social construction

[/ˈsoʊʃəl kənˈstrʌkʃən/]
nounpl: social constructions
construção social
1. An idea or practice that is created and maintained by a society or group rather than occurring naturally or being biologically determined
Gender is often considered a social construction rather than a purely biological category.
O gênero é frequentemente considerado uma construção social em vez de uma categoria puramente biológica.
2. A concept or institution whose existence and form are determined by social agreement and collective human activity
Money is a social construction that only has value because we collectively agree it does.
O dinheiro é uma construção social que só tem valor porque coletivamente concordamos que tem.
3. In sociology and philosophy, something that appears natural or inevitable but is actually created through social processes
The concept of race has been shown by scholars to be a social construction.
O conceito de raça foi demonstrado por estudiosos ser uma construção social.
This term is central to contemporary academic discourse in both the United States and Brazil, particularly in sociology, anthropology, gender studies, and cultural criticism. In Brazil, it has become increasingly prevalent in university curricula and public intellectual debates about identity, race, and social organization. The concept challenges essentialist views and is often used to question what might otherwise be taken for granted as 'natural' or 'inevitable' in society.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
social constructcultural constructhuman constructionconventional arrangement
Antonyms / Antônimos
natural phenomenonbiological realityinnate characteristicuniversal law

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
construção social
Standard academic and sociological usage
Portugal
construção social
Same usage as Brazilian Portuguese; academic terminology
São Paulo
construção social
Common in academic circles and urban discourse
Rio de Janeiro
construção social
Used in academic and cultural discussions

Related Words

social institutioncultural normconventionsocial agreementcollective understandingsocialization

Related Idioms & Phrases

socially constructed reality
built by society
collective agreement
human invention
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