Part 1:
Sociological imagination refers to the ability for people with similar problems to bring these problems together and create change by making it a public issue. For example, the McDonald’s on the corner of my block is constantly giving bad service. I know that I am not the only one receiving bad service there. In talking with my neighbors, they too have had problems with bad service at this same McDonald’s.
We have two options: either we stop going to this McDonald’s altogether, or as a group, we can come up with a way to improve the quality of service. We can say something to the store manager directly, and hope that if enough of us speak up that change will happen, or if that doesn’t work, we can take it to the next level of authority. Sooner or later, the noise we make will cause a change.
The previous example might seem small compared to other examples that I could have used, but the point still stands. According to our textbook, C. Wright Mills coined the term “sociological imagination.” His definition of sociological imagination is: the ability to create change by transforming personal problems into public issues (Macionis, page 7).
Understanding the concept behind this term is very important for several reasons. First if we don’t understand that our problems are shared by many other people, we will start to feel lost and alone. This could lead to any number of outcomes: mental illness, and or even suicide. Secondly, once we do understand that our problems are shared by others, we can establish an important support group, or join one that is already in existence. A good example of this would be AA meetings. Third, as a group, we can start to find solutions for our problems. Once we move from the level of personal problem to social problem, it makes it easier for solutions to be found. The saying “many heads are better than one” comes to mind.