IndexIntroductionWhat is the Sociological Imagination?Personal Problems and Social IssuesSuicide as a Problem for University Students in South AfricaSuicide as a Social ProblemSocial Cause of Suicide Among Black University StudentsConclusionReferencesIntroductionIntroduction: In this essay I We will see what the sociological imagination is as defined by C Wright Mills. In this essay I will therefore distinguish between personal problems and public issues. I will then consider suicide as a problem facing South African university students, particularly black male South African students. Thesis Statement: The cause of this problem and ways to address it will be explored. I will conclude by asking whether the sociological imagination has value in this particular case. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay What is the sociological imagination? Context: C Wright Mills invented the concept of the sociological imagination. C Wright Mills (1959:3) mentions it; “Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both.” The sociological imagination is a “critical thinking tool” that allows us to look critically at issues within a society (Stewart and Zaaiman 2018: xxxvi). It also allows us to analyze an individual and the society they come from, as well as the impact society has on the individual. The purpose is to objectively evaluate the personal problems an individual faces and the social issues experienced in the community. This can be done by putting aside personal experiences and cultural biases when carrying out assessments and trying to consider all aspects that influence the individual. Personal Problems and Social Problems Personal problems and social problems are the two main factors we look at when we approach the sociological imagination. “There is a distinction between problems that affect the individual and problems that affect individuals collectively within a society” (Stewart and Zaaiman 2018: xxxvi). Topic Sentence: Personal problems have to do with the individual and these are problems that influence and hold the individual back. This may include a learning disability that makes it difficult for the individual to understand certain things that an individual without a disability can understand, so they would need assistance. Social issues affect all individuals in society due to the social structure. These include load shedding or water shortages. Imagine if one person in the community commits suicide, it would be harmful to the family and loved ones, but if individuals in the community start committing suicide, it becomes a public issue and affects the society as a whole. To understand the individual we must look at his context, his origin and the factors that influence his behavior, his actions, his way of living and thinking. It is important to look at the cultural background and historical context of the society they come from as this has an impact on them too and this must be done with absolute objectivity. Suicide as a Problem for University Students in South Africa Suicide is the successful attempt to take one's own life through the use of harmful substances or objects, including: self-poisoning by pesticides, hanging or firearms. Yan (2012:14) states that the majority of suicides among South African university students are due to identifiable stressors such as lack of support, use of alcohol and other substances, mental illness and social factors such as sexuality and type. It has been reported that a wide variety of factors,such as work overload, stress or financial problems, increase suicide among the university population (Yan 2012:14). Second (Mail&Guardian 1999); 'David Malebana, a student at Tompi Seleka Agricultural College in the Northern Province, filmed three of his lectures before committing suicide due to an extension of his studies.' Comment: David Malebana's story shows us the intensity of the pressure he experienced regarding academic success and an extension of his studies was the worst thing that could have ever happened to him. Suicide as a social problem Topic sentence: According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG 2016) suicide is the second leading cause of death among university students, after accidents. “The prevalence of suicide among South African university students is becoming a major concern. Since 1950, the suicide rate among white males (ages 15-24) has tripled and that among white females (ages 15-24) has more than doubled. Over the past 15 years, the suicide rate among black males (15-24 years old) has increased by 2/3.' (SADAG 2016) Furthermore, Bantjies et al. (2016:15) suggests that studies have shown that up to 20% of college students have suicidal thoughts at some point in their college career. Evidence and Citations: The above statistical information shows us that suicide rates have increased significantly and may be caused by the transition phase from high school to college where the student finds themselves in this new environment with no support facilities. support. Comment: Suicide is a problem shaped by larger social structures, as shown by the statistics above, it is not a few cases of individuals committing suicide but it is a large number of individuals. This alludes to the fact that suicide is a problem that belongs to society. The cause of suicide can therefore be found in