Sociological Imagination Case Study - 728 Words

The sociologist C. Wright Mills has observed that people often believe their private lives can be explained only with respect to their own personal successes and failures. The process of interpreting ones life in the context of ones community or the society in which one lives is called sociological imagination. It is an important process because it lets the individual understand the impact one makes, no matter how small, on the lives of others. A good example of the process can be demonstrated by exploring the effects of one persons unemployment. The case of Jane is hypothetical, but there are many people in circumstances similar to Janes as the American economy still struggles to recover from the mortgage crisis and resulting recession that began in 2008. Jane worked in the same school, Fairlawn Elementary School, for seven years as a second grade teacher. Jane was tenured but because there is so little mobility in the small town where she lives and worked, the teachers at Fairlawn generally stay, once hired, until their retirement. Thus, Jane was the newest member of the professional staff and the first to lose her job when cuts had to be made. Jane is married and has two young children, ages four and two. Janes husband is in the construction and remodeling business, which can be lucrative when he is working, but jobs are not always steady. The family relied on Janes regular pay check. They also relied on her benefits; the school district offered a goodShow MoreRelatedSociological Imagination1017 Words   |  5 PagesThe concept of â€Å"sociological imagination† is one that can be explained many different ways. A simple way to think of the sociological imagination is to see it as a way a person thinks, where they know that what they do from day to day in their private lives (like the choices they make), are sometimes influenced by the larger environment in which they live (Mills 1959, 1). What C.W. Mills meant by this concept is that it is the ability to â€Å"understand the larger historical scene in terms of its meaningRead MoreSociology Imagination833 Words   |  4 Pagesdefined sociological imagination as th e vivid awareness of the relationship between experience and the wider society. The sociological imagination is the capacity to shift from one perspective to another: from the political to the psychological; from examination of a single family to comparative assessment of the national budgets of the world; from the theological school to the military establishment; from considerations of an oil industry to studies of contemporary poetry.[1] Sociological Imagination:Read MoreThe Sociological Imagination and Freedom from Feelings of Entrapment1133 Words   |  5 PagesThe sociological imagination is the â€Å"quality of mind† (Mills, 1959: 4) that enables individuals to look outside their private sphere of consciousness and identify the structures and institutions in society that influence or cause their personal experiences. In this way, by looking at the bigger picture, they can understand their place in society and explain their circumstance in terms of societal influence. It was developed by Mills in a time of great social upheaval – industrialisation, globalisationRead MoreThe Sociological Imagination By C. Wright Mills857 Words   |  4 PagesThe sociological imagination is simply the act of having the capacity to think ourselves away from the commonplace schedules of our day by day lives keeping in mind the end goal to take a gander at them with a new perspective. C. Wright Mills, who made the idea and composed a book about it, characterized the sociological creative ability as the clear attention to the connection amongst encounter and the more extensive society. The sociological imagination is the capacity to see things sociallyRead MoreSociological Imagination: Generalized Anxiety Disorder1536 Words   |  7 Pagesbe discussing the generalized anxiety disorder and how if effects society today. The sociological Imagination allows a person to look at a social problem past the particular circumstances of a certain person and look at how it affects people as a whole. Using this theory sociologist have been taught to ignore individuals and look at society as a whole. Social forces are a big part of the sociological imagination. Social forces are anything that affects society. So, a social forces could be anythingRead MoreSociology and Sociological Imagination978 Words   |  4 PagesSociology and Sociological imagination Sociology is the scientific study of human behavior in a social context that looks the values, attitudes and composition of a given society. Sociology looks at the religious believes, economic aspects, daily activities and political arrangements interact to build a society (Dillon, 2009). The examination of people considering the social forces shaping their attitude and behavior is what C. Wright Mills referred to as sociological imagination (Dillon, 2009)Read MoreThe Sociological Imagination