Use your sociological imagination to reflect on your position in Australian society today. What social factors have shaped who you are? (750 words) In this essay I will reflect upon how social factors such as gender and family life have influenced my position in Australian society. At the age of 13 my parents decided that I was old enough to catch the train into the city. When my brother reached this age my parents were more reluctant in allowing him the same privilege, according to them I was more mature so they trusted that I would be responsible. However, this opinion differed to other things we did when growing up such as going to parties and going out at nigh. My parents were hesitant and were always reluctant to let me go especially when I first started asking. At parties I was sent off with …show more content…
My brother started going to parties at a younger age and the advice he was given was to “stay away from alcohol and drugs” and “call when you want to be picked up”. When I started going out with friends at night my parents were never comfortable unless they knew I was with a big group and that my male friends would also be there. Again, this differs from my brother’s experience. This change in my parent’s attitude towards my brother and myself demonstrate how gender plays such a strong role in how individuals are treated. These examples explore how two people can be in the same situation but are treated differently purely because one is female and one is male. The attitude my parents had towards my safety was reflected by the idea of the risks associated with being a
The concept of “sociological imagination” is one that can be explained many different ways. A simple way to think of the sociological imagination is to see it as a way a person thinks, where they know that what they do from day to day in their private lives (like the choices they make), are sometimes influenced by the larger environment in which they live (Mills 1959, 1). What C.W. Mills meant by this concept is that it is the ability to “understand the larger historical scene in terms of its meaning for the inner life and the external career of a variety of individuals” (1959, 3). In other words, the concept of sociological imagination is the ability to realize that the choices people make and their personal environments are often
Gaines uses Mill's concept of the Sociological Imagination by viewing the world as a detached observer. This means that a sociologist removes themselves from whatever they are examining and attempts to observes as an outsider would. Gaines does this when she goes and interacts with other students to inquire the reason why the four Suburban kids had committed suicide. Gain is seeing through a sociological perspective rather than personal. Gaines states "how in the white suburban high schools in towns like Bergenfield, the "burnouts" are often the kids near the bottom academically, economically, and sociologically" (Gaines, p. 11).
A way to approach sociology is to carry out a sociological imagination. One way to describe sociological imagination is"the ability to think yourself away from the familiar everyday life”(quoted from C. Wright Mills) and to look at society with an entirely different perspective. Its about thinking outside of your own mind and your way of seeing things. This essay will discuss gender inequality by looking at society with a sociological imagination. Candace West and Don Zimmerman stated that “gender is a routine accomplishment".
President Barrack Obama did not abuse his executive powers in protecting undocumented immigrants. President Obama wanted illegal children to be protected, yet he stated that his decision would only provide temporary protection. He knew that he would have to reform immigration, and DACA would not be a pathway to receive citizenship. However, Obama knew his policy could be rejected after a new president would take office. Shortly After, the 45th President was not welcomed with the usual open arms of the American people, due to his generalizations. In 2016, during his presidential campaign, Trump called Mexicans “Rapist” and “Criminals.” It also seemed he had experienced tensions with other minorities such as Arabs. Even though the majority of undocumented immigrants has risen from Asia, Trump’s decision on DACA singles out a racial group for discrimination, particularly Mexicans.
As cliché as it sounds, Dr. Seuss was right. “There is no one alive that is youer than you.” From a sociological persepective, this is also “truer than true”. As individuals we are cultured and moleded by our society from the moment we are born. Every society, although there may be similiarities, will also have many differences due to the influence of its history and individuals. The history and individuals, are also in turn, influenced by its society. That is why it is important in the furthering of understanding a society, to observe it through the eyes of an outsider.
The occupational future I plan is to provide a service that helps teen parents and their children get an education. My goal is to change the statistics that are against teen parents and to stop the social stigma placed on them. Why would I choose to help teen parents? How could I have such a specific goal and occupational interest at the age of 18? The answer lies within my sociological imagination. A sociological imagination is the understanding of a broader historical background within an individual that affects the social outcome of an individual (1959 Mills). It is important to understand the sociological imagination because one can find the cause of an effect within the sociological imagination.
