Sociological Imagination in the Time of Uncertainty: With Qualitative Discussion of Individualization and Inequality

• In Event: Teaching Sociology in an Age of Disruption

Abstract

The concerns about risks and uncertainty of the future society have been rising in current social life, especially in education community. This study is a reflection of teaching and learning process based on the ‘sociological imagination’ with the concepts of ‘risk’ by U. Beck and ‘reflexivity’ by A. Giddens. The study offers an exploration of qualitative class discussions examining how risks and uncertainty such as pandemic, climate change, and political disruption could be deepening individualization and inequality. It finds that by expanding the concept of sociological imagination as a useful tool onto the spheres of political, digital and historical considerations, students in sociology class get benefits to broaden their understanding of the nature of capitalism, role of state, and racial relations in modern society. The pedagogical methods and materials for the process of teaching and learning are examined.

Author

• Kyoung-ho Shin, Northwest Missouri State University