Introduction
Sociologists have discussed the concept of the social construction of the world for quite a long time. People have always been interested in the mechanism of onset of taken-for-granted knowledge about the reality they perceive. Sociology also strives to answer what is the path of a person to power and why several social groups, identified by race, sex, religion, or age, have more privileges than others. A deep understanding of the primary constituents of the social construction of the world requires considering the ways people experience oppression, have specific benefits, and overcome the blocks on the path to power.
Oppression of the World
Although society seems to be more tolerant and lenient to representatives of various social groups than several decades ago, different people still experience oppression. This oppression appears mainly due to widespread stereotypes and prejudices (Remedios & Snyder, 2018). For instance, as a pupil, I faced the situation when some instructors claimed that all girls were bad at math and psychics, and boys never wrote an excellent essay. This division was quite stupid since history knows many examples, which proved the contrary, but it was popular. In addition, my friend, who had another religion, could not be hired in the corporation he had chosen despite his skills and credentials. It evidences that the stereotypes and prejudices still often form the world we live in and force many people to experience oppression.
Privileges
Just as some social groups are oppressed, others are given specific privileges. Regarding social construction, the privileges are not all advantages that people get either from their birth or due to their hard work and exceptional achievements. They mean unearned benefits, which members of a specific group can get (Nixon, 2019). Being a citizen of the USA, I have had several privileges from birth. For example, I could apply for financial aid to the institution of higher education, and to date, I can vote in the election. At the same time, people who have no U. S. citizenship cannot use these opportunities. Therefore, being a part of particular social groups, most people can be oppressed in one sphere of life and privileged in others.
Oppression of Others, Internal and External Blocks to the Power
Sometimes, people oppress others to get access to social power. I remember how I was guided by the desire to become the form prefect and asked my classmate not to propose himself for election. It seems it was a kind of oppression, but I hardly understood it then. Probably every person faces obstacles on the way to power, meaning the ability to “allocate resources and draft policy” (Nixon, 2019, p. 5). I experienced such internal block as the unwillingness to harm others; therefore, sometimes, I did not propose myself to specific posts. As for external obstacles, it was my age when I wanted to enter a membership in my college, but I could not do it until I reached 18. Therefore, social power is a conscious or unconscious purpose for many people, but it is not always easy to get it.
Conclusion
Oppression, privileges, and social power are probably the most significant concepts, which are related to the social construction of the world. All people are members of several social groups; each of them is identified by their age, religion, race, sexual orientation, citizenship, or other characteristics. I have personally experienced both oppressions and privileges, which indicates that belonging to any social group accompanies the merits and demerits.
References
Nixon, S. A. (2019). The coin model of privilege and critical allyship: Implications for health. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 1-13. Web.
Remedios, J. D., & Snyder, S. H. (2018). Intersectional oppression: Multiple stigmatized identities and perceptions of invisibility, discrimination, and stereotyping. Journal of Social Issues, 74(2), 265-281. Web.