Sociological imagination is merely the connection between a person and the society. Every person is connected to and influenced by society to a different extent. Some people are completely absorbed in society and feel obligated to keep up with the trends, or else they feel like an outlier. On the other hand, some people do not keep up with the trends of society because they could care less about others opinions. Sociological imagination can be used to show the relationship between both those types of people and the society, and it can be used to explain how people view society from their point of view. When people look at societies from an outsider’s point of view, “rather than only from the perspective of personal experiences and cultural biases” (Schaefer 4), they are able to notice the things that shape and mold their character. The outsider perspective also provides them with a better understanding of themselves by understanding the relationship between them and society.
Sociological Imagination was written in 1959 by C. Wright Mills who argued that for one to “think critically about the world around us, we need to use our sociological imagination, the ability to see the connections between our personal experience and the larger forces of society.” (Conley, 2015). History, biography, and social structure are the defining characteristics of sociological imagination. Mills states that our lives are all ordinary and we live our lives according to the time and place we live in. We grasp the meaning of life and reality through understanding ourselves and one another through historical forces and personal experiences.
Sociological imagination is a concept that was defined in 1959 by American sociologist C. Wright Mills. He described it as an awareness of the relationship between a person’s behavior and experience and the wider culture that shaped the person’s choice and perceptions. It helps us relate our own experiences to others. Sociological imagination can help us understand the difference between personal troubles and public issues by determining if it is a problem in someone’s own history or if it is an issue in the society or culture’s history.
“Sociological Imagination,” by Charles Wright Mills is a book about the linkage of an individual’s biography to public issues and world history. Mills creates a concept that allows one to view where their presence is in society. The whole point is to evaluate the larger things that lead one to where they are now. Using the correlation between society and yourself allows one to view your issues as society’s issues. Education is among these issues that can be traced as a social issue. Moreover, my education achievements can be traced back before I was born.
Throughout this essay the sociological imagination is used to analyse the historical, cultural and structural reasons for drug use and abuse. Within this parameter the sociological imagination is applied, using studies research conducted in the United Kingdom, Australia, Russia and the United States. The sociological imagination was defined by Charles Write Mills as a ‘quality of mind’. (Mills quoted by Germov, Poole 2007: 4 ) It is stimulated by an awareness to view the social world by looking at how one’s own personal problems and experiences form a relationship to the wider society. In Victorian society the majority of people believed there was no ‘drug problem.' (Berridge, 1999) The substances used in Britain at the time like opium
Sociological Imagination is the ideology started by the American sociologist C.Wright Mills. He described sociological imagination as an understanding of social norms that people take to be natural in the society is actually abnormal. In the case of wine drinking, it seems to be an activity adults do to put them to sleep. Studies show a glass of wine before bed or during exercise helps human bodies to relax and protect one’s muscles. In other words, this is an activity of self-care that can avoid insomnia. Nonetheless, wine drinking has become a custom in the business world in several Asian countries such as Taiwan, China, Japan and Korea, which often lead to alcoholism, liver disease, or cardiovascular.
Occasionally everyone has suffered from depression, weather it was long term or short term. Feeling hopelessness, irritablity, or feeling anxious or “empty” these symptoms can greatly effect people’s daily routines. Suddenly, waking up in the morning, trying to fall asleep or simply interacting with other people becomes one of the most difficult challenges. Depression can be cause by many things such as financial issues, relationship problems, family problems or an individual just may not be happy. Although, if this person uses their social imagination it may be a little easier for them to cope with their depression. Looking at their problems in a more general perspective helps them realize they are not alone and these are daily problems
The Sociological Imagination Sociologists study many aspects in society, and they often look for trends and statistics that best represent the general population. The sociological imagination is the ability for a person to view his personal life in context of the larger population (Open Education Sociology Dictionary, 2017). By doing this, the person can better understand how sociologists analyze the trends, and viewing oneself in this manner can help him see how his life and family may not be significantly different from the rest of the population. This can give the person a sense of comfort knowing that his life is not as different as he might think, and it can help him empathize with the larger population. However, the person may also discover
Exercising: Exercising is not only beneficial for the individual engaging in it, but for the whole society. Exercising is scientifically proven to lower disease and improve happiness. When a society is more happy they engage in more positive behavior. A society that is more engaged will more likely advocate for justice and the well being of others.