Born onto a Canvas with Already Dried Paint
We like to think that we are all unique and that we have full control of the forces that affect our lives. Many aspects of one’s personality and life can be explained by larger social forces such as socioeconomic status, race and gender roles. It was not until I started this sociology class that I began thinking of my life in a larger sociological sense. I realize now that my life has been influenced by a variety of social forces that I did not have control of.
In general I have lived a privileged life. I would describe my upbringing as upper middle class economically with a more standard middle class social class. Thinking about it now, that type of upbringing has had a profound impact on my life. I have become accustomed to a life of semi-luxury where I get what I want and I am not limited in the opportunities that I want to pursue. I have the opportunity and support structure to pursue whatever I want and I believe that gives me a general optimistic outlook on life. I admit to being somewhat isolated and that I will most likely never understand the struggles of poverty. I have generally been friends with those that are fairly close to me in socioeconomic status. This will limit the way I view the world and the ideas I have about welfare and about what success is. My parents
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However, thinking about my life from a sociological perspective has given me a new way of looking at my life. I am an upper middle class white male who is in large part influenced my societal values in the same way as everyone else. I now have a better understanding of where my place in society is and how I got to be in that position. I look forward to further sociological examination in the future and the greater understanding of the world around me that comes with
The sociological imagination has two lenses to it, the individual lens, and the society lens. The individual lens deals with personal troubles; Individuals comparing themselves to everyone around them. For example, with the media, we see all these commercials, and ads that portray false
Growing up, almost every parent will tell you, “you can be anything you set your mind to!” or “the possibilities are endless”. But from an early childhood my parents were creating an opportunity structure for my life. Through my 20 years, how I was taught, the places I went to, the people I interacted with and the implications of society and societal norms followed me. As with many other families, my parents focused on setting me up for the best possible future. But little did they know, they were contributing to a society where some people are allotted more privileges and opportunities than others. I will attempt to deconstruct this complex social construction by looking at gender, social class, family influences, race, and socialization; which will be discussed in greater detail further along. When analyzing sociological concepts like gender, social class, and race sociologists use a “sociological lens”. Using a sociological lens will allow me to take the experiences I had and look at them on a broader cultural level. Ultimately sociologists use sociological lenses to better understand how personal experiences not only impact 1 person but how they can be applied in a broader context, allowing individuals to relate to others in society who may have had similar experiences.
The Sociocultural Lens is a group of theories and perspectives that are based on sociology and sociological theory. They focus on broader aspects of society and how these affect human behavior. The premise is that social workers need to understand individuals within their environmental context. C. Wright Mills asserted that most sociological theories reflect the sociological imagination, a term used to describe the relationship between an individual’s personal experiences and the wider society. Sociological models help social workers think more comprehensively and offer a more balanced approach to their work (Rogers, 2016).
The study of sociology brings people to view topics in a unique way than others. The way we see the world, human behavior, as well as its connection to society from an outside point of view is called social imagination or perception. The sociological imagination “searches for the link between micro and macro levels of analysis,” a concept that basically says that a person lives
After a careful study and a deeper research on an introduction to sociology, I have come to understand that no problem can be solved well enough if one does not have the sociological perspective which is defined as a way of looking at the world through a sociological lens. In fact, there is the need of the lens that will help one to view situations and have the eye to emerge through different views to solve that problem. This mirror has become a doorway that will help one to have a beginner’s mind to approach problems.
Sociology 101 has changed my view on human interaction and has opened my eyes to polar views on the world we live in. Over the course of the semester, we utilized advanced sociological methods to evaluate some of the most controversial topics facing our generation. This class has impacted my life in numerous positive lights through the teachings that Dr. Morlock has provided us.
Sociology is the research and analysis of the human society; meaning sociologist examine why we behave the way we behave, what affects our behavior, and if ordinary things are more complex than they seem. When developing a sociological perspective it makes the “familiar strange” (Conley, 3). When someone is trying to think as a sociologist it is encouraged to question aspects in your life that you thought were normal, which conveniently can make you feel unsure about what lifestyle you are comfortable living in. A sociological perspective is gained when you learn to think through a “sociological lense” that challenges your mind to new levels of thought (Godwin, Lecture). When in rhythm with your sociological mind you reflect on new personal
Growing up, my life was somewhat sheltered compared to the lives of other people my age. I was raised by both my mom and dad in a Christian household, in which I was taught morals based upon our faith. As a result of this upbringing, my parents and I made the decision to enroll me in a private Christian school in sixth grade. In this setting I was protected from the influences of the outside world. All of the language, violence, and temptations were around me, which I began to recognize as I entered my freshman year of high school. Even the walls of the highly respected establishment could not keep the real world out.
Sociology is a part of everyday life. People experience sociological changes when they get married, get a new job, or get discriminated against. All of these things can alter a person’s perspective on a group of people or even the world. Since the beginning of this class, I have personally endured several sociological changes in my life. I recently started a new job. I’m meeting new and wonderful people and I no longer dread having to go to work. I have also begun setting plans for my wedding to the one girl who I know will make everyday better than the one before. But, perhaps the one instance that has affected me the most and the deepest was when my parents got a divorce.
An employer is an individual or organization who employs one or more person (employee) for wages or salary, while an employee works for an individual or organization (employer) for wage or salary. The wage that is earn is used to cover expenses by the employee, in the form of bills, to cover health, housing, food, utilities, all seen as a necessity.
Just like what we see, hear, and do everyday, our sociological factors also have effects on our perceptions of the world and things around us. An individual’s social location can lead him to wealth and success or prevent him from them. The positive consequences of being social animals lead human beings to become more social as time goes by, and symbolic interaction among individuals help us connect and understand each other in a society. Through the lenses of such sociological theories, sociological imagination “enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society” and helps us understand the connections between social structures and our individual lives (Milgram).
From The Sociological Imagination by C. Wright Mills addresses a distinction between personal troubles and public issues. Mills uses specific examples like unemployment and societal development. Mills explains the ability to connect the individual problems with societal problems. Throughout the text, we can see how Mills uses the perspective of an individual to explain the perspective of society and vice versa. Using sociological imagination, I will explain how education is influenced by society and history, and how there is positive and negative lessons to be taken out of The Sociological Imagination.
Society is complex and diverse. In such a diverse society, individuals may have different life experiences to one another. While some individuals have positive viewpoints in the society, others may differ in an negative aspect. In this socio-autobiography, I argue that the society is an nightmare as humans develop a whole range of complex sociological concepts. The following paragraphs will explain the struggle of my life experiences being influenced by using the concepts of gender, race and ethnicity and power.
C. Wright Mills, author of “The Sociological Imagination”, explains how the sociological imagination plays a part in human development, and how certain social forces affecting the lives of those who are constantly facing hardships. He explains that the problems that we face as human beings involve the history of social factors. In order to understand one’s personal biography, you would have to be able to know how social history affects your life. By him saying that “The sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society. That is its task and its promise” (Mills, 1959: 15), he means that the history that we experienced has an impact on our everyday lives. The correlation between history and biography can help us understand why we experience the things that we experience. Mills goes on to explain that our personal problems are, instead, wider public issues that have been
After reviewing the article titles given for this first assignment, I believe they indicate that Sociology, generally speaking, is not only a study of diversity or commonality in traits among people; it is also a science about factors in a person’s life and how these factors culminate responses. Interestingly enough, its topics of concern seem to be directly determined by current and common events of the world. Through the invention and expansion of new ideas, popular trends and fashions through time, Sociology adapts to responsibly to service the very subjects of interest it studies; for, even the slightest change of a person’s daily experience can have an insurmountable impact on attitude, personal growth, family