Workplace Communications

Goffman 's theory of dramaturgy relies on people 's functions and reactions in society , For example , many service occupations offer their clients a performance that is illuminated with dramatic expressions of cleanliness , modernity , competence , and integrity . While in fact these abstract standards have a different significance in different occupational performances , the observer is encouraged to stress the abstract similarities (page 3 . For Garfinkel also the function of an individual in society is witnessed through common culture Socially-sanctioned-facts-of-life-in-society-that-any-bona-fide-member -of-the-society-knows depict such matters as the conduct of family life market organization

, distributions of honor .and the presence of good and evil purposes behind the apparent workings of things (page 76

Garfinkel states that social is a challenge of social norms in which an individual has presupposed knowledge of a social structure (page 77 ) just as Goffman states in preference for ingrained mores of society , .it is to be noted that a given social front tends to become institutionalized in terms of the abstract stereotyped expectations to which it gives rise , and tends to take on a meaning and stability apart from the specific tasks which happen at the time to be performed in its name . The front becomes a "collective representation and a fact in its own right (page 4 . This is another comparison point between the authors both state that social meaning hinges on the implicit understanding of the actors or collective society members the boundaries of cultural codes which have been ingrained in them through habit , repetition , etc

Thus , stereotyping at a workplace is about power . The social norms which are evaluated in a workplace a mere reflection of culture . In my place of employment (I work at Bosley Hair restoration as a customer service agent ) other agents will often times base whether or not a person shows up on time for their appointment on their ethnicity . In the capacity of someone making an appointment who has a Spanish accent a service agent will tell their fellow workers that this client will be at least fifteen minutes late , and often times will change the schedule to include this time frame , as often times they are late . The fact that the Spanish culture considers a person who is on time to have no respect for their family does not occur to the people I work with (presumably the Spanish culture is late because they are spending extra time with their family and not paying attention to the schedules of day to day business

In another instance of stereotyping , if a white , middle aged guy comes into my workplace , he is considered to have a lot of money , but will not hand out tips . The stereotype being that he is rich , but stingy with his money . These older men are often called Scrooges between the employees . Although the men are considered industrious , they are not considered kind . If a woman wants an appointment , she may be said to be overly critical about her appearance , and since the woman will schedule...