and Understanding Personal Troubles as Social Issues1259 Words   |  6 PagesThe Sociological Imagination and understanding personal troubles as social issues: The Sociological Imagination allows us to question â€Å"things† or issues which are common and familiar to us and to find its deeper meaning. With the Sociological Imagination way of thinking, we find reasoning and uncover why many things in society are the way they are. The Sociological Imagination does not attempt to understand the individual and his or her problems alone, but focuses on issues and problems as itRead MoreSociology, Race, And Social Classes1154 Words   |  5 PagesSociology is the study of diverse subjects in a society which includes: religion, race culture, and social classes. It also involves the study of the behavior of people and all the changes that happen in society. In each social setting, there are shared beliefs which also change through time. Sociology informs us of the making of policies which tend to improve the lives of people in a setting. It provides distinct perspectives to generate new ideas and modify the old ones. The sociological resear ch usesRead MoreThe Sociological Imagination And Common Sense1648 Words   |  7 PagesThe Sociological Imagination was a term that was first coined by sociologist C. Wright Mills. It could be said that definition of The Sociological Imagination is having the ability to look beyond personal experience and realise that society is shaped by the cross over between biography and history. Mills thought that everyone in society had the capability to think sociologically and that this was essential to gain a deeper understanding of both their society, and their current circumstance. ThisRead MoreMani Kallupurackal. Midterm Sociology Essay. When I Was1117 Words   |  5 Pagesand child in the United States was vastly different to the expectations placed by society in India. Sociological imagination and sociological mindfulness enabled me to understand how my personal private issues were shaped by larger social forces and allowed me to pay attention to the struggles of others. Sociological imagination is term that was first coined by C.W. Mills. Sociological imagination is the ability to understand the intersection between biography and history or the interplay between

The Catcher in the Rye Holdens Adolescent Mentality

Holden Caulfield plays a timeless character in the sense that his way of life is common for the American teenager, in his time as well as now. Today parents dread the terrible and confusing adolescent years of their childs life. In J.D. Salingers book, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden is in this terrible and confusing point of his life. At this point in his life, as well as in modern teenagers lives, a transition occurs, from child to adult. Holden takes this change particularly rough and develops a typical mentality that prevents him from allowing himself to see or understand his purpose in life. Holden has an apparent dislike for society. He insists that [he] is surrounded by phonies (Salinger 13) and left Elkton Hills because of it.†¦show more content†¦This symbolizes him holding on to his past, not wanting things to change. As Holden meets with all of his old friends, he claims many of them to have become phonies. All of his friends have grown up, and Holden is left behin d, and still acts like a child. [Holdens] central dilemma is that he wants to retain a childs innocence (Bloom 22). As everyone around changes he just wants to stay the same, young and sheltered. Holdens hunting hat also shows symbolism of different moods and feelings he may be experiencing. First, the fact that it was a hunting hat symbolizes that he is searching for himself. And second, there is a pattern as to the way he wears he hat. When he is in a lost and depressed mood he would turn peak around to the back (Salinger 45), when he was in a good mood he would pull the peakÂ…around to the front (Salinger 34). There is no specific sequence in these changes, his hat turns with his mood. It is as if the hat is directing him and comforting him in his quest to find himself. Jane Gallagher remains a constant though out the entire novel. She represents the way of life he once followed, and the track he should be on but doesnt get back to. He never calls her because he claims he isn t in the mood (Salinger 33). This emphasizes that Holden is trying to avoid finding his purpose, his track, because the truth, like theShow MoreRelatedThe Themes of The Catcher in the Rye840 Words   |  3 Pagesnovels of the 20th century, The Catcher in the Rye has affected readers around the globe since its publication in 1951. Its contemporary critics, however, gave the novel mixed reviews. Compared to the ideals of 1950s America, Holden Caulfield, the emotionally immature, extremely judgmental, teen-aged main character of â€Å"Catcher,† embodies the antithesis. Holden was an affront to the new social order, which demanded conformity and propagated the