Cultural and Spiral of Silence Theory
Understanding of Cultural and Spiral of Silence Theory.
Cultural silence theory is an interesting notion of how the dominant voice of society suppresses others and silences other viewpoints. This theory examines situations in which silence is used as a source of scarcity and energy. The ruling class constantly uses cultural, media, legal, and educational mechanisms, and in the process systematically neutralizes and targets the voices of marginalized people.
In "Cultures of Silence: The Power of Untold Narratives," Luisa Santos explores how silence can be used to oppress and resist. This study delves into the multidimensionality of silence and its manifestation across contexts, including social gender, politics, art, and history. (Routledge).
Silence is sometimes used to maintain current power structures, but it can also be used to resist oppression and promote social change. For example, the silencing of voices in the wake of official pronouncements during the Portuguese dictatorship reflected the political and social realities of the time Such historical examples suggest that silence is a trap and source of conflict.
This theory is concerned with how people and communities express their cultural identities and how they accept or reject those expressions. It provides ways and means of resistance to break cultural mechanisms of silence, and pave the way for a more equitable and inclusive society. This theory enables us to understand the complexities and obstacles in the pursuit of social justice and equity, and the recovery of individual and community voices.
Spiral Silence Theory, on the other hand, developed by Elizabeth Noel-Newman, suggests that individuals in society tend to remain more silent when they believe their views are not shared by the majority. The theory focuses on the influence of public opinion and social social pressures on individual expression. Individuals with opinions contrary to the majority avoid expressing their views for fear of loneliness.
If you would like to do more research on this subject, you can check out the following resources:
· Luísa Santos (Ed.) - Cultures of Silence: The Power of Untold Narratives
· Mabel Berezin - Illiberal Politics in Neoliberal Times: Culture, Security and Populism in the New Europe
· Ellen Berrey - The Enigma of Diversity: The Language of Race and the Limits of Racial Justice
· Judith Butler - Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity
· Paul DiMaggio and Walter Powell - The Iron Cage Revisited: Institutional Isomorphism and Collective Rationality in Organizational Fields
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