C. Wright Mills Sociological Perspective Analysis

Even at this very moment, history is writing itself. We are currently living in the pages of an unfinished history textbook, each day living our lives and adding words to the narrative. These sentences and our choice of words are not simply chosen at random, but are decided and persuaded by the larger society and the unwritten history that is happening all around us.
Although a peculiar notion, it is one that many great minds have accepted, studied and expanded upon to this day. In fact, it is one of the key ideas of an entire field of scientific study: sociology. One of the great minds who work in this field is an American sociologist by the name of C. Wright Mills. Mills describes this notion as a quality of mind, its user possessing a sociological …show more content…
(Cite) Everything we say, think or do, is somehow governed by these larger social forces, our context with which we live in. No one escapes the grasp of these societal forces, and consequently we all profoundly affected by them. In the context with which I exist, social forces have influenced and shaped every stage of my development, from childhood to early adulthood.
Immediately upon entering this world, society had begun to shape my views and personality. These sociological concepts which have been of great influence include gender and gender socialization. Gender is socially constructed concept regarding what attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours men and women should have, while gender socialization is the transference and acquisition of these ideas. One such way that we are taught these societal views is through the use of gender stereotypes. Gender stereotypes are oversimplified notions regarding how people of a certain gender think and act. Although these concepts seem abstract, their effect on individuals is very concrete and has profoundly shaped the way I present and view myself. As I have developed, my society has displayed its view towards femininity both proudly and subtly with the same underlying conclusion: femininity is generally disadvantageous. On television shows, on the playground, in literature, and even in the …show more content…
Every day we are constantly being bombarded with this reflection of Western ideas: that the individual is of upmost importance, that people are unique, that people act on their own accord and that the results of their actions are solely due to individual’s merit. We see films portray this concept all the time; whether it be a lone hero fighting against a brainless rule following collective, or an underdog achieving the unthinkable or a chosen one saving the day, this notion of individualism is deeply engrained in our media and is reflection of Western society’s ideas. This idea has shaped countless facets of my life including how I view my successes and failures. Individualism is found at the heart of popularized concept in society. The idea of the American dream is still a prominent belief held by many; it is based on the idea that the individual can overcome any obstacle of their circumstances and achieve success simply on their merit and drive. But this is simply not true. I have not enjoyed the privileges and successes that I have had because of my merit, in fact, these were largely predetermined. My class, my society, my gender, and my ethnicity have played a far greater role in my successes than any other factor. This idea that I am held entirely responsible for the outcome of my life is still deeply engrained belief and caused a great deal of anxiety and pressure over the years. This