Introduction
Sociologist C. Wright Mills coined the concept and practice of sociological imagination in 1959, whose definition of the same holds social imagination to be the vivid awareness of the relationship between personal experience and the wider society(Mills, 5). The meaning of which transcends to the contextualization of an individual’s problems beyond their private realm to envisage and identify the problems as a product of public issues that are not within the individual’s ambit of control.
Societal Imagination
Based on Mills assertions in sociological imagination, its application plays an integral role in aiding the development of diverse perspectives as well as fostering an open mind that accommodates and understands other people’s points of view. Its application can help understand our nation’s current social problems, which presently is the COVID 19 Disparities and the Black Community. This is despite Black Americans making up one-third of the COVID 19 cases and are twice as likely to die(Brown et al. 2020). The sociological imagination’s application to this societal problem takes cognizance that while this problem is beyond an individual’s control, social imagination theory is not alive to the idea that people do enjoy the luxury of choice, which attracts specific responsibilities which can provide solutions to common problems. However, healthcare disparities occur and persist due to different social actions and omissions, historical and cultural factors that form a common theme across all states.
Understanding the concept of sociological imagination, as postulated by Mills, demands a separation between the two entities that form the society. These include; the individual troubles and social issues. This distinction is imperative to finding the nexus that exists between them. In this context, the definition of private troubles is limited to an individual’s personal life, experiences, and human nature.
Conversely, social issues are defined as matters whose context relates to individuals’ social, cultural, and historical lives. Thus, applying this criterion to health care disparities, private troubles extend to the inhibited access to Health care for Black Americans. They are twice more likely to die from the disease due to this inhibition. All of which comes as a consequence of low literacy levels and the cost aspects. Social issues regarding this societal problem encompass the inequitable provision of health care, explained through geographical segregation and lack of adequate technology and transport means.
Going by Mill’s theory of society, the American Health system’s inadequacy is a direct consequence of institutionalized racism and prejudice directed towards Black Americans. The roots of this institutionalized prejudice can be traced back to the age of slavery and show the system’s application of prejudicial treatment in addressing the healthcare needs of its diverse population. Further, due to the nature of the problem, it is clear that Black Americans’ life is limited not just to accessing health care but transcends across every sphere of their lives.
Conclusion
The deductions made above courtesy of Mill’s sociological imagination prove the effectiveness of applying this theory in all social dilemmas. The application of the conclusions reached in formulating a working solution to the healthcare menace goes to disprove the notion asserted by Mills; in regards to holding that sociological imagination is so complex that ‘ordinary men..do not possess the quality of mind essential to grasp the interplay(Mills, 4).’
The reality is that this assertion has been disqualified by the actions of people who have dared to confront societal inequities and inspired society to eradicate the social problem. The most noteworthy of these individuals is Ruth Roemers, who championed equality in health care.
References
Brown, I. M., Khan, A., Slocum, J., Campbell, L. F., Lacey, J. R., & Landry, A. M. (September 01, 2020). COVID-19 Disparities and the Black Community: A Health Equity–Informed Rapid Response Is Needed. American Journal of Public Health, 110, 9, 1350-1351.
Mills, C. W. (1959). The sociological imagination. New York: Oxford University Press.
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