December 6, 2010.
This concerns the pragmatics of language
Social identities are skills, being a professor/parent is like dribbling a basketball
“Calls”
Say “Yo, Matt!” to someone in the street. Have recognized Matt as a social partner but also demands Matt recognize me.
“Performative” Difference between judge saying “the meeting is adjourned” vs someone outside looking in who tells someone “the meeting is adjourned”
“Order”
Unlike a call, it is an asymmetric speech action.
Responding acknowledges the power gradient.
Distinct from requests and treaties
If students respond to roll call, they are jointly bringing into being the roles of “teacher” and “student”
Gendered/Racial
We recognize demographics in certain ways.
Data shows people talk to male babies different from female babies
Data shows teachers let male students talk for longer before interrupting (even filtering for female Womens’ Studies profs)
You can refuse the way someone engages you, but is a tricky negotiation.
There’s no way to stay neutral - either have to be aggressive or passive (accept the role you don’t want to be placed in) .
A call can be responded to appropriately or inapprorpiate - placing someone in a role puts them in a normative role.
Example: school system in DC
Nominally egalitarian, however:
Good schools are in rich neighborhoods (issues with transportation)
Complicated application / interview process
Some identities seem chosen vs not
Not exactly a clear line (one chooses to work at a sweatshop, but the alternative was starving)
Big normative implications for roles that are perceived as a choice
The point of analyzing these social roles is to see where it’s possible to intervene
Certain problems are only addressible by social organizers
We can be more aware of how these roles affect our lives
A project of political liberation.
What’s a good reason to resist a social role?
No general answers - just good reasons for doing anything. E.g. freedom, prevention of human fluorishing.