Anthony Giddens - Structuration

Giddens explores the extent to which society is shaped by social structure or individual.  He argues that individual human agency and social structure are in a relationship with each other, and it is the repetition of acts by individuals which reinforces the structure.  There is a social structure which shapes our lives (traditions, institutions, moral codes, established ways of doing things), but it relies on individuals following these structures.  When they act differently the social structure can change.  Structuration is the process in which human agency and social structure are in a constant relationship – the social structure is reproduced by the repetition of acts by individual people (and can therefore change).

Social Order and Social Reproduction – Giddens argues that the ‘rules’ of the social order may only be in our heads but people are often shocked when seemingly minor social expectations are not adhered to.

People’s everyday actions reinforce and reproduce a set of expectations – and it is this set of other people’s expectations which make up the social forces that maintain the social order.

Post-traditional society – Giddens argues that in traditional societies individual actions and identities do not have to be thought about as much as choices are determined by tradition and custom.  In post-traditional times we are less concerned about following tradition.  As a result we have to think more about how to behave in society.  In modern societies (‘societies where modernity is well-developed’) self-identity becomes an issue we are all aware of.  Earlier societies with a social order based firmly in tradition would provide individuals with more clearly defined roles.  In post-traditional society we have to work out our roles for ourselves.

‘What to do?  How to act?  Who to be?  These are focal questions for everyone living in circumstances of late modernity – and ones which, on some level or another, all of us answer’.

The reflexive project of the self – Giddens argues that the self is ‘made’ by the individual, self-identity becomes a reflexive project (something we are actively aware of).  Self-identity is a person’s own reflexive understanding of their biography, but is not an objective description of that person.  The self is not something we are born with, and it is not fixed.  The self is reflexively made – thoughtfully constructed by the individual.  We all choose a lifestyle – consumerism is one of the ways in which project and develop our lifestyle.  Just as the self has become changeable, so too has the body.