Goffman Social Structure
Culture and social structure are very powerful aspects in today’s society. “Culture is the beliefs, customs, and arts, of a particular society, group, place, or time,” (Merriam-Webster, 1995-2014). “Social structure is the social organization of a society constituting an integrated whole,” (Merriam-Webster, 1995-2014). Culture and social structure have influenced people’s behaviors significantly to the point where we are able to see exactly how we are affected by it daily.
In Erving Goffman’s The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, he introduces what is to be called the dramaturgical approach. He used the theatrical representation of stage, actors and audience to observe and analyze the complexities of social interaction. Goffman’ article …show more content…
“The function of the cheerleader is to encourage the worship of the men—the prettiest, nicest and most lively are selected to show and encourage adoration,” (Weis 1997, Pg. #83). In this study Adams and Bettis try to offer an insight into cheerleading that shows the variety of meanings rooted in the culture of the sport. During the mid-late 1800’s and early 1900’s cheerleading was specifically for males, and females did not begin entering collegiate cheerleading until the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. Women were mostly excluded from cheerleading until the 1930s. An early opportunity to join cheerleading squads appeared when large numbers of men were deployed to fight World War I, leaving open spots that women were more than happy to fill. When the men returned from war there was an effort to push women back out of cheerleading (some schools even prohibited female cheerleaders). The debate over whether or not women should be cheerleaders went on for several decades, but eventually women began to dominate it during World War II. Back then it was culturally acceptable for men to be cheerleaders and not women, but as time went on and men started to get preoccupied with war, women began to rule the sport thus the social structure was changed leaving women to be the dominant of the
In Erving Goffman’s The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, he introduces what is to be called the dramaturgical approach. He used the theatrical representation of stage, actors and audience to observe and analyze the complexities of social interaction. Goffman’ article …show more content…
“The function of the cheerleader is to encourage the worship of the men—the prettiest, nicest and most lively are selected to show and encourage adoration,” (Weis 1997, Pg. #83). In this study Adams and Bettis try to offer an insight into cheerleading that shows the variety of meanings rooted in the culture of the sport. During the mid-late 1800’s and early 1900’s cheerleading was specifically for males, and females did not begin entering collegiate cheerleading until the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. Women were mostly excluded from cheerleading until the 1930s. An early opportunity to join cheerleading squads appeared when large numbers of men were deployed to fight World War I, leaving open spots that women were more than happy to fill. When the men returned from war there was an effort to push women back out of cheerleading (some schools even prohibited female cheerleaders). The debate over whether or not women should be cheerleaders went on for several decades, but eventually women began to dominate it during World War II. Back then it was culturally acceptable for men to be cheerleaders and not women, but as time went on and men started to get preoccupied with war, women began to rule the sport thus the social structure was changed leaving women to be the dominant of the