Sociological Imagination Essay

The sociological imagination is a strong driving force for societies to understanding and change their norms, values, beliefs, and behaviors etc... However, there is much that goes into understanding what a sociological imagination is. So the question must be asked, what is a sociological imagination and how does it affect our views on the world? Simply put there are many things that occur in society that need to be changed in order to have equality and justness in a society or even in the world. Sociology strives to link why humans do certain things and what are the factors that can be changed over time to positively affect society. There are different levels of evaluation in regards to sociological imagination, for example: the difference

Structural functionalism is a very macro view of society which indicates that society as a whole is a large number of different parts that must work together in order for society to survive as a whole (Benokraitis 15). Conflict theory doesn’t focus on how society must work together in order to survive but rather argues the different groups internally fighting for control and power and attempt to examine these different avenues (Benokraitis 15). However, functionalism and conflict theory are similar in that they are very macro views on society, they just look at different sides of the interactions of society. Feminism is very different from the first two because it specifically works with the inequality of woman and their roles in society. Feminism tries to explain social, economic, and political position of woman in society with a view to freeing woman from traditionally oppressive expectations, constrains, roles, and behaviors (Benokraitis 15). The first two looked at society as a whole but from different points of view whereas feminism split society in half, men and woman, and looks to combat the injustice of woman face in all societies around the world. Feminism can be macro and micro in nature. Symbolic interactionism is very different from the three theory explained above, it looks at the world from a more

TV governs what we spend our money on, what we eat, where we eat, and what we find attractive. There is nothing that is done on a day to day bases that is not in some way viewable on TV. Technology is taking over all aspect of our lives. Postmodern theory believes that media and technology have taken us away from our past and how we have existed in the past and moved us to a media dependency. However, conflict theory and postmodern theory are very similar in the fact that the media is used to control the masses and to spread the agenda of the powers that be and in turn acquire power and control. The media has the ability to front line stories and control the general population’s belief by influence and exposure. Because the media has such a powerful control on society and because it controls so much of everyday life I must say that this is why I relate more to the postmodern