it becomes gross. Can you imagine a teacher who spits like a baseball player? We have been conditioned to accept spitting on the baseball field but not in a classroom.  Watching a teacher spit in a classroom would feel gross and disgusting.  This can be true for many of our experiences; feelings of happiness, sorrow, stress, worry.  Experiencing these feelings is often a product of  the society we are in and the people around us.  

Another example is spitting in other countries.  One experience I had was in visiting parts of China where spitting was much more widely accepted.  The sign posted above was on a boat in Hong Kong harbor.  Spitting was so prominent there, that they had to post a sign saying where you CAN'T spit.  The picture below is from the top of the Great Wall.  I was taking in the view away from the crowds when, in the silence and beauty of the wall, I hear a loud "hawk" from someone down below in the valley.  It was a funny moment for me, that I won't forget.  

Different types of spitting are so common that a British sociology professor spent time in different Asian countries studying the different types of spitting (2013).  

Ross Coomber, who is a professor of sociology at Plymouth University, will spend about a month visiting six Asian countries.
He said people should take historical and cultural influences into account before forming opinions about those who spit.
He added, in many nations it was an accepted part of their lifestyle.

Here is the paper published by Coomber and his team.  And here is another study in the British Journal of Cancer about the many different spitting practices around the world and some of the possible health benefits of them.  It should be noted though that some cultures find sneezing and blowing the nose in public as repulsive.  But this would not even be noticed for many people in the U.S.  The point is that each culture shapes people to feel a certain way or experience the world a certain way.  In other words, each society constructs a reality for it's members.  

The point is that people have learned what to expect from their social groups and those expectations shape how individuals react to situations.  Related to this is the Thomas Theorum which was published by the University of Chicago Professors William Thomas and Dorothy Swaine Thomas.  The Thomas Theorum says, "If people define situations as real, then they are real in their consequences."

On the graphic organizer called A Framework for Sociological Perspective, add the social construction of reality to the center of the pyramid.

"Food" as a social construction

Another example is how your society makes you feel about food.  For example, how do you feel about these recipes from Time Magazine or these from AtThirstForFirst.  How would you feel about eating mountain chicken or closer to home is this recipe for Rocky Mountain oysters.


Here is an example that you might not realize.  The Japanese would be grossed out by the typical American bathroom. In Japan, toilets are located in a different room than the shower and bath. And the Japanese shower is always separate from the bath. They see the shower for cleaning and the bath for soaking after you have cleaned. 


Another way social construction can be illustrated is in our symbols and how they shape our reaction. For example, there is a feeling that you should not walk on the Patriot.



There is no real reason why, but it is a social construct. Finally, another example is the faculty restrooms. Some of the restrooms are for individual use, which is one person at a time. These restrooms are exactly the same: one toilet and one sink. However, the rooms are labeled with "Men's" and "Women's" signs. That makes men feel weird if we use the "women's" room, even though the men's room is exactly the same. (and vice versa). The sign is a social construct that elicits that feeling.  There is a restaurant like this at Voodoo Donuts in Austin, TX.  The donuts themselves challenge our feelings about what a donut should be, but the bathroom goes even further.

2. Can you explain the theory of the social construction of reality?  

3. Can you explain, in your own words, how one of the examples above is a social construction?  Just choose one:  spit/saliva, food, bathing, bathrooms.  

Applying social construction of reality to teen-parent conflicts:

4. How is the idea of "teenager" an example of a social construction?

5. How does the article say that the idea of "teenager" gets constructed?

6. What is the reality of "teenager" to adults? To the teens themselves?                 

Applying social construction of reality to your own life:

7. Think about something from your own life; your religion, sports, fashion, or something else.  How are your feelings/experiences shaped by what you have learned from people?