What does symbolic interactionism theory say about and measure within society?

Symbolic interactionism is first and foremost a micro-sociological concept. So in order to tie to measuring society you would have to first pick something in particular you are trying to measure. Because the theory has to do with how each individual sees, imilates, and interprets the things around him/herself and then reacts accordingly. Gender oppression I suppose could be used as an example of how symbolic interactionism works in the macro--scale. Women see other women, imilate their role as a woman, identify themselves as one, and based on their interpretation of what a woman is they perpetrate the same sort of learned helplessness that their counter-parts exhibit. I would be inclined to say you cannot measure society through symbolic interactionism, but it can give you an idea of how individuals experience the world and how that reinforces previous existing issues.