Structural Symbolic Interactionism Research Articles

Family Socioeconomic Status in Adolescence and Gender Identification in Emerging Adulthood

This study contributes to research exploring social factors shaping gender identification. Informed by structural symbolic interactionism, social identity theory, and Levitt’s psychosocial theory of gender, we explore how a key aspect of external social structure—adolescent family socioeconomic status—is associated with gender identification in emerging adulthood. We examine whether correlates of family socioeconomic status, including adolescent family and educational experiences and friend and high school characteristics, are associated with a cisgender, binary transgender, nonbinary, or gender unsure identification. Using data from High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09), we find a positive association between adolescent family socioeconomic status and a nonbinary gender identification. Analyses indicate that educational and family experiences account for the largest percentage of the association between adolescent family socioeconomic status and nonbinary gender identification, potentially representing higher SES youths’ heightened access to middle- and upper-class cultural schemas and resources.

A Symbolic Interactionist Approach to Interpreter’s Identity Management

A lacuna in interpreting studies pertains to what constitutes an interpreter’s identities in social and sociopsychological contexts and how they operate, influencing the interpreter’s decision-making and behaviours at interpreting-facilitated events. In this research, two key symbolic interactionism frameworks, structural symbolic interactionism (SSI) and perceptual control theory, are drawn on to formulate a symbolic interactionist model of interpreter’s identity management (SIMIIM) with a view to investigating higher socio-structural and individual psychological influence on an interpreter’s identity management. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of a professional public service interpreter’s perceptions of her lived experience of interpreting and the sense of self is undertaken to illustrate the key elements of the model. Issues regarding moral identity, professional identity, social and communicative factors challenging the interpreter’s identity management, and impacts of identity nonverification on the interpreter’s wellbeing are discussed. Introducing symbolic interactionism to interpreting studies for the first time, it is hoped that this research will encourage further efforts to explore an interpreter’s identity management at social and individual levels, which is key to an informed understanding of the interpreter’s behaviour and of the issues of interpreting ethics in public service interpreting.

P-502 Trans and/or non-binary (TNB) parents’ experiences during the perinatal period

Abstract Study question What are the experiences of trans and/or non-binary (TNB) parents during the perinatal period (defined here as conception, pregnancy, birth and infant feeding)? Summary answer TNB parents often experience extensive cisgenderist discrimination at a structural level (via inappropriate legislation and bureaucracy) and an interactional level (from other parents/healthcare professionals). What is known already Although TNB people have always parented, it is only recently that their experiences are becoming more socially visible. Some research has explored the pregnancy experiences of trans men, finding that men report feelings of isolation and find it difficult to integrate pregnancy with a male identity. However, little research has explored the perinatal experiences of non-binary parents and TNB non-birth parents. Additionally, preliminary research in the US suggests that TNB parents report negative experiences within fertility clinics, and that some parents deliberately avoid clinics for fear of discrimination, pointing to the importance of studying parents’ experiences in the UK. Study design, size, duration This presentation will focus on interview data collected in a study of UK TNB parents, all of whom had identified as TNB since before having their child. Participants were recruited via social media/snowballing. 13 TNB parents were interviewed in total. This presentation will focus on the experiences of the 10 parents who had become parents via assisted conception at a fertility clinic (n = 5), unassisted conception (n = 4) and known donation (n = 1). Participants/materials, setting, methods Participants had a range of gender identities, including trans women, trans men and non-binary. Six participants had experienced pregnancy. The sample is diverse in terms of SES, family structure, and four parents were experiencing disabilities. Participants took part in a semi-structured interview. The data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, and a structural symbolic interactionist framework was employed. Main results and the role of chance Cisnormative understandings of bodies (i.e. men producing sperm and women being pregnant) were found to impact participants in both fertility clinics and pregnancy spaces. Parents with different gender identities (e.g. trans men, non binary people and trans women) had different experiences, pointing to the importance of including all parents under the TNB umbrella within research. In terms of conception, some participants reported avoiding fertility clinics due to fear of discrimination, and one participant described being denied treatment due to their gender identity, disability and being in a multi-parent family. Negative experiences within fertility clinics included clinicians’ lack of knowledge about TNB identities, and more positive experiences were reported when participants conceived outside of a clinical setting. With regards to pregnancy, birth parents reported that pregnancy/birth was assumed to be a female activity, and that services were often exclusively for cis women. Birth parents used the strategy of detachment to navigate pregnancy and infant feeding. The trans women in the study, as non-birth parents, were often assumed to be fathers, and reported feeling excluded in pregnancy spaces. One trans female participant found breastfeeding to be a gender-affirming experience, pointing to the importance of supporting TNB parents to explore all available options. Limitations, reasons for caution The small sample size and qualitative nature of the research limits the generalisability of the findings. Although diverse in other ways, the sample was majority white and more research is needed on the experiences of ethnic minority parents. Wider implications of the findings Findings show the importance of including TNB parents with diverse gender identities within research, and demonstrate the necessity of education about trans-inclusive language and family diversity within fertility clinics and pregnancy spaces. Trial registration number n/a

