worth 20% of your overall grade in this course. The purpose of this assignment is to have you apply your sociological imagination and to reflect on your own life history by applying concepts and theor

“To systematically study and analyze the various elements that constitute a society’s structure and the relationships among these elements” • Sociologists strive to use scientific standards of research to study society, but can use myths as a starting point in beginning a study • Sociologists use systematic research techniques and methods to investigate and present findings Introduction to Sociology • Sociology involves looking for and looking at social patterns in • Social variables (age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and so on) • Social institutions (education, religion, family) • Social interactions Why Study Sociology?

• It is useful to study sociology to achieve a greater understanding of: • The social world (social practices, attitudes, institutions) • Yourself (how you relate to social patterns) • Others in a multicultural and diverse Canada • Nations and their institutions Introduction to Sociology Social Inquiry begins with • Observation (culture, behaviours, inequalities, social trends, patterns, movements) • U nderstanding • Research/testing • Noting patterns • Identifying issues/social problems • Identified areas for change and improvement Introduction to Sociology • Society : “group of people within a limited territory who share a common set of behaviours, beliefs, values, material objects (together referred to as culture), and social institutions that exist as a coherent system.” • Really, a society is made up of individuals who participate in, create and change it • Society is not an abstract notion Introduction to Sociology • Individuals create society, yet society also creates us • Sociology attempts to understand the social world, how individuals shape it, and how it shapes individuals • Our current social climate is hyper -individualized and places great emphasis on individual values, opinions, beliefs, personal motivations, and feelings. • As inherently social beings, we all live in societies and interact with others on a daily basis, making the study of society relevant to everyone Introduction to Sociology • We like to think we are individuals. • Yet, look around at your surroundings and observe how similar we actually are. • Examples: clothing, career goals, pathway to reach that goal, foods, lifestyles, speech, body language, behaviours, etc. • Are our individual choices really our own? • Human behaviour cannot be fully explained by analyzing individual psychology Introduction to Sociology • Who taught you how to behave in public settings? • Why did you chose to buy and wear the clothing that you are wearing today? • When you chat with friends and strangers, how do you know the boundaries of physical proximity, tone of voice, body languages, etc? Introduction to Sociology • We are deeply affected, influenced, and shaped by those around us, both close and far • We may not have as much individuality as we would like to think • We are products of our social surroundings Introduction to Sociology • Social rules are not often usually taught to us explicitly • We learn social rules of behaviour ( norms ) by observing and internalizing the culture around us, imitating the accepted behaviours that we see • When someone violates the expectations we have in our society, that is often when they become obvious Introduction to Sociology • Our society teaches us to look inwards at ourselves when problems arise, rather than looking outward at the social conditions • Ex. If we apply and don’t get a job, we tend to blame ourselves rather than discriminatory hiring practices, corporate globalization, policies, etc. The Sociological Imagination Reflective Writing Reflect on the following questions:

• How have I gotten to where I am today? • What people or groups have influenced where you are today, your goals in life, your interests? • Why have you pursued to develop certain skills over others? • Why do you value what you value? • Why are you pursuing an education? • What limitations do you face and why do you think that you face them? Introduction to Sociology • Sociologist Peter Berger : Sociology helps us understand that, “things are not what they seem” • i.e. Sociology can provide new ways of understanding and approaching problems and making decisions in everyday life • Sociology may change you for ever, you may always see the world in a different way after taking a sociology class The Sociological Imagination • Term coined by American Sociologist C. Wright Mills (1916 - 1962) • “the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society.” • Seeing the link between personal troubles and public issues The Sociological Imagination • Personal troubles: “private problems of individuals and the networks of people with whom they associate regularly” • Can be solved by the individual themselves • Credit card debts, personal “troubles” like homelessness or unemployment on a small scale The Sociological Imagination • Public Issues : “are problems that affect large numbers of people and often require solutions at the societal level” • Systemic unemployment, vast homelessness, illnesses, etc • Display larger patterns beyond the control of an individual’s power or ability The Sociological Imagination • The sociological imagination helps us distinguish between personal troubles and public issues and to see and understand how personal troubles may be related to public issues. • Understanding microlevel issues by looking at the macro level • Society, not the individual is the primary focus • The sociological imagination allows us to understand individuals’ circumstances as shaped by social forces • The sociological imagination helps us to understand the connections between the political and the personal. In many ways, these are interlinked The Sociological Imagination • The sociological perspective:

“the special point of view sociology that sees general patterns of society in the lives of particular people” • Seeing the general in the particular • Seeing the strange in the familiar • Seeing society in everyday life The Sociological Imagination • Applying the sociological perspective allows us to: • Assess the truth behind “common sense” understandings and assumptions • Helps us see the opportunities and constraints in our lives • Empowers us to be active participants in our society • Helps us live in a diverse world The Sociological Imagination • Society is the main cause of poverty and other social problems (not biology, personal failure) • Sociological imagination turns personal problems into public issues • Is the key to bringing people together to create the change needed in society Discussion & Reflection • As Mills sees it, how are personal troubles different from public issues? • Living in Canada, why do we often blame ourselves for the personal problems we face? • How can using the sociological imagination give us power to change the world? • How can the sociological imagination/perspective help us understand that society shapes our individual lives? • Homelessness: • What are some of the “common sense” assumptions that people make about homelessness in Canadian society and what do we see when we look at the problem from a sociological perspective? Introduction to Sociology • Why study sociology?

 helps us gain a better understanding of our selves and our social world  enables us to see how behaviour is largely shaped by the groups to which we belong and by the society in which we live  will help you develop an understanding of those around you  can provide a global perspective  It helps us understand how socializing influences shape our opinions  It allows us to challenge perceptions such as stereotypes What can you do with sociology? Introduction to Sociology Sociological research is highly valuable and used by: • Government agencies (policy makers) • Educational Institutions • Health Care Institutions and Practicioners • Human Services (social work, counselling, therapy, etc) • Businesses (marketing, HR -Labour Relations, advertising) • Communications (journalism, social media, public relations, community engagement) 4 different kinds of Sociology: Public, Professional, Critical & Policy sociology • Professional Sociology : academic audience, professionals, scholars • Critical Sociology : acts at the “conscience of professional sociology” by reminding professional sociologists of its values and guiding questions, with the aim to make sure sight of shared goals aren’t lost to academia 4 different kinds of Sociology: Public, Professional, Critical & Policy sociology • Policy Sociology: aims to conduct research for governments and corporations to develop laws, policies, regulations, rules, plans, etc. • Public Sociology : Addresses the public, those outside of academia and politics, aiming to make research readable and understood but the general population That’s all for today!

• Thanks for paying attention  Discourse • Is a conceptual framework for understanding and thinking of a problem, issue or topic • Is created through common assumptions, vocabulary, rules, logic etc.