Introduction
The definition and understanding of contemporary social problems since the 1950s are not complete without understanding the concept of the sociological imagination. For a proper discernment of this term, it is necessary to support it with other theoretical ideas that best reveal the causes and consequences of both personal and social problems.
It will be apparent that every person in this or that society is faced with one or more social problems, either reinforced by personal problems or explained just by the sociological imagination. From the point of view of a personal character, it is easy to assume that, for example, criminals or inveterate alcoholics are themselves guilty of their situation. However, sociology is not so primitive and often tells us that individual and personal problems are a circumstance or a consequence of more significant problems in society and the state. “Both the correct statement of the problem and the range of possible solutions require any of us to consider the economic and political institutions of the society, and not merely the personal situation and character of a scatter of individuals” (Mills, 2000, p. 15).
Personal Issues and Public Issues
In the classification of personal problems, one can clearly distinguish crucial features, namely, that a person who has suffered from such conflicts blames himself and his shortcomings for their cause. There are many examples of related problems, each of us is exposed to them daily or knows someone who had similar issues and experience in analogous cases. Public or social problems are already complex, as they affect part or all of society living under one culture in any specific state. Therefore, Mills, in his reports, often considers personal problems from the point of view of the sociological imagination. Similarly, he tries to assess the structural features of some personal issues in people in the community.
To better understand such an explanation, one can use the concepts of class and classism and evaluate in detail why certain people are more likely to be unemployed and not adequately educated. If the number of jobless people in population of 1000 can be counted on the fingers of one hand, then in most cases, this will be their problem, which their characteristics and abilities could explain. Nevertheless, in the history of humankind and modern society, unemployment, and as a result, poverty is presented as a social problem, as the cause of the collapse of the state system. Therefore, according to other sociologists, solving such problems requires the intervention of many other factors, such as socio-economic indicators and the work of state institutions (Mills, 2000). This exact statement allows a deeper look at the social construct of society.
Recent studies conducted in the UK have adequately shed light on this concept. According to Savage et al., their comprehensive and numerical analysis, proposing a new model of social classes in the United Kingdom, confirmed the presence of social inequality, which explains the reasons for the low level of education and high unemployment (2013, p. 245). As figures and maps show, the precariat mostly lives in old industrialized regions with few opportunities for quality education. In addition, their national gross income does not exceed 8,000 pounds sterling per capita, affecting their living standard and often determining their future career prospects (Savage et al, 2013, p. 243). Another thing is already with the highest representatives of the social class. Despite their condition and opportunities, they do not try to solve or at least understand the essence of the problem that arises among the lower classes.
Classism in turn, perfectly intersects with the concept that continues the idea of Mills, namely in words of W. Ryan: to blame the victim, but not the system. That is, in his opinion, people themselves tend to blame the victims of specific problems without trying to understand other factors that can be decisive (Brott et al., 2018). Another problem can be considered, which in people’s opinion, is often caused by personal reasons rather than social ones. Eating disorders, and as a result, anorexia or obesity, are personal problems in terms of their formation. However, the sociological imagination can also explain the problem in terms of cultural and social factors. The data show that there are many more women than men among people with eating disorders in the United States, and according to healthcare experts, this is due to beauty standards (Assari & DeFreitas, 2018). The media often force the ideal of female beauty and harmony, which is why a culture of striving for thinness appears. Social classes also confirm this statement, referring to the low earnings of the female part of the population concerning men, who can more often maintain and monitor their health (Kent, Ricketts, 2022). Hence the assumption that this societal standard imposed by the media and mainstream platforms can be resolved through organic change.
Continuing the idea of social class and its connection with the sociological imagination, one can consider such a social problem as the level of education among poor children. The absence in this case of the sociological imagination and the concept of blaming the victim would mean that most people blame parents for their children learning so little and suffering from it in the future. However, such rhetoric ignores that education, as a large cluster, does not work effectively. Lack of funding, lack of qualified teachers, outdated data and textbooks, and outdated technical devices can play a significant role in children’s education level, rather than the reluctance of parents to study their child (Holmqvist, 2019). The social class of the elite or middle class allows parents of such children to cover expensive primary education in private schools, when, as in public schools, children’s knowledge level will be markedly lower.
Conclusion
In conclusion, according to the concept of Wright Mills, any personal problems should be considered not only from the individual’s approach but also from the point of view of social order, social class, income level, and cultural characteristics. Often, structural problems in society are the primary cause of personal problems not only in individuals but in the whole society, as can be seen from the unemployment rate or the population suffering from various eating disorders. That is not an absolute rule that can be applied to each person in any particular situation. Instead, such a method of determining social and personal problems allows us to take a broader look at certain structural features of the institution, ranging from the family to the economy of the entire state. Understanding and considering the idea of social classes and sociological characteristics makes it possible to resolve such conflicts in society.
References
Assari, S., & DeFreitas, M. (2018). Ethnic variations in psychosocial and health correlates of eating disorders. Healthcare, 6(2), 38. doi:10.3390/healthcare6020038
Brott, H., Kornbluh, M., Incaudo, G., Banks, L., & Reece, J. (2018). Placing a spotlight on rural homelessness: Identifying the barriers and facilitators to successfully supporting homeless families within rural communities. Journal of Poverty, 23(3), 179-201. doi:10.1080/10875549.2018.1549184
Holmqvist, M. (2019). Lack of qualified teachers: A global challenge for future knowledge development. Teacher Education in the 21st Century. doi:10.5772/intechopen.83417
Kent, A., & Ricketts, L. (2022). Gender wealth gap: Families headed by women have lower wealth: St. Louis Fed.
Mills, C. W., & Gitlin, T. (2000). The sociological imagination. Oxford University Press.
Savage, M., Devine, F., Cunningham, N., Taylor, M., Li, Y., Hjellbrekke, J., Le Roux, B., Friedman, S., & Miles, A. (2013). A new model of social class? findings from the BBC’s Great British Class Survey Experiment. Sociology, 47(2), 219–250.