â€Å"father knows best† mentality. Americans, however, despiteRead MoreAnalysis of A Catcher In the Ryes Holden Caulfield: Enemy of Himself1686 Words   |  7 PagesJerome David Salinger’s only novel, The Catcher in the Rye, is based on the life events shaping main character, Holden Caulfield, into the tr oubled teen that is telling the story in 1950. The theme of the story is one of emotional disconnection felt by the alienated teenagers of this time period. The quote, â€Å" I didn’t know anyone there that was splendid and clear thinking and all† (Salinger 4) sets the tone that Holden cannot find a connection with anyone around him and that he is on a lonely endeavorRead MoreAnalysis Of George Moore s The Catcher Rye 1695 Words   |  7 PagesGeorge Moore For most people, the death of a relative causes a period of despair that can last a lifetime. In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher In the Rye, an adolescent s tightly knit relationship with a family member results in a long-lasting impression on his life; Holden, a young, psychologically lost youth struggles in life after the recent death of his brother, Allie. While he was alive, Allie maintained a positive outlook, assisting Holden in retaining not only his innocence but his happinessRead MoreComparison of the Protagonists in Juno and Catcher in the Rye691 Words   |  3 Pagesprotagonists Juno and Holden of movie Juno and the book Catcher in the Rye, have main thing in common, they have not yet accepted the fact they play a role in society, communicating with the people around them, and with their families. Where they differ is in the problems they face. Junos main problem is that she becomes pregnant at a young age which is considered to be a life changing event by societal sta ndards. The main source of Holden’s problems comes from result of the death of his little brotherRead MoreComparative Study of Death of a Salesman and The Catcher in the Rye1981 Words   |  8 Pagesthere was little concern for the welfare of the minority and no apprehension that ones success could lead to the downfall of another. ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ by J.D Salinger and ‘Death of a Salesman’ by Arthur Miller are both texts that were written throughout this time of social, cultural, spiritual and economic metamorphosis. ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ through the portrayal of Holden Caulfield, explores an individual’s tumultuous tale throughout city living and teenage years of post WW2 America

The Bible And The New Testament - 1507 Words

The Bible – from Genesis to Revelation The Bible is one book that has one grand author. It was written by humans over a period of approximately 2000 years. It is comprised of 66 different books, all with one main theme, that everlasting life comes through one’s faith in God and by obeying God’s rules. This theme is the central part of all 66 books, from Genesis to Revelation. (Sostre 2015) The Bible is divided into two main sections; the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament begins with Genesis and the New Testament ends with Revelation. In order to understand the Bible, it is important to translate it into something that is easy to comprehend and understand. Because there are so many stories and different versions that are associated with the Bible, it is best to take it piece-by-piece and apply the teachings to your own life. To give a brief overview, it is important to understand the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the first of two major pieces of the Christian Bible. In the Old Testament, one will find the sacred writings from the Jews. (Sostre 2015)The first story of Genesis begins with God creating the heavens and earth, creatures of the earth, and man. He began with creating Adam. He did this by forming man from the dust of the earth. God did not want Adam to be alone, so he gave Adam a companion (a woman) who was formed from the rib of Adam. The woman was named Eve. God gave Adam and Eve a beautifulShow MoreRelatedThe Bible : The Testament And The New Testament 1425 Words   |  6 Pages The Bible is a collection of stories and teachings made up of two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament, as well as the Pentateuch or the first five books of the Bible. The Pentateuch and Old Testament follow the days of creation, the stories of Moses, and all that happened before Jesus was born. The New Testament follows the life, teachings, and death of Jesus. Before the Bible was written around 3000 years ago, it was told through narratives, poetry, and songs. Much like fairytales, whichRead MoreThe New Testament Of The Bible985 Words   |  4 PagesThe Bible is the (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) to all who believes and followers of Christ Jesus. The Bible is consisted of sixty-six books written by nearly forty authors. In the Old Testament there are thirty-nine books and twenty-seven in the New Testament. The New Testament is the second half of God’s