Harris2001

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Harris2001
BibType ARTICLE
Key Harris2001
Author(s) Scott R. Harris
Title What can interactionism contribute to the study of inequality? The case of marriage and beyond
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Symbolic interaction, Equality, Marriage
Publisher
Year 2001
Language
City
Month
Journal Symbolic Interaction
Volume 24
Number 4
Pages 455–480
URL Link
DOI 10.1525/si.2001.24.4.455
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

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Abstract

The equality/inequality dichotomy is a central concept in sociology and in the study of marriage. Almost all researchers, though, use their own preconceived definitions and measurement strategies to identify equal and unequal states of affairs. An alternative approach, one that better accords with interactionist principles, is to privilege people's interpretations of equality over analysts' Drawing on interviews with individuals who define their own marriages as equal or unequal, I compare people's stories about marital equality with scholars' depictions. While some narratives resonate (in part) with the themes propounded by scholars, others do not. If people's experiences of equality and inequality are to be taken seriously, then it is important to listen to what they have to say on the subject, as well as to how they say it. This is the distinctive contribution symbolic interactionists can make to the study of inequality.

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