Sociological Imagination Report

Sociology is defined as the “scientific study of human activity in society,” according to Ferrante. These aforementioned human activities constitute numerous endeavors, all of which vary greatly – ranging from seeking an employment opportunities to dining at a restaurant, to shopping for clothes at the local department store to adorning the body with a tattoo. This unique perspective offered by the discipline of sociology can be described as the sociological imagination, a term coined by C. Wright Mills in his 1959 work entitled, The Sociological Imagination. Ferrante defines Mills’ sociological imagination as “a quality of mind that allows people to grasp how remote and impersonal social forces shape their life story or biography.” Essentially, the sociological imagination is a fresh perspective which allows one to look beyond the scope of their personal realm and understand how their life has been influenced by a larger historical and social context. Ms. Simons’ Introduction to Sociology 100 course taught me the importance of the sociological imagination and how I can utilize this concept to better my own life and the world around me. Perhaps the most important aspect to the sociological imagination is the distinction that it makes between troubles and issues. A trouble can be described as a personal need, problem or difficulty
Recognizing that I am one individual living during a specific time and place in the scope of history has been a call to action. I possess the ability to venture outside of my cozy, personal realm and make an impact on the historical aspect of the society in which I currently live. It is apparent that there is much political and social unrest in America today. Rather than remain a victim to such circumstances, I now feel as if I am capable of advocating for change on the macro-level to better the lives of others, in addition to my own