Symbolic Interactionism

My intial thoughts on Symbolic Interactionism were on the differences in level of awareness between Australia and South-East Asian countries. I suggested during class, Western societies (e.g. Australia) seem to need Sociology and Symbolic Interactionism worldview to draw attention to diversities of symbols. I now realised that I have inaccurately overgeneralised Singaporean awareness of cultural diversity to Asian perspectives and my Australian experience to Western.

Singaporeans, especially my generation (X) and later, were brought up in a multicultural society where the government spots forefront in recognising and respecting cultural diversity. One example is the equal number of national holidays given to different ethnic groups and major religions.

I observed dissimilar attitudes in Australia, where policies were once intolerant of cultural diversity (Henry & Kurzak, 2013). An example is the Aborigines Protection Amending Act 1915, where the State was authorised to remove children from Aborginal families for the purpose of “resocialisation”. Another example is the attitudes towards Asylum seekers arriving onshore reflected on the third Scanlon Foundation survey, 20 to 27% of respondents favoured turning back boats (Markus, 2012). Third example is the observable behaviour of young Australian tourists in neighbouring Southeast Asian country behaving inappropriately, perhaps oblivious to differences in symbolism overseas or simply disrespectful.

Scriptures such as Leviticus 19:34, Deuteronomy 10:19, Colossians 3:11, Galatians 3:28, Ephesians 2:19 brings about awareness of differences with encouragement to display a welcoming attitude to someone who is different. Romans 14 discuss in detail how to treat someone who has different symbol from us, when the other person abstains, I, who is eating, am not to pass judgement on him but to welcome him.

In conclusion, the awareness of symbolic interactionism singularly might not be sufficient to bring about constructive growth to society. Governments, societies and individuals who strive to be progressive, humane and successful would learn well from the biblical principles of awareness with acceptance.

             

References:

Carl, John & Baker, S. (2012). Sociology : An Introduction in the Sociological Imagination. In J. Carl, S. Baker, B. Robards, J. Scott, W. Hillman & G. Lawrence (eds.), Think Sociology (pp. 3-11). Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Australia.

Markus, A. (2012). Mapping Social Cohesion. In The Scanlon Foundation Surveys National Report. VIC: Monash Institute for the Study of Global Movements, Scanlon Foundation & Australian Multicultural Foundation. Retrieved 2 September 2013, from: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/mapping-population/--documents/mapping-social-cohesion-national- report-2012.pdf

Nicola, Henry. & Karolina, Kurzak. (2013) A multicultural Australia. In The Australian Collaboration : A collaboration of national community organisation. Retrieved September 2, 2013 from http://www.australiancollaboration.com.au/pdf/ FactSheets/Multicultural-Australia-FactSheet.pdf

The Holy Bible: New King James Version (1988). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible