Sociological Reflection Assignment: Understanding the Link Between Structure and Agency

Assignment Description

In the first part of this course we discussed the idea that while sociologists often debate the role of “structure” (the relatively stable opportunities and constraints affecting our lives) versus “agency” (the ability we have to influence our own lives), that in general we will recognize the influence of both. One of the ways we discussed this was in relation to inequality and the distinction between ascribed statuses and achieved status. We talked about the fact that Canada is a meritocracy, or an open stratification system, in which many of our statuses are achieved as the result of merit and hard work. But we also discussed the idea that ascribed statuses like race, gender, ability and class are relevant to understanding the social organization of Canadian society. This is also the foundation of the concept of the Sociological Imagination presented by C. Wright Mills. 

In this assignment I want you to reflect on this dynamic in the context of your own life. I want you to consider your own social location and how the person you are today is linked to the social world. In order to do so, choose an event, an experience or an accomplishment in your life (there is a huge range of possibilities here –attending university; attending a protest; being in a divorced family; working at Starbucks; being an athlete; the experience of immigration; experiencing discrimination; body image; being an international student etc etc…). Explain this event/circumstance in your life and then consider how both the choices you have made and the social context of your life contributed to this. In other words, tell us a story but make it sociologically meaningful.

For this assignment you should: frame your argument around at least one sociological concept (for instance, cultural capital, patriarchal dividend, hegemonic masculinity, racialization, stigma, presentation of self  etc. ) and use at least one peer-reviewed source to support your argument. For instance, if you are explaining how your experience as a second-generation immigrant influenced your career aspirations, then find a study that connects these phenomena. In the course of your essay connect the findings to your own experience and consider whether or not your own experience is reflected in these findings. 

There is room for creativity and self-reflection in this assignment but the best essays will also provided a sociologically grounded analysis of your story.  The way to ensure you do this is to draw on relevant concepts that we have discussed (or that we have not but you have located elsewhere) and by drawing on the insights from a peer-reviewed resource. 

1. This assignment involves successfully completing several tasks: identifying a biographical issue you want to discuss, locating a relevant peer-reviewed article, deploying a sociological concept (or concepts), writing an essay connecting these elements and citing your sources properly.

2. Using in-text citations, cite the article in your essay and reference it properly in a bibliography. The American Psychological Association style guide is the citation and style guide to be followed. Guidelines are provided on our website but can also be found a https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

3. Essays should be 3-4 pages, double–spaced, and using 12-point font. Papers should not be longer than this and should not be significantly shorter.

4. The essays will be marked on content but also on the quality of the writing. They should be free from grammatical and typographical errors and properly formatted.