truth and instructions for the believers. The canonization process for th e New Testament is easier to trace, even though some questions cannot be fully answered. The Pauline EpistlesRead MoreGood News Bible : The Testament And The New Testament1316 Words   |  6 PagesThe term â€Å"Bible† is an interesting one as it potentially encompasses many different entities. There are thousands of versions of the Bible, many arranged and presented in a variety of ways. They vary physically in content, and as I recently discovered aren t necessarily Christian. Below I delve into a rather interesting version of the book published in 1976 by HarperCollins (in conjunction with the American Bible Society). Good News Bible is a compilation of the Old Testament and the New TestamentRead MoreThe Bible : The Old And New Testaments2631 Words   |  11 PagesIntroduction When it comes to themes that span the whole Bible, there are none nearly as prominent as covenant. Apart from anything else, its importance is seen in the designation we give to the two parts of the Christian Bible – the Old and New testaments, or covenants. The word itself occurs over 300 times in English translations of the Bible. Beyond the use of words, the biblical story itself can be seen as a series of covenants that God makes and renews with his people, binding him and themRead MoreNew Testament Bible Dictionary Project775 Words   |  3 PagesBOOK: Revelation This is the final book of The Bible known as Revelations and John the apostle (Author) writes descriptive symbolic language by explaining what he heard and saw (Hindson Towns, 2013). Written in AD 95 this book covers 3 literary genres: epistolary (letters), apocalyptic and prophetic. John mostly used apocalyptic writings encompassing the wide use of symbolism, visions and extreme events. Mostly referred to as â€Å"The Apocalypse†, meaning, â€Å"the unveiling† is identified by the predictionRead MoreThe King James Bible : Old And New Testament1637 Words   |  7 Pages The King James Bible (Old and New Testament) 13) The Creation of the World; the Garden of Eden; Adam and Eve; Original Sin; the Fall The beginning of the Old Testament starts by explaining how God created everything within seven days. He creates night and day, the sky and the ocean, vegetation, the stars, sun and moon, sea creatures, land creatures, and for the seventh day he rests. The Garden of Eden was the paradise where man once lived until Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit thus creatingRead MoreThe Book I Chose From The New Testament Is Men Of The Bible Essay780 Words   |  4 Pagesthought he was persecution the ungodly who came to realize that he was persecuting the wrong people. He was blinded and his sight was restored when he began obedient to the God of all creation. The title of the book I chose from the New Testament is Men of the Bible, the authorship Ann Spangler and Robert Wolgemuth are the authors. 2002 is the date of the books’ copywrite and it was published by Zondervan in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This book offers a one year devotional study for all those who wishRead MoreSymbolism Between C.S. Lewis ´ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and The New Testament in the Bible1627 Words   |  7 PagesThe symbolism between C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the fourth book in The Chronicles of Narnia, and the New Testament in the Bible, particularly the account of Jesus’ death is not merely coincidental because The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is, in fact, an allegory. An allegory is a story with morals in which characters, plots and settings are used as symbols. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis is rich with Christian symbolism even though the allegoricalRead MoreHistory of the Bible Essay1727 Words   |  7 PagesCanonization of the Bible The process by which the English Bible, as it is known to the English culture today, was compiled is an extraordinary thing to see. The Bible consists of two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The process by which both Testaments were written and then canonized into one book transpired over a period of many years. Once the canonization of the Bible officially came to an end, it was translated into English. Since then, many versions of the modern Bible have been madeRead MoreJewish And Christian Sacred Text1001 Words   |  5 Pagestheir opinions on sacred text. Jewish people and Christians both have sacred text; however, Christians believe that the Bible is meant to be read as a text as a whole. Christians have the Holy Bible and Jews have what is known as the Tanakh. In relation to the Christian Bible, the Tanakh is only the Old Testament, while the Holy Bible is both the Old Testament and the New Testament. This means that stories like Creation, Original Sin, and Ten Commandments are the same for both religions. While the

Corporate Downsizing Essay Paper Example For Students

