Sociology Essay: Personal Biography and Sociological Imagination

This essay applies C. Wright Mills' concept of the sociological imagination to the author's personal experiences in Canada, focusing on the issue of racism within a multicultural society. The author reflects on how their understanding of social forces, particularly prejudice against Muslims, has evolved through the application of sociological imagination. The essay begins by explaining Mills' definition of sociological imagination as the ability to connect individual experiences with broader societal and historical contexts. The author then shares personal observations of racism, discusses the influence of societal attitudes and political policies, and analyzes how the sociological imagination allows for a more critical and humanistic perspective. The essay emphasizes the importance of sociological imagination in understanding social issues and promoting a more informed and empathetic approach to complex social phenomena. The author highlights how their own views have been transformed by the ability to detach from self-centered perspectives and consider the wider social forces at play.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
Sociology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

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Introduction
Sociological Imagination by Mills
The book Sociological Imagination reflects the concerns of the author C. Wright Mills on
the sociological perspective of intelligence, which nowadays, is mostly guided by the
administrative concerns. By the term sociological imagination, Mills meant the “quality of
mind”, which helps one to make sense of the individual and the societal history and making a
connection between both (Mills, 2000). The purpose of this essay is to showcase the sociological
imagination in my perspective, relating it with the experience I have faced.
Discussion
Canada is a multicultural country where I have spent the majority of my life. During my
adolescent years, I have seen the problem of racism in the country. In this context, I will share
my experience and how it relates to the sociological imagination which ultimately shaped by
perceptions and made myself to who I am standing today (Selwyn, 2017). Out of the various
instances of sociological issues one faces in Canada, I would like to focus on the aspect of racism
which still exists despite the Justin Trudeau’s liberal government policies.
Muslims have been the main victims of racism in the place I have grown in. One of our
neighbors was Mr. Ahmed whose religion was Islam. They have been subjected to various
prejudices and discrimination which they used to share with my parents for being Muslim.
Canadian society has Islam phobia due to many reasons like the connection of terrorism with this
particular religion. In the past, I too used to have a prejudices watching a community where
women dresses up in burqa/ hijab, and the men with skull caps and a particular style mustaches.
The discriminatory attitude of the society is due to the influence of extreme rights, and a

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judgmental attitude which blurs their perception to distinguish right from wrong. This attitude
has grown up to such an extent where recently a mosque in Quebec was under an attack and
many people lost their life in the shootout. It was an open demonstration of hatred towards the
Muslim community and this particular fact itself shows how racism is rampant even due to the
liberal policies of the government. The neo Nazi and the nationalist groups are also responsible
for spreading the anti-Islamic propaganda along with anti-immigrant demands which is majorly
responsible for the creation of hate, prejudices and discrimination (Mills, 2019).
While growing up in a multicultural society, my perception could have changed where
people discriminate people from conservative religions, however, applying the sociological
imagination, I have learned to critically evaluate the condition, and judge it in the lens of a more
humanistic approach (Restivo, 2018). As Mills pointed out that apolitical approach and
unawareness pertaining to the social understanding could be dangerous to the society, most of
the crimes perpetrated towards the minorities and immigrant are also due to such mindset.
Therefore, it is the pivotal need of the society to form a sociological imagination which helps us
to connect the individual as well as the social history to come to an effective solution (Crowley,
2019). Similarly, the perspective of the Canadians in respect to the Islamic minorities can come
to a settlement only when there is sufficient room for the cultivation of sociological imagination.
The intellectuals should also internalize the sociological approach which would help to evaluate
a situation and analyze it in a further good light. I have changed my attitude towards the religious
minorities as soon as I have learned to associate the self with the society, and understanding
while withdrawing myself from the social forces including culture, socialization, social
interaction, etc. While doing so, it has helped me make a decision on a global perspective instead
of a self-centered one.

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Conclusion
Sociological imagination lets the people understand the social forces that surrounds our
lives. Moreover, it helps to detach us from these forces and think by separating them and
analyzing from a bigger perspective. Moreover, the modern day capitalistic regime force ones to
follow the particular reign without using one’s own judgments. Therefore, according to the
Sociological imagination, one should widen their perspective regarding the social influences and
how it affect our lives.

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References
Mills, C. W. (2000). The sociological imagination. Oxford University Press.
Selwyn, N. (2017). Education, technology and the sociological imagination–lessons to be learned
from C. Wright Mills. Learning, Media and Technology, 42(2), 230-245.
Mills, K. (2019). C. Wright Mills Through his Letters–His Time in Innsbruck and the Making of
The Sociological Imagination. Österreichische Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft, 47(4), 61-68.
Restivo, S. (2018). The human dimensions of the sociological imagination. In The Age of the
Social (pp. 61-74). Routledge.
Crowley, R. (2019). White teachers, racial privilege, and the sociological imagination. Urban
Education, 54(10), 1462-1488.