Sociology - how are identities formed?

Acknowledges significance of social structures in shaping every day practices.

Situatates everyday interaction within wider systems of social relations.

Is there more to performance than merely reflecting a social role?

'Habitus' Pierre Bourdieu(1930-2002)

'A system of lasting transposable dispositions, which, integrating past experiences, functions at everymoment as a matrix of perceptions, appreciations, and actions makes possible the achievement ofinfinintely diversified tasks.

Habitus will tell us something about the class structure. How we behave, look, and what our tastes are.Not social roles as such.

Habitus is not just a habit. Habitus is 'history turned into nature', and it is also unconscious, we do itnaturally.

The body and its dispositions carry markers of social construct. Most indisputable materialism of socialstructures (particularly class) is habitus.

and ... different habitus do have different symbolic values.

Even though we may think of ourselves as individuals, we are still strongly influenced.

relational

social

embedded in power relations

identities are relational and contextual

Face to face interaction

Impression management

Dramaturgical approach,performance = drama.

Props and stage. As if we're acting.

We are our own branding company.

Self is not a given

Develops as individuals as a result of social experiences

We carry on a whole seriesof different relationship to different people.

Significant others: e.g family, boyfriend, tutor.

Generalisable others: social positions, not individuals, e.g doctor, customer, etc.

Shape interactions in every day life.

Sheds light on techniques we are little aware of in producing selves.

Counteracts determinism of sociological tradition.

Reveals flexibility of self.