Collaborating Across Occupational Boundaries: Towards a Theoretical Model

The digital transformation leads to changing work contexts and new work objects that give rise to the necessity of collaboration across occupational boundaries. Yet there is a lack of theoretical models of cross-occupational collaboration, particularly with regard to individuals’ cross-occupational collaboration competency (COCC). In order to close this research gap, this article presents a theoretical model of COCC and associated indicators which can be subject to education and diagnostics in VET. In accordance with activity theory, cross-occupational collaboration is characterized as an activity system. While an activity is collective in nature, its role-constituting elements (e.g., division of labor) point to role-theoretical approaches. This paper reviews role-theoretical frameworks and applies structural symbolic interactionism as a framework for modeling an individual’s COCC. Using its conceptual apparatus, a hierarchical model of an individual’s capacity for cross-occupational collaboration within an activity system is developed. Its elements are (i) knowledge about one’s own occupational role, (ii) knowledge about the roles of the cooperation partners with other occupations, (iii) latent role distance, (iv) role-taking, and (v) object-oriented role coordination/role-making. This model can also be used as a basis for assessments that may lead to empirical investigations of how to promote individuals’ COCC.

Jumping with a parachute – is promoting research integrity meaningful?

ABSTRACT Considering world-wide interest in prevalent research malpractice at higher education institutions, we focus on the role of European national research integrity promoters (ombudspersons, research funding organizations, research integrity networks) who play a role at the forefront of bringing systemic change. Given the constraints of the role of research integrity promoters, we strive to grasp the meaningfulness of their work. To accomplish that, we employ a qualitative research approach and use individual semi-structured interviews with 10 national research integrity promoters. Employing reflexive applied thematic analysis, we discuss our findings in light of the structural symbolic interactionist approach and sensemaking theory. We conclude that encapsulated in challenging prerequisites of the national research integrity promotion work, the meaningfulness of such work emerges through integrating research integrity in all aspects of academic life to entail indispensable systemic changes in academia.

Vocational Teacher Educators’ Role Identity: A Case Study in Malta

This paper gains a deeper understanding of the professional role identities of vocational teacher educators (VTEs) when compared with mainstream teacher educators (MTEs) in Malta. It is framed using identity theory from the structural symbolic interactionism perspective (Burke and Stets 2009). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, adopting thematic analysis. Findings show that VTEs and MTEs underpin their teaching differently, influenced by the perceptions they have about their professional role identities. There is no “one size fits all” solution for each country, yet this study contributes to a field with a limited research base and offers new insights to identity theory.

EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES OF GENDER-DIVERSE YOUTH: A National Population-Based Study.

Despite the growing population of youth identifying with a transgender or nonbinary gender identity, research on gender-diverse individuals' educational outcomes is limited. This study takes advantage of the first nationally representative, population-based data set that includes measures of gender identity and educational outcomes: the High School Longitudinal study of 2009. Using minority stress and structural symbolic interactionist frameworks, we examine the association between gender identity and high school and college educational outcomes. We compare the educational outcomes of gender-diverse youth-binary transgender, nonbinary, and gender unsure-with those of cisgender youth, and also examine differences within the gender-diverse population. Given the strong link between minority stress and educational experiences among gender-diverse youth, we examine differences in outcomes before and after accounting for school belonging and emotional distress. We also account for individuals' social-structural location, arguing that social positionality shapes both gender identity and educational outcomes. Results indicate important differences in educational outcomes within the gender-diverse population: Whereas binary transgender and gender-unsure youth exhibit educational disadvantage, relative to cisgender youth, nonbinary youth do not. The gender-unsure disadvantage remains even after accounting for differences in social-structural location and social-psychological factors associated with minority stress.

