Define the concept of Sociological Imagination. Provide an example of how you would apply the
Sociological Imagination to a current social issue within society such as racial conflict and law
enforcement, or education funding. What is your perspective on the issue if you use the
Sociological Imagination?
Sociological Imagination is an analytical strategy that sociologist C. Wright Mills implemented.
The concept suggests one’s ability to observe social matters objectively by stepping back in an
effort to see the whole situation rather than a small portion. An objective view will deepen one’s
understanding of social issues (GCU, 2015). An example of using social imagination is
comparing slavery and mass incarceration regarding cheap labor. Studies revealed that slave
owners made huge profits from slave labor with commodities such as sugar, tobacco, rice, and
cotton (USI, 2011).
Mass incarceration can be viewed as another form of slavery. Inmates are known to work during
their time in prison making various products for companies who in turn make huge profits.
However, there are companies who make money off of prisoners in other ways. According to
Eric Markowitz (2016), private prison companies lobby congress for extended prison sentences.
Private companies make money from prisoners’ phone calls, video visitation terminals,
healthcare, prisoner transport vans, and radar systems. Also, reports reveal that items such as
cereal and canned soup can cost up to five times the retail price. Although there are activists are
fighting against mass incarceration, private prison companies are concerned that their bottom
line will be affected if crime decreases (Markowitz, 2016).
So, for the above example, sociological imagination reveals that although slavery and mass
incarceration is horrible for those who suffered injustices, the bigger picture pertains to the
gained profits that slave owners and private companies made as a result.
Sociological Imagination to a current social issue within society such as racial conflict and law
enforcement, or education funding. What is your perspective on the issue if you use the
Sociological Imagination?
Sociological Imagination is an analytical strategy that sociologist C. Wright Mills implemented.
The concept suggests one’s ability to observe social matters objectively by stepping back in an
effort to see the whole situation rather than a small portion. An objective view will deepen one’s
understanding of social issues (GCU, 2015). An example of using social imagination is
comparing slavery and mass incarceration regarding cheap labor. Studies revealed that slave
owners made huge profits from slave labor with commodities such as sugar, tobacco, rice, and
cotton (USI, 2011).
Mass incarceration can be viewed as another form of slavery. Inmates are known to work during
their time in prison making various products for companies who in turn make huge profits.
However, there are companies who make money off of prisoners in other ways. According to
Eric Markowitz (2016), private prison companies lobby congress for extended prison sentences.
Private companies make money from prisoners’ phone calls, video visitation terminals,
healthcare, prisoner transport vans, and radar systems. Also, reports reveal that items such as
cereal and canned soup can cost up to five times the retail price. Although there are activists are
fighting against mass incarceration, private prison companies are concerned that their bottom
line will be affected if crime decreases (Markowitz, 2016).
So, for the above example, sociological imagination reveals that although slavery and mass
incarceration is horrible for those who suffered injustices, the bigger picture pertains to the
gained profits that slave owners and private companies made as a result.
