The Sociological Imagination and the American Dream

Sociological Imagination C. Wright Mills, 1959 “The Intersection of History and Biography within the context of Social Structure.” Sociology helps us to see our lives and the lives of others in social and historical context.

Each Component is Essential History: how a society came to be and how it is changing and how history is being made in it. The great narrative. Biography: the nature of "human nature" in a society; what people in a particular society are experiencing, and how they interpret that experience. Human nature is a social creation. Social structure: how the various institutional orders in a society operate, which ones are dominant, how they persist and how they change.

Sociological Imagination, Restated How individual experience and life narrative (little story) is shaped and made meaningful by the playing out of the narrative of history (big story) which we understand by analyzing various social structures and institutions.

Personal Issues in Social Context Connection between Personal issues Public issues of social structure Individual experiences in various and specific situations are shaped by structural changes. Personal problems can only be understood in larger structural context and thus take on social significance. Durkheim’s Suicide: Our most intimate thoughts and feelings have a profound social component.

Sociological Imagination Remains Counter-Cultural Explanations for troubles are individualistic, psychological. Psychological explanations are dominant (in popular culture, etc.). Oprah, Dr. Phil.

The American Dream

The American Dream is the faith held by many in the United States that through hard work, courage, and determination one can achieve financial prosperity and security. Connected to belief in Progress. Connected to belief in Equal Opportunity. Specific content evolves as social conditions change.

Changing Dream Post Civil War: Personal Autonomy, Self-sufficiency: Post Civil War: Personal Autonomy, Self-sufficiency: Be your own bossBe your own boss Homestead ActHomestead Act Little House on the PrairieLittle House on the Prairie Post World War II: Post World War II: Consensus AmericaConsensus America Company, Union, Govt. cooperation Company, Union, Govt. cooperation Middle class life available to blue collar workers with high school education Middle class life available to blue collar workers with high school education Lifetime employment Lifetime employment Single breadwinner Single breadwinner Rise of Suburbia (Like Littleton)Rise of Suburbia (Like Littleton) Cheap energy, housing, education Cheap energy, housing, education Freeway System Freeway System G.I. Bill G.I. Bill Community College System Community College System Clear Path to Middle Class SecurityClear Path to Middle Class Security

American Dream in the 21 st Century Postwar structure has radically changed. Globalization: Investment, jobs Labor Outsourcing Role of digital technologies: Internet and the Death of Distance From Production to Consumption Orientation: From GM to Wal-Mart Bubble economy, huge debt levels. Industrial Economy to Knowledge Economy From manipulation of objects to manipulation of symbols Importance of Human Capital Middle-class risk Increasing income inequality (hidden by housing bubble) Pensions to 401K. Risk shifting. Housing, healthcare, education become much more expensive Path to secure middle-class life much less clear, changing rapidly

Conclusion Biography intersects history in our own time in a powerful way. Biography intersects history in our own time in a powerful way. Understanding this can empower both our private and public selves. Understanding this can empower both our private and public selves. All human phenomena—from the tragic to the trivial—can be understood sociologically.