Współpraca cywilno-wojskowa NATO: oczekiwania i konflikt roli

In the context of contemporary peacekeeping operations, NATO states established civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) – a military function aiming at maintaining contact between the NATO armed forces and other civilian and military actors present in an area of military operations. As a result of their tasks, CIMIC soldiers are confronted with various expectations pertaining to their behaviour, principles and values. This pool of normative requirements includes contradictory expectations formulated by civilian and military reference groups, leading to the emergence of a role conflict. Building on the theoretical assumptions of structural symbolic interactionism and the division into a “warrior” and “peacekeeper” role of a soldier, this article presents expectations that comprise the role of a CIMIC soldier and the areas of role conflict experienced by members of CIMIC units. It also offers a reflection on the role of a contemporary soldier. The article is based on interviews with CIMIC soldiers, observations and content analysis of NATO CIMIC documents.

On Being the First: The Role of Family in the Experiences of First-Generation College Students

The aim of this study was to explore family relationship experiences of first-generation college students (FGCS) as they transition to and persist through college. The sample includes eight undergraduate FGCS (aged 18–22). Seven participants identified as female, and one identified as Questioning. Participants’ descriptions of their social class ranged from “poor” to “upper middle class.” Four participants identified as White; others identified as White and Mexican, White and Hispanic, African American, and Mixed Race (White and Black). Participants for this study were recruited from a large public university in the Southeastern United States. Researchers used a qualitative phenomenological design. Following approval from the Institutional Review Board, data were collected through in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis guided by Structural Symbolic Interactionism. Parents, despite lacking college experience, offered supports, both instrumental (educational opportunities; monthly financial assistance) and emotional (encouraging calls; frequent visits), which students considered essential to their success. Many participants also stated that setting an example and forging a path for younger siblings helped to motivate them to persevere through hardships. Strength-based approaches are necessary when developing programs for and research on FGCSs and their families.

Muslim Gen Yers in India: A Qualitative Analysis

Millennials are the most widely studied generational cohort who are often stereotypically described as a bunch of over-demanding, highly entitled, individuals who want everything here and now. Considering that generations are shaped by a multitude of socio-cultural factors, the present study explores the psyche of Millennials in India. The aim of this exploration is to discover the extent to which generational stereotypes represent Indian Millennials. Using Stryker’s Structural Symbolic Interactionism approach, the investigation conceptualizes stereotypes as social constructions and seeks to identify the socio-historical factors involved in their creation. Since Muslims are at a greater risk of communal stereotyping, the study focuses only on Muslim Millennials and attempts to accentuate the intersectionality of two disadvantaged identities (generation and religion) in order to better explain the participants’ lived experiences. Inferences are drawn from the interpretative phenomenological analysis of six semi-structured interviews, conducted with Indian Muslim Millennials. This analysis yielded four superordinate themes viz. Parental Role and Expectations, Technology, Multiplicity of selfhood, and Polarized Community Relationships which have been discussed in the light of existing theories and research.

The Sociology of Intra-African Pastoralist Migration: The Case of Tanzania

Intra-African migration in sub-Saharan Africa is increasingly characterized by migration further and further south of the equator. The study focuses on the relationship between pastoralist migration and climate change, followed by loss of control of epidemics, which can lead to losses of large numbers of livestock. While increasing changes in the natural environment have been widely cited in the empirical literature, less attention has been paid to the social context and sociological factors influencing modern-day climate-induced intra-African pastoralist migration. Using Blumer's structural symbolic interaction as an analytic framework, this study examines how social and cultural perceptions influence subjective interpretations that lead to decision points that trigger intra-African pastoralist migration. Using structural symbolic interaction as an analytic framework to study interrelationships between climate-induced stimulus, symbolic interpretation, and migration response, the study identifies that decisions to migrate to other ecosystems were mediated through symbolic signs with assigned meaning and significance communicated through language, signs, symbols, ritual, and religion, which makes up the overall pastoralist cosmology of migration. That these signs and meanings, which are given symbolic meaning, form the basis of African pastoralist sociology of migration. These are the key factors that explain why some pastoralist households decide to migrate to other ecological zones while others remain in traditional pastoralist lands. This study was guided by two hypotheses. The first is that intra-African pastoralist migration is socially defined based on the social and cultural perceptions and meanings attached to interactions with their increasingly changing natural and social circumstances (H1). The second (H2) is that this meaning is defined and modified through an interpretative process in response to changing social and natural circumstances. The sample examined in the study covered seven districts with a high proportion of pastoralists across four eco-climatic zones. A total of 544 pastoralist households were interviewed. In-depth qualitative interviews and observation studies were conducted in three case-study villages. The study concludes that decisions to migrate to other ecosystems are mediated through symbolic signs with assigned meanings and significances communicated through language, signs, symbols, rituals, and religion. Together, these findings contribute to our further understanding of the sociology of recent intra-African migration.

