Overview
In American society, the prevailing belief is that individuals are the architects of their destinies. Nevertheless, it’s essential to acknowledge that while individuals possess the capacity to make choices, these choices are often influenced or constrained by larger societal forces. These forces encompass our familial backgrounds, social class, economic circumstances, the education system, and prevailing gender norms. C. Wright Mills utilized the concept of sociological imagination to underscore the idea that comprehending our personal lives and narratives requires an understanding of the broader historical context of our society. By forging these connections, we can gain insight into the intricate relationship between our personal troubles—individual challenges we encounter—and the overarching public issues that manifest as social problems within society.
Moreover, it is worth pausing and reflecting on the terminology commonly employed within criminology and criminal justice. Terms like “offender,” “criminal,” “convict,” “felon,” “inmates,” “prisoner,” “ex-prisoner,” “juvenile delinquent,” and many others all share a common thread. They all represent labels used to describe individuals within the criminal justice system. These labels carry significant implications and connotations, shaping the way society perceives and interacts with those to whom they are applied. It’s crucial to consider what message we convey to individuals when we employ such labels, as they can influence public attitudes and policy decisions regarding rehabilitation, reintegration, and criminal justice reform.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this week, you will be able to:
- Understanding Societal Influences on Individual Choices
- Recognition of Personal Troubles and Public Issues
- Understand the concept of the sociological imagination
- Critical Analysis of Criminological Terminology
- Understanding the Importance of Communication and Labeling in Criminal Justice
- Understand the role of the sociological imagination in our course
Workflow
To read:
The Sociological Imagination helps expand our understanding of the history that leads to crime and inequality
- Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World: The Sociological Perspective
- Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World: Understanding Society
- C. Wright Mills on the Sociological Imagination, by Frank W. Elwell
- The Power of Labels: Exploring our use of humanizing language https://fortunesociety.org/wordsmatter/
- Cox, A. (2020). The language of incarceration. https://doi.org/10.1177/2632666320940859