Corporate Downsizing Essay Paper Organizations in every segment of business, industry, government, and education are downsizing. Downsizing is and has been a controversial phenomenon in the last few years. The controversy that surrounds downsizing may be better described as a debate in organizational theory about whether change is adaptive or disruptive. The issues which establish the outcome of the controversy include why the downsizing is taking affect, how it is implemented, and what steps are taken to enhance its effects on organizational performance. The reasons for corporate downsizing are presented in many forms. Some companies downsize due to technological changes such as automation, which brings about the need for a reduction in the production workforce. Others may feel that competitiveness with other companies warrants the need for a reduction in the workforce. Financial setbacks due to customer demand, market shares, and loss of revenue could also initiate the need for downsizing. When will it end? Expert s say it wont. For instance, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was established as a universal trade agreement between the US, Cannada, and Mexico to allow free imports and exports.It was also established with the intent to help poor countries, like Mexico, export their products for economic reasons. In my opinion, it has strongly contributed to Americas massive downsizing phenomenon. Companies that have experienced financial setbacks and losses seem to relish the idea that they can downsize the workforce here in the states, move operations into places like Mexico, hire cheap labor, and export their product back to the states, while making bigger profits. The sad part about this is that it is true, and NAFTA is largely responsible for this type of downsizing. Is this ethical? That remains to be seen. The truth is that unless an organization was designed expressly for the purpose, it is not in business to provide employment. Jobs are the by-product of successful organizational endeavors, not If the decision to downsize is a response to competitive pressures, it will appear impatient or premature to those who must leave. If it is perceived as anything less than a well developed strategic response to demands on the organization, then it fails to show employees need for the criteria. Downsizing can sometimes seem to be about creating victims and displacing blame rather than accepting responsibility and choosing moral and ethical ways to implement the outcome. Management wants a quick cut that protects he companys assets, yet it wants to be gentle and compassionate to those who are let go. These two objectives are self-canceling, and to accomplish the first requires considerable compromise on the second. Many companies wait until the day of the lay-off to inform its employees. They are concerned about sabotage and productivity. They seem to think that if they retain the bad news until the last moment that the employees will leave and the rest will get back to business. However, this method of a lay-off is the least favorable for the employees. If the company gives the employees notice of the cutback in the workforce, they will have time to plan for the financial problems, look for other work, and make other necessary arrangements to prepare them for the loss. It would be in the best interest of the company to give this notice to its workers. Being a survivor of downsizing can have its own ethical issues. Those who are left after the downsizing has occurred, may share perceptions about the ethics of the decisions leading up to the dismissal of those who left. They may experience feelings such as anger, guilt, fear, and even depression. These feelings could be brought on by having to take up the slack and doing more work. They could also be asked to learn new tasks and for the same or maybe even less money than before the downsizing. Asking people to do more for less money can seem unfair. In my opinion, companies and organizations sometimes put too much pressure on surviving employees. This can cause the decision-makers to seem insensitive to the reality that employees are people with full lives and responsibility outside the workplace. Call it outsourcing with a heart. DuPont on December 11, tentatively agreed to outsource its computer and telecommunications operations, but it will do so without cutting jobs. Instead, some 3,100 DuPont staffers will be given the chance to switch employers with 2,600 spots slated for Computer Sciences Corp. and 500 for Andersen Consulting. An additional 1,100 information technology staffers are expected to stay with DuPont. The outsourcing pact is one of the biggest ever. It will be worth more than $4 billion over 10 years, with CSC taking the lions share. CSC will handle DuPonts global mainframe, mid-range, and PC hardware needs, and worldwide telecom network, while Andersen takes care of software applications. The parties have signed a letter of intent and are now hammering out the final terms.The flip-side to downsizing