“We have no real freedom when it comes to defining who or what we are”. Discuss with reference to the theories of Ervin Goffman

Firstly, in order to answer this question, my case study will be a Job interview I experienced at “Toys R Us”, one of the largest toy retailers in the world. This will relate to the question at how when attaining employment, the big business corporations will want you, as an employee of theirs to change in order to suit the business environment. Also, within the essay the theorists I am going to refer to will be, Ervin Goffman, J. Berger and Marx. I will explore Goffman’s theories of individual identity and group relations. His perspective provides new insight into the nature of social interaction and the psychology of the individual. Within Berger I will relate to his theory of publicity and it effects not only everyday life but within the individual. In Marx I will explore his theory of capitalism.

In my opinion, the question does have many elements of truth behind it. In today’s society, many people could not truthfully say that they do not conform. By this I mean...