Analyzing Contemporary Society: Sociological Imagination and Issues

This essay delves into the challenges faced by sociologists when studying contemporary society, particularly concerning ethical considerations, privacy, and the ever-changing social structures. It emphasizes the importance of sociological imagination, as conceptualized by C. Wright Mills, in understanding the connection between individual experiences and broader public issues. Using the example of a student facing economic hardships in funding his education, the essay illustrates how personal troubles can be linked to public concerns through the sociological lens. It concludes that sociological imagination is a crucial tool for analyzing the intricate relationship between personal lives and societal issues, providing a framework for understanding the root causes of social problems and their impact on individuals.

Running head: CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

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Culture comprises of certain set of beliefs, attitudes, and objects along with several other
characteristics, which are regarded as common to the members of a specific group or society.
However, in contemporary society, the term culture can be associated with aspects of being well
knowledgeable, conversant and courteous (Mills pp-71-91). Sociologists identify society as the
individuals who communicate in a manner in order to share common cultural dimensions. Both
culture and society are said to be intricately associated. Culture supposedly embraces certain
elements of the society, while a society is said to comprise of people who interrelated with
common culture, goals and purposes, which further shapes the way of living (Ritchie et al pp-5-
99). This essay will intend to study the issues and challenges experienced while studying society.
In addition to this, the paper will closely intend to consider the concept of sociological
imagination, and further analyse an individual’s issues and concerns with the broader public
issue by shedding light on a particular contemporary instance.
Research, which involves human society and subjects, must adhere to certain level of
ethical and moral standards to ascertain the subjects and elements are unharmed. There lay
many issues while conducting a study on society by the sociologists. One of the most significant
challenges experienced while studying a society is adhering to the principles of sociological as
well as other human-centric investigation related to privacy and discretion of the society (Slade
and Paul pp-1510-1529). However, while studying sociological aspects sociologists must take
into consideration these ethical deliberations of social subjects. Another major ethical challenge
faced while examining a society is issues related to ethical dilemma, authority and consent.
Informed consent or authority can be considered as a prerequisite for a wide range of
investigations (Montano and Danuta pp-95-124). However, it must be noted that conversant or
informed sanction becomes a particular issue when a researcher intends to incorporate specific

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populations in the study. There have been a large number of ethical challenges and issues,
which are involved while studying convicts, prisoners and other segments of vulnerable
populations. Sociologists often experience challenges while comprehending the changing
structures of the society (Sorokin pp-1-12). Aspects of norms and beliefs of traditions, cultures
and society can have immense impact on the characteristics of individuals by creating changes in
the social structure. Social structure comprises of elements that incorporate culture, traditions,
social class, roles, attitudes and social institutions (Henslin et al. pp-1-34). The changing
characteristics of social structure become a challenging factor while studying society and its
people. Social structure is not stagnant and further reacts to the transformations in culture,
expertise, economic conditions, and community associations along with societal demands, needs
and priorities. These forms of structural transformations develop fundamental and enduring
changes to the way society organizes itself (Ritzer and Jeffrey pp-1-10). However, several
functionalist as well as conflict theories intend to evaluate broad aspects of social structure
through the lens of macro sociological standpoint, known as symbolic interactionists have a
greater level of inclination to evaluate interpersonal social interpersonal communication within a
societal context.
The scale of sociological investigation along with the methods of conducting them have
varied aspects, however the sociologists involved in studying society comprises some common
attributes and characteristics. Each of the social investigators perceives society through the lens
of ‘sociological imagination’ by sociologist C. Wright Mills that is sometimes regarded as
‘sociological lenses or concepts of ‘sociological perspective’ (Giddens et al pp-1-34). According
to Mill’s sociological imagination the way individuals comprehend their own past along with
others in association to history as well as social structurism. This can be referred as the method

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applied by Mills to address and focus on the dilemmas related to the macro or micro level
divisions in the society. The concept of sociological imagination is referred as the competence to
view the personal and private issues of an individual in the context of the broader public
concerns that are responsible to structure them. According to Mill’s sociological imagination,
the subject of social science can explain that society and not an individual’s own shortcoming
and failures can be regarded as responsible for the plethora of societal issues (Goffman pp-1-98).
However, apparently impersonal and inaccessible or secluded services and forces can be
associated to events occurring in an individual’s life. This entails that individuals may view at
their own personal issues and challenges as forms of social issues and further link those personal
concerns with societal mechanism (Mills pp-71-91). However, sociological imagination
facilitates individuals to draw the comparison and contrast between individual personal
problems and challenges and public or societal concerns. The primary concern of Mill lie on
the issues and challenges that people experience within societal context which have societal and
collective roots and are further shared by other (Laliberte and Debbie pp-373-388). However,
these roots often draw connections with the structural formulations of the society and the relative
transformations occurring within it. As a result, it is essential for sociologists or other social
scientists exhibit the reasons why these issues comprises of sociological causes further
facilitating the individuals to comprehend the way the events of one’s life is associated to the
structure as well as societal past (Denzin and Norman pp-1-54). However, it is significant to
identify that the notion of Mill’s sociological imagination should not be employed as a form of a
justification for an individual for not trying to accomplish achievements and success in life.
Mills in one of his article has established the theory and notion that demonstrates the
dissimilarity between a ‘personal issue’ and ‘broader public concern’ further known as ‘public

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issue’ (Waddock and Josep pp-265-284). However, this concept of Mill has facilitated to
recognize the association between one’s own individual concerns and challenges that develop on
a larger domain.
An instance of a student can be sighted as an instance to understand the distinction
between an individual’s problems relating to the public issue. An event of a student experiencing
economic resistance and struggle to fund his own education can be recognized by shedding light
on the theory of sociological imagination. Jamey, the student related to the aforementioned issue
is supposedly pursuing business course to achieve his academic degree. Being, financially
incompetent his education contributions have been aided by student loans. However,
consistent education loan has resulted to him face considerate student liability and debts post his
university completion. This can be referred as a personal issue because the aspects he has been
experiencing belongs to his own personal domain. However, it must be noted that Jamey’s
individual problem of students loan cannot be sighted as a fundamental concern as, there
consist an abundance of students across the world facing similar challenges (Mills pp-71-91).
Thus, Jamey’s student debt problem can be linked with the broader context of public issue.
Being, a public societal subject of matter, there is a great population of students experiencing
debts and financial overdue that eventually influence the student community within the
domain of the university. Such problems related to students’ financial crisis of aiding education
can be perceived as broader context of public societal issue because of the way they expand
beyond the domain of an individual’s personal and confidential issues further comprehending
social structure (Henslin et al. pp-1-34). Sociological imagination can be implemented as an
effective tool in order to analyze the varied aspects of individual’s lives and of the society.

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Through the lens of sociological imagination such issues and be comprehended to perceive the
association of personal and private issues and the broader context of public issue.
Therefore, from the above discussion it can be concluded that an integrated relationship
between personal and societal concerns can be perceived through the lens of Mill’s sociological
imagination. The paper has effectively evaluated various challenges researchers face while
studying a society and further considering the concept of sociological imagination by shedding
light on one’s personal problem and broader public issue.

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