Week 9: Post 1

So, I had a moment of déjà vu when asked to answer this prompt. Didn’t I already answer this one?! LOL

The social constructionist perspective “emphasizes the relationship between communication and culture” (Trenholm, 2008, p. 25). The social constructionist model of communication explicates the role of communication to be like an adhesive, utilizing it, in practice, to bring together individual experiences and create a shared understanding of reality. For me, a critical understanding of this perspective came after I reread a primary concern with effective communication under the social constructionist model. Trenholm (2008) stated, “it emphasizes that we should take responsibility for the things we talk about and the way we about them” (p. 31). Because an understanding of “reality” is a collection of culture, language, and values, this model reminds us no message we receive through communication comes to us untainted. Therefore, we internalize messages, create stereotypes, and normalize (and perpetrate) oppression(s). Trenholm (2008) reminds us “that symbols have the power to control us” (p. 31) and it’s important to recognize our preconceived notions.

Recently, a colleague of mine, who is Muslim-identified and who was raised until age thirteen in southwest Asia, had a conversation with me about her biases toward Christian denominations. She shared with me how she was raised around an equal distribution of Muslims and Catholics practicing in her home community. In addition, her family consciousness of world religions was enriched by Buddhist teachings and educational trips to monasteries. Although one would think she’d remain neutral and open to differing religious perspectives once she moved to the United States, she felt inundated with billboards, bracelets, bumper stickers, street preachers, and t-shirts promoting Christian denominations as “the way.” In her home country, there are minimal proclamations for one religion over another and there is less persuasion or judgment for one religion over another. It wasn’t until our conversation about how she was struggling to work through her biases that I realized how ubiquitous these messages are, even in San Jose. Since arriving in the U.S. the messages about being a practicing (and proud) Muslim have shifted dramatically for her; she experiences more fear of disclosure and more concern for her safety based on the power and communication messages of symbols.