Question

How are personal troubles different from public issues? Living in the United States,why do we often blames ourseld for the personal problems we face ?

How can using the sociological imagination give us the power to change the world?

Answer 1

The sociological imagination represents an outlook towards ourselves and our society, which encourages us to think beyond our personal perspective and adopt a more holistic view of our daily life. More specifically, the sociological imagination asks us to develop a critical understanding of we are the result of a historical process and how we function within a larger social framework. If we adopt the sociological imagination, it would become immediately apparent how many of the issues we face are in fact due to social forces beyond our control.

The American society tends to promote the view that individuals are wholly responsible and accountable for the outcomes of events in their lives. As individuals, we internalise these ideals and subscribe to the belief that our skills, abilities and hard work dictate the course of our lives. However, we tend to ignore factors such as gender, race, ethinicity, class and other identities that play an implicit, yet powerful role in determining our future.