The social construction of culture

The social construction of culture is a foundational concept in sociology that challenges the idea that culture is natural, fixed, or biologically determined. Instead, it argues that culture is actively created, maintained, and transformed by human beings through their interactions, shared meanings, and social institutions. This perspective is central to the WJEC A-Level Sociology specification, as it underpins many topics such as identity, globalisation, and power. Understanding that culture is socially constructed helps students critically analyse why certain norms, values, and practices exist in different societies, and how they can change over time.

This topic draws on key sociological theories, particularly from symbolic interactionism (e.g., Berger and Luckmann's 'The Social Construction of Reality') and social constructionism. It explores how language, symbols, and everyday interactions produce shared understandings that become taken-for-granted 'truths'. For example, concepts like gender roles, race, and even time are shown to be social constructs rather than objective realities. Students must grasp that the social construction of culture does not mean these constructs are 'unreal'—they have very real consequences for people's lives, shaping opportunities, identities, and inequalities.

In the wider WJEC A-Level course, this concept links to topics such as socialisation, identity formation, and the role of institutions like the media and education. It also connects to debates about cultural diversity, multiculturalism, and the impact of globalisation on local cultures. By mastering this idea, students can critically evaluate claims about 'natural' differences between groups and understand how power relations influence which cultural meanings become dominant. This knowledge is essential for achieving high marks in essays that require analysis of how culture is produced and contested.