Social imagination: Roles, Statuses and Roles

Each person in society has their own niche. Sociologically, this is known as roles and statuses. The “positions that individuals in society hold” are called statuses (Newman 15,). For example, I am a student in college. This is one my achieved statuses. “Achieved status” is a social role that someone has earned through their own efforts or achievements (15). It was something I earned in my life. An ascribed position is another type. An ascribed status can be a social position that we are born into or involuntarily enter later in our lives (15). My ascribed status is that I am white and male. This status was assigned to me because it was my birthright and I never achieved it.

Each status has a number of roles. The role can be assigned or achieved. Newman states that a role is “a set o obligations and behaviors that people who are in a specific position must perform”. Referring to the first example, college students are expected to take classes and study for their exams. To pass their classes, students must attend class. Students who fail to attend classes will be expelled from the student status and they will not be allowed to continue to study. Students who study for exams are considered to have a role, as they must complete it in order not only to pass but also to be able occupy the status. Ascribed statuses can also be achieved. White males are expected to behave in society. A white male should be a productive, law-abiding citizen. White males, and any other gender, are expected to respect the law. These people should also be able to work and contribute to the community. C. Wright Mills, an acclaimed sociologist, invented the concept of sociological imaginative. This is the ability to comprehend how “cultural and historical processes” (8) relate to your personal experiences. A person who cannot understand the sociological imagination is likely to attribute their individual experiences to individualistic explanations. “An individualistic explanation “attributes people’s successes or failures to personal qualities.” (4) People are prone to jump into conclusions and believe that they know the answer to everything. A person might not be able to pay for gas, and the sociological imagination would argue that this is because the economy has been booming in recent years. Individualistic explanations would argue that the problem is because the individual isn’t working hard enough or doesn’t manage their money properly.

Your personal biography is connected to all roles and statuses. As mentioned above, each role and status has its own personal meaning. Social forces and your personal history can have an impact on the decision to enroll in college. My parents both went to college, and they were successful in higher learning. Their success led me to want to go college. I was also influenced in part by social factors. Society says there are steps to success. In order to find a good job, it is necessary to complete college education after high school. To do this, students must fulfill their roles by attending classes and studying for classes. To see the expectations of society, one can look at his family and parents to determine their status as a white male. My father, for example, would be an example. He is a lawful citizen and has a job that supports his family.