Cooley & DuBois explore how people shape their identities based on the interactions they have with those around them. Cooley uses a generalized explanation, whereby the individual’s “looking glass self” is intrinsically connected to society. DuBois applies that concept to African Americans in the form of a concept named “The Veil”. He shows how this fits Cooley’s concept, while also departing from it. Cooley’s theory and DuBois’s differ on the impact society has on the individual.
Cooley establishes the idea of the “looking-glass self” in Human Nature and the Social Order. Cooley believes that an individual’s identity is determined by how they perceive other people’s reactions, what meaning they derive from those reactions, and the way that this influences their choices. In thiCooley & DuBois: The Looking Glass Self & The Veil
Cooley & DuBois explore the different ways in which an individual forms their identity by interacting with others. Cooley uses a more generic approach, in which an individual’s identity becomes intrinsically linked with society via the “lookingglass self”. DuBois applies the same concept to African Americans in his “The Veil” concept, which is a description of a situation which both fits Cooley’s concept and departs from it. Cooley’s theory and DuBois’s differ on the impact society has on the individual.
Cooley, author of Human Nature and the Social Order (1998), introduces the concept known as the Looking Glass Self. Cooley believes that an individual’s identity is determined by how they perceive other people’s reactions, what meaning they derive from those reactions, and the way that this influences their choices. In this view, how we choose to edit ourselves and conform to social norms is what defines our identity.
DuBois describes in his book The Souls of Black Folk the struggle of African Americans to be accepted and visible within a society dominated by white supremacy. DuBois refers this concept, that one cannot be considered normative or accepted by others due to their color, as a phenomenon he calls “The Veil”. The concept has both literal and figurative implications. The literal veil hides certain characteristics, whereas the metaphorical veil is the racist, incorrect assumptions society makes about African Americans. This skews perceptions of who the individual truly is. They will be viewed as African Americans by society, which is why they cannot see themselves for who truly are. A person’s true self is no longer visible because of the influence of society. The “Double Consciousness”, or dichotomy, is when a person sees themselves differently from how others perceive them. This is the stigma or added perception that African Americans have because of their race.
Both concepts have a connection: Cooley’s study focused on the theory of social interactions while DuBois’ example was more concrete. The Veil appears to have no correlation with the Looking Glass Self or Symbolic Interactionism. Cooley’s reasoning suggests that individuals ultimately create their own identities. The same can be said for marginalized groups. One can accept the perceived social judgements such as racism to encourage and reinforce their marginalized status. Cooley’s theories are not compatible with The Veil.
Racism must be understood as a systematic phenomenon. Symbolic interactionism does not explain fully the oppression of African Americans, the foundation for their struggle. When Symbolic Interactionism (or the Looking Glass Self) is used to explain The Veil, the implied struggle that African Americans face is the mental persistence required to overcome the negative aspects of their self. The Veil does not only come from this view. It also has a more functionalistic one, or a focus on the role that an African American is expected to play in society. This is seen in the way African Americans, who are dictating and enforcing laws and regulations in their society, are expected and given a particular role.
Cooley DuBois are two concepts that both refer to identity and its impact on society. They differ, however, in many fundamental ways. The Veil is one way. In The Veil, an African American is forced to accept a non-normative, stigmatized identity by others. For whites, however, they can shape their identity in the Looking Glass Self. The Veil’s analysis is a departure from Cooley, as it is based on the institutionalism and functionalist nature of racism. These two concepts are not only different but also intertwined. Cooley’s Symbolic interactionionism and the Functionalism in racism work together to show how society and the individual are interconnected.
DuBois describes the struggles of African Americans in The Souls of Black Folk. They are not seen or valued as a part of a society that is dominated by white supremacy. DuBois describes “The Veil”, a concept that is both literal and metaphorical, describing the struggle of African Americans to become normative in a society where they are not valued or visible. The literal veil hides certain characteristics, whereas the metaphorical veil is the wrong, racist assumptions society makes about African Americans. This skews perceptions of who the individual truly is. They will be viewed as African Americans by society, which will lead to a distorted view of who they really are. After a while, society’s opinions will overtake the individual’s own. The “Double Consciousness” is a dichotomy that says a person’s true identity differs from the way other people view them, but that they coexist. This is the stigma or added perception that African Americans have because of their race.
Both concepts have a connection: Cooley’s study focused on the theory of social interactions while DuBois’ example was more concrete. The Veil doesn’t seem to correlate well with the looking-glass self or Symbolic Interactionism. Cooley’s reasoning suggests that individuals ultimately create their own identities. The same can be said for marginalized groups. One can accept the perceived social judgements such as racism and allow it to enforce and discourage that marginalized identity. Cooley’s theories are not compatible with The Veil.
Racism must be understood as a systematic phenomenon. Symbolic interactionism does not explain fully the oppression of African Americans, the root cause of their struggle. When Symbolic Interactionism (or the Looking Glass Self) is used to explain The Veil, the implied struggle that African Americans face is the mental persistence required to overcome the negative aspects of their self. The Veil is based on a functionalistic view of the role an individual should play in a social group. It is evident in the way African Americans are expected to perform a certain role in society, which is dictated by government laws and imposed.
Cooley DuBois are two concepts that both refer to identity and its impact on society. But they differ fundamentally. The Veil is one way. In The Veil, an African American is forced to accept a non-normative, stigmatized identity by others. For whites, however, they can shape their identity in the Looking Glass Self. The Veil is also different from Cooley because of its institutional, functionalist approach to racism. These two concepts are not only different but also interconnected. Cooley’s Symbolic interactionism and the Functionalism in racism work together to show how individuals and societies are related.