Of lads and ear’oles: School, work, and the microsociology of social reproduction

This article draws on structural symbolic interactionism (SSI) to extend Willis’s insights into social reproduction and social mobility. Willis contrasts the lads with the ear’oles – working-class youth who conform to the requirements and ideology of school. If, as Willis argues, working-class youth encounter conflict between the culture of school and the culture of labour, then the ear’oles’ pro-school behaviours may be interpreted as rebellious in their own right. SSI suggests that the ear’oles’ continued attachment to school requires abandoning or delaying adoption of the adult breadwinner role – a working-class role-identity assigned to those who finish required schooling, find jobs, and establish independence. While the lads conform to the behavioural norms and values of their class cultural milieu through their nonconformity at school, the ear’oles opt for school at considerable social cost. As successful ear’oles experience mobility, these class ‘straddlers’ struggle with feelings of inadequacy and guilt.

Generic Processes in Aligning the Multiple Bases of Identity: The Case of Becoming a Ministry Student

Identity theory distinguishes three bases of identity—role, group, and person—but studies have typically focused on one identity at a time. The interrelationship among the multiple bases of identity remains understudied. This study examines the multiple bases of identity individuals engage on their way to becoming ministry students. The results reveal the advantage of examining the multiple bases of identity as subcultural processes, the utility of qualitative research for expanding the empirical scope of identity theory, and the possibility of employing structural symbolic interactionist concepts within a processual symbolic interactionist agenda.

Gender Role Attitude Malleability in the Context of Divorce and Remarriage: A Longitudinal Growth Curve Perspective

Suggestions from structural symbolic interactionism are that gender role attitudes are malleable—able to change and be redefined over the course of adult development—at the individual-level, particularly in relation to significant experiences. Using longitudinal growth modeling, this study examined how divorce and remarriage affect gender role attitude growth across a 20-year period (N = 1731). Remaining in a first marriage was related to a slight, but significant decline in traditional attitudes. Divorce was associated with a slight acceleration in the decline in traditional attitudes, while remarriage was associated with a slower rate of decline in traditional attitudes. As such, transitions out of the institution and roles of marriage were related to more egalitarian attitudes, but transitions into remarriage were associated with attitudinal shifts similar to those in first marriage. Evidence is also presented related to the possibility that attitudinal shifts toward more egalitarian may precipitate divorce for some. Implications for theoretical refinement are given.

Social Psychological Processes that Facilitate Sexual Assault within the Fraternity Party Subculture

AbstractRape on the college campus has gained increasing amounts of attention in higher education, mainstream news, and public policy. The prevalence rates of rape are especially high among students who frequent campus parties, such as those hosted by fraternities. Researchers have described this increased risk by focusing on individual attitudes and behaviors of fraternity members or on the organizational norms and practices within the fraternity party subculture. To incorporate these studies into a single theoretical framework, this essay uses a social psychological approach to connect individual‐level attitudes, (sub)culture, and behavior. I describe and apply identity theory and affect control theory, two structural symbolic interactionist theories, to explain why certain men are drawn to high‐risk fraternities and how membership reinforces hostility toward and abuse of women. In doing so, I suggest several avenues for future research that would increase social psychological understanding of the heightened prevalence of sexual victimization within the fraternity party subculture.

