Sociological Imagination Issues - Essay Example

“Social imagination”, Mills submits, “is the capacity to shift from one perspective to another; the capacity to range from the most impersonal and remote transformations to the most intimate features of the human self—and the see the relations between the two of them”  (1959, p. 3). In simple words, Mills seeks people’s misconceptions and lack of broad vision where they mistakenly relate their problems with their cultural characteristics i.e. public issues, and thus are entrapped in a false imagination consequently.

 While making a comparative analysis of Mills’ concept of entrapment, it becomes evident that the notion maintains imperative significance even in the contemporary world of the 21st century, where though countless changes have taken place in social norms, cultural values, and prevailing laws, yet the individuals have not surrendered this entrapment from their mind. It is therefore, they associate their problems with the traditions and customs, and public issues that existed in their society many decades ago. Modern society presents various examples of this sociological imagination. Taking the example of renowned feminist writer and lesbian rights activist Dorothy Allison, it appears very accurate when she links the miseries of her childhood with male dominance in US society. It is therefore she declares marriage as well as physical and spiritual relationships of women with men as unnatural and impracticable due to the exploitation of the emotions, feelings, and physical charms of women at the hands of men. She had been the victim of pedophilia, child abuse, and molestation at the age of five when her stepfather used to torture her and her mother both physically and sexually. “Social injustice”, Zaidi (2006, p. 31) views, “serves as the bleakest aspect of not only the contemporary world but also of the most primitive clans and tribes consisting of cave dwellers of Palaeolithic and Neolithic eras. It has been the root cause of man’s entire dismay, displeasure, and dissatisfaction since his birth in the world of bitter reality, and has originated grievances, turbulence, and turmoil to the generations from the very beginning till today”. Hence, she was entrapped between her childhood experience of sexual harassment and the natural attraction of males and females to each other, which unites both genders into an intimate relationship of marriage and family. “There was no meaning”, she (2005, p. 218) declares, “in what my stepfather did to me; but the stories I have made out of it do have meaning. So, I need you to do more than survive; as writers, as revolutionaries, tell the truth, your truth in your way”. Allison looks at negating these pure feelings altogether, neglecting the very reality that the present-day world offers equal status and opportunities for growth to individuals belonging to both genders. “My age, my family background”, she states, “the region and class in which I grew up, and yes, my times---the political and moral eras I have come through—have shaped me” (2005, p. 209). This type of entrapment brings difficulties and problems for the individuals at large, where they seem to be unable to identify the very fact that their problems are merely the outcome of their character, and the public issues indicate the deviance, perversion, and injustices prevailing within their social establishment. “To analyze the effects”, Mills observes, “it is important to see the world with a sociological state of mind it is essential to see it whole, rather prescribing one single event to one’s miseries” (1959, p. 170). Hence, Mills declares people’s lack of foresight and vision as the root cause of their entrapment.

To conclude, it is obvious that Mills has successfully pointed out a social problem the significance and truthfulness of which is valid as it was in the past century. People analyze and measure their strengths, weaknesses, successes, and failures by taking them as part of their culture. Since different people lead their lives in different ways and get involved in different types of socio-economic and cultural activities, social traits should not be considered as the cause of one’s triumphs or deprivations altogether. “Mills considers”, Ritzer views, “structural functionalism have tended to focus on social norms, mores, and values” (1988, p. 222). Consequently, people lay stress on prevailing social norms and public issues while taking into account their problems.