Concept Connection
In the situation of current global socioecological crises, the dynamics of the transformative processes are examined using hegemony and symbolic interaction theories. Hegemony, as described by Antonio Gramsci, denotes the subtle, ideological control of the dominant groups exercised upon the society, forming values and norms without having to use force or violence. It is the process of advancing the values and norms of the dominant group, which may appear as natural and acceptable to the entire society.
Interactionism, a perspective within sociology, is concerned with the ways individuals actively process and interpret their social environment through interactions with others. It highlights how values and their interpretations play a defining role in people’s actions and in the society in which we live.
In my own life, in my experience of passing through higher education, I realized that it is very important to be aware of concepts like hegemony and symbolic interaction. Being a first-time college student from a working-class background, I have come across some obstacles and differences that made me realize these sociological concepts. The story of the “American Dream” was pervasive in the discourse regarding hegemony in which people’s ideas and understandings of higher education were influenced and shaped. The media often presents these stories as individuals who overcame challenges through hard work and determination, which shows that success is possible for everyone as long as there is sufficient motivation and talent. Nevertheless, it disregards the fact that the structural barriers, inequalities and biases are the factors that prevent marginalized people from getting within reach of the same opportunities. For example, some of the international students were portrayed as a hero for certain achievements in college, but the real issues that these international students face, for instance, lack of financial support and family support, were ignored by the depiction.
Additionally, symbolic interactionism also manifested itself in my college life through social interactions and the formation of social identities. When students from different backgrounds become part of a common learning environment, they then interact through intricate ways of interpreting and making meanings. For example, students would form friendships around shared experiences or culture-similarities, impacting their belonging and identity in the educational community. On the other hand, students’ encounters with teachers and classmates not only allowed them to comprehend their identity and others’, but also enable them to grow their academic and social identities.
Along with the symbolic interactionist perspective, the academic setting can be seen as a dynamic social space where people develop and make sense of their identities and roles. These encounters are influenced by the larger cultural narratives and power relations that not only emphasize the connection of personal experience and social structures but also throw light on the complicated social contexts.
Applied Research
The article titled ” From Hegemony-Reinforcing to Hegemony-Transcending Transformations: Horizons of Possibility and Strategies of Escape ” provides a comprehensive investigation of transformative processes and of coping strategies in the context of global social-ecological crises. Through the theoretical basis of hegemony and transformative dynamics, they present a complex typology distinguishing between different transformative processes, from the ones that keep the same hegemonic structures intact to the ones that go beyond them. Therefore, the aforementioned typology is used methodologically to reveal how societal structures either produce or challenge established social power relations. The article evaluates several socioecological programs, including eco-modernism and eco-feminism, to point out the need to scrutinize hegemonic influences closely and spearhead social change.
In my life scenario, the research is very important because it increases my understanding of the operation of hegemony, which is very influential in determining social structures, particularly in educational systems. The American Dream is often presented as a dominant story within modern mass media that propagates the myth of meritocracy, which implies that success can be reached only through individual effort. However, witnessing individuals from a marginalized background who are trying to pursue higher education, I am extremely cognizant of the structural hurdles that stifle equal access to academic opportunities. The paper discusses how hegemonic mechanisms work within societies by normalizing some values and ideologies and ignoring others.
Furthermore, the transformation dynamic brought about by the article exposes the patterns that subvert hegemonic power in educational settings. Through examining the strategies of eco-feminism, decoloniality, and othering, the research furthermore reveals approaches for dismantling the hegemony and bringing about more inclusive learning spaces (Hamilton and Ramcilovic-Suominen, 2023). The process of recognizing this is quite self-emancipating and always prompts me to challenge the ruling narratives in my education and consequently question the power relations that underly educational access and attainment. Hence, not only does the article help me contextualize my theoretical knowledge of hegemony, but it also gives me imperative practical tips for advocating for transformations within educational institutions.
Similarly, in the scholarly article titled ” European Symbolic Interactionalists: Reflections on Methods, Studies in Symbolic Interaction “, the author makes a significant contribution to the research on qualitative methodologies within the symbolic interactionist perspective. Although the article does not refer to symbolic interactionism in the field of higher education as such, its systematic description of field experience and thick description provide methodological tools valuable in many research settings.
The article vividly portrays the social interactions of researchers in an array of social environments, from Moroccan bars to the punk rock scene (Hartt, 2016). These multifaceted narratives highlight the complexities and challenges inherent in implementing research studies in the real world. Through meticulous account of the researcher’s encounter, it is emphasized that social interaction, meanings, and interpretations are complex, and thus, they contribute to the relevance of symbolic interactionism in the development of research methodologies.
Moreover, the article discusses the ethics and the problems that confront the researchers during qualitative fieldwork, giving a reflective lens to those researchers who sometimes experience difficulties with the intricacies of social environments. The article provides an internal contemplation of the ethical dilemmas a researcher may encounter while conducting fieldwork, delivering extremely useful ethical procedures which help the researcher further build their research methodological toolkit.
In the situation of my autobiographical case study pertaining to the accomplishment of higher education as a first-generation college student, this article represents not only a guide for me but also a methodological model that I can follow. With the chapter’s argument on how fieldwork and thick description hold the key to understanding social phenomena, the chapter’s teaching embraces symbolic interactionism’s basic principles. Such an alignment facilitates a deeper understanding of the complex social processes which take place within educational institutions, especially in deciphering the subtle interactions and the intricate assertions that shape students’ experiences and identities. Hence, the article helps me to see the relevance of symbolic interactionism in studying the diversity of higher education and how this theory can be a useful tool for scholars in the field of higher education.
References
Hamilton, Rachel Tome Valencia, and Sabaheta Ramcilovic-Suominen. 2023. “From Hegemony-Reinforcing to Hegemony-Transcending Transformations: Horizons of Possibility and Strategies of Escape.” Sustainability Science 18(2):737–48. doi: 10.1007/s11625-022-01257-1.
Hartt, Christopher Michael. 2016. “Contributions from European Symbolic Interactionalists: Reflections on Methods, Studies in Symbolic Interaction.” Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management An International Journal 11(4):302–4. doi: 10.1108/qrom-02-2016-1368.
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