Living in the twenty first century America, I would say that yes, we do have freedom as a society, but this has been further and further developed as society further develops. Societies of later centuries were not welcoming to the idea of interracial couples, same sex marriages, or even the simple art of tattooing. These concepts were not socially accepted because these elements were not a part of the social norms, values, beliefs or traditions. Just as the symbolic interactionism perspective notices that values are not just fixed and formulated in advance, but are more often created and change in interactive situations. New trends within a culture become more developed and more apparent throughout social institutions, the concept of acceptance and freedom is constantly being exerted and pushed to another developing level. Some may say that the societies expectations may alter one's decisions or true feelings, simply to be accepted, but I feel that as societies develop into the modern world, people are challenging those expectations and making way for new freedoms, beliefs, norms, values and traditions. .
According to symbolic interactionism, the meaning of objects, events, and behaviors comes form the interpretation people give them, and interpretations vary from one group to another. A geographic location, social class, or period of time may alter an individual's attitude and outlook on society. Meaning, depending on their age, race, religion, gender, or social class, and person's individual freedom may be less altered. The symbolic interactionism perspective notices that people will act according to their interpretation of the words meaning. This is true in the concept of freedom, as people use their own judgment to determine what is free which will constitute the limitations of freedom. For example my concept of freedom is much different than the concept of freedom that my grandparents were familiar with in the 1940's.