The Ways Society Influences The Individual, a Study Based on The Looking Glass Self and The Veil

In both Cooley and DuBois’ writings, the authors contemplate the ways an individual shapes their identity based on their interactions with the people and society around them. Cooley explains this in a more generalized manner, in which the individual’s identity is intrinsically linked to society by way of the “looking glass self.” DuBois applies this concept to the lives of African Americans, which he describes with a concept called “The Veil.” By examining African American’s lack of privilege, he demonstrates a scenario that simultaneously fits into Cooley’s theory and deviates from it. Both Cooley and DuBois address the issue of how society impacts the individual, however their ideas differ in the role the individual plays in the creation of their own identity.

In Cooley’s book, Human Nature and the Social Order, he establishes the concept of the looking glass self. Cooley posits that identity is shaped by the individual’s perception of other’s reactions to the individual’s being, how the individual imagines and derives a meaning from that reaction, and how that influences and determines the choices of that individual. In thiCooley and DuBois: The Looking Glass Self and The Veil

In both Cooley and DuBois’ writings, the authors contemplate the ways an individual shapes their identity based on their interactions with the people and society around them. Cooley explains this in a more generalized manner, in which the individual’s identity is intrinsically linked to society by way of the “looking glass self.” DuBois applies this concept to the lives of African Americans, which he describes with a concept called “The Veil.” By examining African American’s lack of privilege, he demonstrates a scenario that simultaneously fits into Cooley’s theory and deviates from it. Both Cooley and DuBois address the issue of how society impacts the individual, however their ideas differ in the role the individual plays in the creation of their own identity.

In Cooley’s book, Human Nature and the Social Order, he establishes the concept of the looking glass self. Cooley posits that identity is shaped by the individual’s perception of other’s reactions to the individual’s being, how the individual imagines and derives a meaning from that reaction, and how that influences and determines the choices of that individual. In this sense, the choices we make and how we edit ourselves to fit into societal norms becomes our identity, and therefore, the individual is intrinsically linked and dependent upon society.

In DuBois’ book, The Souls of Black Folk, he describes the struggle of the African American in a white supremacist society, where they are not a valued or visible part. DuBois describes this concept of the inability to be normative—or to have others view one as normative—due to the color of one’s skin as a phenomenon called “The Veil.” The literal and metaphorical implications of this concept are linked. A literal veil conceals characteristics of the person it covers, while the metaphorical veil represents the incorrect, racist assumptions that society associates with African Americans, which skews the perception from who that individual really is. Their African American identity will bias society’s view of them, therefore, that person is not seen for who they truly are. At a certain point, the person can no longer see themselves for who they truly are, because society’s views have overtaken their own. This is the “Double Consciousness,” or the dichotomous idea that a person’s true self differs, yet coexists with the way others view that person. When referring to African Americans, this is the added perception or the non-normative stigma associated with their race.

The two author’s concepts are connected: Cooley studied the theoretical idea of the social interactions, while DuBois’ focused on a more concrete example of the looking glass self. However, The Veil does not seem to correlate with the looking glass self and Symbolic Interactionism, or the exchange of symbols and meanings in communication. If Cooley’s logic is applied, the individual ultimately creates their own identity. While this can be true for marginalized individuals—one can accept a perceived, societal judgement such as racism, and let that discourage and enforce their marginalized identity—an important part of racism is its definition as discrimination that is rooted in institutions and laws. Therefore, when Cooley’s theory is applied to the idea of The Veil, there is a discrepancy.

Racism is systematic, and this systemic impact must be taken into account. The oppression, which is the basis of the struggle that African Americans face, is not fully explained by Symbolic Interactionism. If Symbolic Interactionism is used to understand The Veil, it is implied that the struggle of being African American comes from the mental persistence needed to combat the negativity of the looking glass self. While this can be true, The Veil also stems from a more Functionalistic view, or the expected role that an individual plays in a certain social group. This becomes apparent in how African Americans are given and expected to play a specific role to in society that is dictated and enforced by the government and the laws.

Cooley and DuBois’ concepts both relate to the individual’s identity and how that is affected by society, however they differ in fundamental ways. One way is through the concept of The Veil, where an African American’s stigmatized, non-normative identity is forced upon them by others, whereas for white people, in the looking glass self, the individual shapes their own identity. This analysis goes hand in hand with the institutional and Functionalist nature of racism, which is another way The Veil deviates from Cooley’s concepts. While these two concepts of identity are different, they are also intertwined; the Functionalism of racism and Cooley’s Symbolic Interactionism work together to paint a picture of how the individual and society are interrelated.s sense, the choices we make and how we edit ourselves to fit into societal norms becomes our identity, and therefore, the individual is intrinsically linked and dependent upon society.

In DuBois’ book, The Souls of Black Folk, he describes the struggle of the African American in a white supremacist society, where they are not a valued or visible part. DuBois describes this concept of the inability to be normative—or to have others view one as normative—due to the color of one’s skin as a phenomenon called “The Veil.” The literal and metaphorical implications of this concept are linked. A literal veil conceals characteristics of the person it covers, while the metaphorical veil represents the incorrect, racist assumptions that society associates with African Americans, which skews the perception from who that individual really is. Their African American identity will bias society’s view of them, therefore, that person is not seen for who they truly are. At a certain point, the person can no longer see themselves for who they truly are, because society’s views have overtaken their own. This is the “Double Consciousness,” or the dichotomous idea that a person’s true self differs, yet coexists with the way others view that person. When referring to African Americans, this is the added perception or the non-normative stigma associated with their race.

The two author’s concepts are connected: Cooley studied the theoretical idea of the social interactions, while DuBois’ focused on a more concrete example of the looking glass self. However, The Veil does not seem to correlate with the looking glass self and Symbolic Interactionism, or the exchange of symbols and meanings in communication. If Cooley’s logic is applied, the individual ultimately creates their own identity. While this can be true for marginalized individuals—one can accept a perceived, societal judgement such as racism, and let that discourage and enforce their marginalized identity—an important part of racism is its definition as discrimination that is rooted in institutions and laws. Therefore, when Cooley’s theory is applied to the idea of The Veil, there is a discrepancy.

Racism is systematic, and this systemic impact must be taken into account. The oppression, which is the basis of the struggle that African Americans face, is not fully explained by Symbolic Interactionism. If Symbolic Interactionism is used to understand The Veil, it is implied that the struggle of being African American comes from the mental persistence needed to combat the negativity of the looking glass self. While this can be true, The Veil also stems from a more Functionalistic view, or the expected role that an individual plays in a certain social group. This becomes apparent in how African Americans are given and expected to play a specific role to in society that is dictated and enforced by the government and the laws.

Cooley and DuBois’ concepts both relate to the individual’s identity and how that is affected by society, however they differ in fundamental ways. One way is through the concept of The Veil, where an African American’s stigmatized, non-normative identity is forced upon them by others, whereas for white people, in the looking glass self, the individual shapes their own identity. This analysis goes hand in hand with the institutional and Functionalist nature of racism, which is another way The Veil deviates from Cooley’s concepts. While these two concepts of identity are different, they are also intertwined; the Functionalism of racism and Cooley’s Symbolic Interactionism work together to paint a picture of how the individual and society are interrelated.