Essay Plan: Relevance of Sociological Imagination in Modern Australia

This essay plan examines the relevance of the sociological imagination in understanding contemporary Australian society, focusing on the social issue of same-sex marriage and homosexuality. The plan includes an introduction, exploring same-sex marriage as a social discomfort, a mental illness or deviant behavior, and an identity or behavior. The essay will use the sociological imagination to analyze how history, biography, and their relationship shape perspectives on this issue. The plan also considers how societal views have shifted, from considering homosexuality a mental illness to a collective identity. The conclusion suggests that although same-sex marriage is a major social issue in Australia, acceptance and understanding are important for maintaining peace within society. The essay plan references key sociological theories and research.

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1A
Social imagination plays a very important role in order to distinguish between the
troubles at a personal level and the issues on the public level. For understanding the
contemporary Australian society, the sociological imagination proves to be very much
relevant. Within a society, history and biography and the relations between the two are
grasped by us by the help of the sociological imagination. In order to prove this, a social issue
of same-sex marriage/ homosexuality has been chosen within the Australian context. Same-
sex marriage, years ago was considered totally unacceptable not only in Australia but
throughout the world. For this, an essay plan would be constructed which would include an
introduction to the same-sex marriage/ homosexuality topic; then some of its important areas,
i.e. same-sex marriage as a social discomfort, same-sex marriage considered as a mental
illness or Deviant Behaviour and same-sex marriage considered as an identity or behaviour
would be highlighted. Lastly, a conclusion would be drawn on the chosen issue.
1B
Introduction
In Australia, one of the most controversial issues lately has been the issue of same-sex
marriage. In addition to this, it was also considered as a mental illness within a person who
wanted to practice it. However, as LGBTQ activists have fought for the right to marry, being
gay has slowly become more acceptable. In Australia, the issue of same-sex marriage is far
from settled (Woods & Pollard, 2017). This essay would portray light on the same-sex
marriage social issues within Australia. With this, a better understanding of this society would
be constructed by using the sociological imagination application.
Same-sex marriage as a social discomfort
For understanding why social discomfort is caused by the same-sex marriage, it is very
important to realise and understand that there are so many people out there who are in support

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of the foundational norm of marriage notion and its ways in which it is considered connected
essentially of our society’s strength. Moreover, in most parts of the world, it has been
considered a social organisation's central feature. In addition to this, for raising children and
painting the norms and values of Australia's given culture, it is considered as an essential
way. Same-sex marriage is now legal in twenty-three different countries, according to the
Pew Research centre (Denzin, 2017). However, there are still some laws which are against
the sexual activity happening between same-sex within some countries. Moreover, in Iran,
Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Yemen, a penalty of death is implemented if anyone is
found involved in any kind of same-sex activity, according to the book A World survey of
Laws: Criminalisation, Protection, and Recognition of Same-Sex Love (Baert & Silva, 2017).
Same-sex marriage considered as a mental illness or Deviant Behaviour
The sociological imagination has changed twice, throughout the history, i.e. between
1969 and 1974, from same-sex relations being a mental illness to deviant behaviour, and
between 1987 and 1992, from deviant behaviour to collective identity (Blair et al., 2009).
From 1969 to 1974, people who grew up within these years belonged to society according to
which homosexuality was considered a mental illness (Cerutti, 2011). This was mainly
because of the insinuations practice by which the lesbian and gays were considered as
mentally ill people. In the sociological imagination, the change in macro-level occurred, and
because of this, these two movements should be considered as major turning points within the
society. Communities were pressurised by each LGBTQ to change their courses and practices
because of which the imagination of the broader public was shifted. In addition to this,
homosexuality was considered as a collective identity in the eye of those people who came
after 1990.
Same-sex marriage considered as an identity or behaviour

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It is a common phenomenon that arguments against same-sex marriage/
homosexuality a behaviour would not be able to understand by the people who, in
understanding same-sex marriage/ homosexuality as an identity use their sociological
imagination because both of them would have completely different notions and stances
regarding it. Sociological imagination, according to C. Wright Mills is considered as a theory
that, rather than biology and genetics, helps in shaping people's lives by social forces on a
greater level and the explanations of the society (Mills 2000). Until the twentieth century,
homosexual identities did not occur. Only homosexual behaviours existed. However, it is said
that homosexual behaviours and homosexual identity are completely two different things.
The heterosexual society within which we live today is surrounded by the topic of
homosexuality and same-sex marriage (Dimock et al., 2013).
Conclusion
Concluding this, it can be said that within Australia, overall same-sex marriage and
homosexuality is still a major social issue. Moreover, whether two people of the same sex can
be approved to marry, people would still be seen opposing the social issue which is the most
concerned area. It is very important for people to accept the facts and behave accordingly so
that peace can be maintained within society.

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References
Baert, P., & Silva, F. C. da. (2017). Social theory in the twentieth century and beyond (2nd
ed., Vol. 3). Cambridge, UK: Polity.
Blair, V. Jennifer, E. & Alison, P. (2009). “Imagining Stereotypes Away: The Moderation of
Implicit Stereotypes through Mental Imagery.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Vol. 81(5): pp. 828–41.
Cerutti, F. (2011). The deeper roots of legitimacy and its future. Review of International
Political Economy, Vol. 18(1):pp. 121–130.
Denzin, N.K., 2017. The research act: A theoretical introduction to sociological methods (1st
ed., Vol. 1). Routledge: pp. 213-379
Dimock, M., Doherty, C. and Kiley, J., 2013. Growing support for gay marriage: Changed
minds and changing demographics. Gen, 10, pp.1965-1980.
Mills, C.W., 2000. The sociological imagination. Oxford University Press. pp. 243
Woods, P. and Pollard, A., 2017. Sociology and teaching: a new challenge for the sociology
of education. Routledge.