Me, My Self, and I(T): Conceptualizing Information Technology Identity and its Implications

As social roles and relationships become increasingly inseparable from people's interactions with information technologies (ITs), new constructs representing this intertwinement are needed to expand understandings of human behavior. As part of that endeavor, this paper draws on structural symbolic interactionist identity theories to systematically develop a conceptual definition of one such construct, IT identity--defined as the extent to which an individual views use of an IT as integral to his or her sense of self--as a new form of identity. The construct is framed within a theoretical model. Our goal is to facilitate the establishment of IT identity as an important and relevant construct that can improve our understanding of a variety of phenomena. In doing so, this paper makes three contributions to the information systems (IS) literature. First, it delineates current understanding of IT as a medium, determinant, or consequent of identity. Second, it defines the conceptual domain and theme of IT identity, which is necessary for investigating the construct's theoretical influence. Third, it demonstrates the utility of IT identity to a wide range of IS topics relating to how people express, maintain, and expand their self-concepts. In doing so, it offers potential directions and opportunities for IS researchers to incorporate this novel concept into IS research.

Therapeutic relationships between mental health service users with psychotic disorders and their clinicians: a critical interpretive synthesis

Individuals with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders remain among the most marginalised in our communities. There has been increasing criticism of the current state of clinical treatment of such individuals as technological developments in medication provide little, if any, improvement in the lived experiences of mental health service users (SUs). In this context, there is a call for a re-orientation away from medication in the treatment of 'common factors' such as the therapeutic relationship (TR). The TR is well researched in psychotherapy settings; however, the components of beneficial TRs in the treatment of individuals with psychotic disorders are poorly understood. A critical interpretive synthesis was conducted to determine the current understanding of the TRs between individuals with psychotic disorders and their clinicians in community case management settings. A search of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE and Social Policy and Practice Databases and grey literature between 1990 and 2011 identified 13 papers to be included in the synthesis. Three key components of beneficial TRs were identified: mutual trust, demonstration of mutual respect and shared decision-making. However, the synthesis revealed that such interactions are difficult to achieve in routine practice. The main barrier identified was a lack of clarity regarding the goal of interactions, which in turn created stakeholders with poorly defined roles and possibly oppositional needs. In this context of ambiguity, clinicians appear to de-emphasise interactions characteristic of beneficial TRs, and prioritise interactions that protect the SU and themselves in the case of a relapse. Structural symbolic interactionism is used to interpret these findings. For interactions characteristic of TRs to be prioritised in the treatment of individuals with psychotic disorders, a clearer evidence base for the importance of the TR and a clear statement of purpose of treatment are required.

Student, Practitioner, or Both? Separation and Integration of Identities in Professional Social Care Education

This paper presents and discusses some of the findings from a qualitative study of identities in work-related learners. The theoretical framework of structural symbolic interactionism is outlined and the two identities of interest, that of student and practitioner, discussed. The aim of professional education is viewed as enabling the practitioner to better deal with ambiguity and change through critical examination of work practices and location of these within theoretical frameworks. It is argued that for knowledge and behaviour to transfer to the work setting, the student and worker identities need to be integrated rather than kept separate. Factors identified as influencing the integration and separation of the social identities of student and social care practitioner are discussed.

Interaction Ritual Theory and Structural Symbolic Interactionism

This article develops a comparison between structural approaches to symbolic interaction, as described by Sheldon Stryker (1968, 1980, 2008), and interaction ritual theory, elaborated by Randall Collins (1981, 1998, 2004). The value of this comparison lies in both the similarities and differences between the perspectives: each is committed to developing empirically grounded, general knowledge and emphasizes interaction as an emergent unit of sociological analysis. However, their disparate intellectual heritages lead them to stake out different positions regarding the nature of interaction, the self, and social structure. We suggest that the differences between structural symbolic interaction and interaction ritual theory offer important areas for theoretical innovation, and we highlight a few directions that seem especially promising.

“Now my ‘old self’ is thin”

In this article, I employ a structural symbolic interaction framework to examine the processes by which persons can exit a stigmatized identity. Using the empirical example of weight loss, I analyze how individuals evolve from an identity as “fat” and stigmatized to one that is “normal” with respect to weight and free from identification with stigmatizing self-labels. The results suggest that stigma exits are possible but not easy and that simply sustaining weight loss over time does not necessarily produce an exit from stigma. Instead, stigma exits require evolutions in the responses of significant others and shifts in the way exiters view themselves. Moreover, individuals vary in the intensity of their identification with stigma and this is associated with the kinds of obstacles they find most troublesome as they attempt to exit stigma. Finally, I discuss the application of these findings to theories of structural symbolic interaction and to other forms of stigma.