The Application of the Sociological Imagination in the Examination of Gender Inequality
Charles Wright Mills was an American sociologist in the nineteenth century who contributed greatly to the field of sociology. He was concerned with individuals in post-World War II society. Mills’ most influential and best-known book was titled The Sociological Imagination. It examines various histories and biographies, as well as the social structures between individuals in society. Mills believed that “neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both” (Mills, 1959, p. 3). With regard to what Mills believed, the sociological imagination is a term that refers to the way sociologists observe and interpret society and the way troubles and public issues are intertwined. A sociological imagination can be used when examining social phenomena such as gender inequality. It is useful for the examination of gender inequality because of the various sociological theories and concepts that can be beneficial to aid in explaining the nature of this phenomenon from a sociological view point. The cause of gender inequality and its prevalence throughout history can be attributed to the cultural socialization of those eras, and the modern movement toward equality between genders throughout society can be examined in the context of deviance from past social norms.
The sociological imagination is a useful concept when analyzing gender inequality, it causes the gradual shift toward equality in Canadian society. This concept allows for a thorough analysis of individual issues in the greater societal context by applying different perspectives in the process. Although today gender inequality still occurs, especially for females in the workplace and certain household, it was more common in past decades. Mills believed that examining history is key to solving and making connections between issues in society. Analyzing...