society and the way it is shaped. Social Cause of Suicide Among Black College Students Topic Sentence: There are many responsibilities and unrealistic expectations are placed on Black males. “Black South African students also tend to experience greater financial hardship and greater family or personal expectations for success at university” (Peltzer et al. 2000). Comment: They leave home and come to university to study without any social support structure. The moment they leave home they already know that they must do well academically so they can finish in record time and eventually work to support their families. Those who receive a scholarship sometimes also have to use the scholarship money to help out at home. The responsibility is too great, on top of the academic pressure. It all becomes too much and suicide seems like the easiest way out because in the black community people rarely talk about their feelings and expressing them is seen as weak. Black males in particular are told to suppress their feelings and show strength. Suicide is seen as an attention-seeking mechanism and is taken lightly until it is successful. Peltzer et al (2000) focused on how ethnic differences influence suicide rates among college students. “Suicide is negatively stigmatized among many South African ethnic groups, particularly among black South Africans.” Furthermore, due to this negative stigma, (Young 2009; Cluver et al. 2015) believe that black South African university students would be more at risk of suicide than white students. In my opinion, understanding Black culture and how Black communities operate will be critical. useful for understanding why these pressures are exerted on black males. There are cultural expectations incomparisons of the black man from the moment he is born. From a young age a black boy is told that crying shows weakness and he needs to show strength. As he grows up he is told that his job is to take care of his family. He already has a lot on his shoulders and he takes it with him to university. Since showing emotion is considered weak, he won't even try to ask for help. The only expression considered socially acceptable is anger. First of all, the change in mentality is very important and we must learn that suicide is not an attention-seeking mechanism but indicates a serious underlying problem. Talking about it and expressing feelings is also something that should be practiced. Things like therapy should not be considered for certain racial and ethnic groups or for mentally unstable people. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion Concluding Paragraph: In conclusion, I agree that the sociological imagination is valuable whenever we address issues that concern an individual or society as a whole. In this case it leads us to consider the possible reasons for suicide among black university students without attributing responsibility to the individual. The above factors help us conclude that this is due to the social structure of black society. Instead of seeing a troubled young black man who can't control his emotions, we now see a young black man who has social pressures placed on him that have caused him to act a certain way. References Bantjies, J, R, Kagee, A, McGowan, T, and Steel, H. 2016. “Symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression and anxiety as predictors of suicidal ideation among South African university students.” Journal of American College Health, 64(6): 429-437.Cluver, L, Orkin, M, Boyes, M, E, and Sherr, L. 2015. “Child and Adolescent Suicide Attempts, Suicidal Behavior, and Adverse Childhood Experiences in South Africa: a prospective study". Journal of Adolescent Health, 57(1): 52-59. Mail & Guardian. 1999. 'Law Society to Transform'. Accessed 2 March 2020, https://mg.co.za/article/1999-01-18-law-society-to-transform/ .Mills, C, W. 1959. The Sociological Imagination, London, Oxford University Press. Peltzer, K, Cherian, V, I and Cherian, L. 2000. “Cross-cultural attitudes to suicide among South African secondary school pupils.” : 165-167. South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) 2016.' Teen Suicide, accessed March 2, 2020, http://www.sadag.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=744:are-more-suicide-in-universities-to-be-expected-this-year&catid = 92&Itemid=154 .Stewart, P. 2018. Sociological theory' in Sociology: A concise South African Introduction, edited by Paul Stewart and Johan Zaaiman, Cape Town: Juta.World Health Organization (WHO) 2014 Preventing suicide: 'A Global Imperative'. Accessed March 2, 2020, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide. Young, C. 2009. “The CORE-OM Student Admissions Rules attending a South African university counseling service: A comparison with data from UK counseling services'. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 37(4):473-483. Yan, C. 2013. “The lived experiences of black South African university students who had suicidal thoughts: a descriptive phenomenological study Master's dissertation. Johannesburg: University of Johannesburg Available from : http:hdl.handle.net/102000/0002 (Accessed: 22 August 2017)IntroductionShould follow an "inverted" triangle format, meaning the writer should start broadly and introduce the text and the author or l topic under discussion, to then go into more detail in the statement.