Berger and Luckmann state that we are born into an 'objective social structure' and that we have only a limited ability to subjectively appropriate and interpret it for ourselves. Discuss how the categories of race, gender, and class predate any one individual, and how we are bound to identify ourselves in relation to them. To what extent can an individual redefine themselves in relation to these categories, and what are the possible social sanctions they may face for doing so?

The idea of "objective social structure" states that people are born already bound by a series of categories, which they can only shape to some extent. For example, a person's race will determine his experiences in the world to a large extent, whether he wants it or not. This is because others will understand and interpret him based on this factor. The same occurs with categories such as gender and class.

Because other people treat us as members of this categories, the process of socialization will lead us to identify ourselves with them too. Sometimes, an individual can try to change these factors. For example, a person might make a lot of money and try to access a different class. However, this transition is not always smooth. It is likely that the person will experience backlash when attempting to do so. It is also likely that he will never be as fully accepted as a person who was born into this category.

a photo collage of women at work during world war 2