could be a more positive result or experience. When companies have their employees economic survival at heart when planning their downsizing tactics, an adaptive approach as well as a positive outcome can be expected. Most managers seem to understand the hard side of downsizing such as the cost of inventory, shipping, severance packages, and plant capacities. Im sure DuPont considered all of these issues. However, they took the issues one step further and considered the softer issues such as morale, loyalty, and the role of the corporate environment on employee motivation and produ ctivity. These issues should be addressed to keep a downsized company alive and well. As history would have it, more companies suffer from downsizing rather than prosper. Why is this the case? Most companies or organizations fail to focus on the entire picture. For instance, they see the need for cutbacks in money and finance, yet they often pay more attention to the people they let go than the ones they keep. They may provide the laid-off workers with outplacement counseling, resume writing assistance, and other sources for potential job leads. Some companies even extend their health benefits, offer early retirement incentives, and often give severance packages. But, wheres the generosity for those who remain to do the work? The blow of staying with a company that has downsized needs to be softened too. Employees often feel threatened that their own jobs may be in jeopardy, they may have a growing mistrust of the company, and they have little understanding of what management is doi ng or what their role will be in the companys future. Managers must pay attention to the survivors too. Beowulf the hero EssayAs we look at the reasons for downsizing, it is easy to justify the needs from an organizational and business point of view. When considering the needs of employees and the affects of downsizing on them, the picture looks very different. While a company has to do what is necessary to stay alive in the competitive world of business, it also has a moral obligation to its employees and the community. Whether or not it chooses to consider the needs of its employees and the community during a downsizing phase will greatly affect the outcome of the process and alter the benefits of the lay-off. While the companys profits are its main concern, it must be careful of the way it implements the downsizing in order for the outcome to be adaptive and positive. If the profitability is the only criteria for downsizing and the company has disgruntled and non-focused employees, the outcome of the downsizing will apparently be disruptive, causing low morale in the workforce, wh ich breeds lower productivity. If the employees can see the efforts of the company to exhaust all other possibilities before the lay-off and consider the needs and feelings of the employee and the affects on the community, they may be able to look upon the company with trust and security. A developed plan or focus for their future may allow survivors of the downsizing to adapt to the change in a more positive manner. Involvement by the Human Resource department should ease the pain of those affected by the lay-off. Counseling, job placement programs, and benefit options are all concerns for the laid-off employee. It is the responsibility of the HR department to ease the pain and keep the lines of communication open between the employee and management. Management is responsible for the decisions, but the HR department should insure that the management follows all moral and legal obligations to the employee. In order for this new change in American business to be adaptive, complete an d thorough plans should be carried out in the process of downsizing in order for the company and employee alike to accept new ideas and focus on the new direction brought about by the change. Survivors of the downsize process must have confidence in the companys honesty and its ability to secure their jobs. They must outline a strategic plan to keep morale and productivity on an upward trend.Bibliography:Big payoffs from layoffs. Business Week, G.Koretz p.30 Feb. 24 1997. Downs, Alan; Corporate Executions. AMACON, 135 West ST. New York, N.Y. 1995Downsizing is Bad for Business. USA Today,J.ChallengerVol. 125, p66-68. Jan.1997Learn From My Mistakes. Money, Apr. 1995, p.15Meyer, C.J.; Executive Blues, Down and Out In CorporateAmerica. Franklin Square Press, 666 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 1995Negbenebor, Willis; Principles of Economics. CT Publishing Company, Redding Calif. 1996. North American Free Trade Agreement. Vol.1, US GovernmentPrinting Office, 192-330-817/70635, 1995. Online News Flash. Business Week; Dec. 11,1996Seeking A Payoff. J Freedman, Business Week p. 100Jan. 8, 1990. The Casualties of Downsizing, B.B. Auster. US News AndWorld Report. Vol.118,p.31, Jan. 9,1995. The Ethics of Downsizing. Navron Associates NewsletterApr.95. Who Says Job Anxiety Is Easing? A. Bernstein, Busniss Week p.38, Apr.7,1997.