SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION ACTIVITY
Introduction: C Wright Mills (1959) argued that to understand the experience of an individual or group of individuals, one had to have knowledge of the social and historical context in which people live(d).
So in order to understand human behavior and societies, sociologists consider influences like social institutions, dominant cultural values, and historical events to help in their understanding. Doing this is a process referred to as ‘using a sociological imagination’. In fact, to think like a sociologist, this is the most important process to use.
Instructions for Discussion: Read the description below and use your sociological imaginations to explain Billie’s situation: How may culture, dominant cultural values, particular social institutions, and historical events be influencing her life? Consult the definitions below to aid in your understanding and discussion. Make specific connections to course content.
Billie: Billie identifies as a 22-year-old transgender, heterosexual American female who lives in a conservative, small town in the United States. Billie was born biologically male, but has always known she was female. So when Billie was 18 years old, she began transitioning into living full-time as her true self -- a female.
As an adult, Billie is now experiencing various types of discrimination and hardships: She recently was denied a promotion at work because her supervisor said that she "acts too feminine" and is making her co-workers feel uncomfortable. Billie also works part-time as the manager of an apartment complex, and recently some of the tenants have been treating Billie with disrespect -- ignoring her in the hallways, talking behind her back, and laughing at her when they walk past. Billie's father is also very angry at Billie for transitioning: He told Billie that it's all just a "phase" and for Billie to "just act like a man". Billie's older brother is also very upset: He told Billie he is embarrassed to be around Billie, and thus their relationship has been destroyed. Billie's best friend Keoni has also tried to stop Billie from transitioning: Keoni is worried about Billie, and he told Billie that life would be a lot easier for Billie if he just lived his life as a male. Billie is also trying to date, but she is having trouble fitting in with anyone, especially in this small town. Billie has dreams of meeting the perfect person to spend the rest of her life with, but she also worries about how she will start a family, given various legal barriers, and the general view that many people seem to have about transgender individuals. Thank goodness Billie's mother has stood by her side, and has shown Billie complete love and support through all of this.
Still, these experiences have made Billie very depressed. So recently, Billie has been taking sleeping pills and drinking wine each night in order to relax and fall asleep. And her self-esteem is plummeting: When she looks in the mirror, she doesn’t like what she sees, and she is beginning to hate herself. She thinks she needs to change but she’s not sure what to do. She is being true to herself by living as a female, but it is creating so many problems in her life. Billie wonders if she should just end it all.
Use the following concepts to explain Billie’s personal troubles:
Social institution: An established and organized system of social behavior with a recognized purpose. Examples: family, education, religion, economy, law, criminal justice system, media, and medicine.
Dominant cultural values: The system and meanings associated with the most powerful group in society. Examples: American dream, thinness ideal, sexual double standard, compulsory heterosexuality.
Culture: The knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person and from one generation to the next in a human group or society. We are initially exposed to our culture through family upbringing. Usually, sociologists consider both the larger culture, as well as sub-cultures/counter-cultures.
Society: A large social grouping that shares the same geographical territory and is subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. This idea is connected to culture: The emphasis for 'culture' is on the shared products, ideas, and beliefs of human groups; for 'society', the emphasis is on the geographic territory.
Historical time-period: For the discussion, consider how the situation may have been different 50 or 100 years ago, for example – or how it may be different in the future. This idea is connected to culture – ie, how culture (knowledge, values, and customs, for instance) changes through time.
(Definitions from Diana Kendall’s Sociology in Our times: The Essentials, 2015)