Discussion

Answer 1 of the 3 below discussion prompts (based on the Canvas readings, Chapter 1, and the first 4 lectures) and RESPOND TO at least one OTHER student post IN YOUR GROUP (see the last point, below). If you did not do Discussion Post 1, then please first introduce yourself to your group here by saying a little about yourself (this can include your year at UWM, your intended major — if you have one — how you ended up in this class, where you are from, etc.).

Choose one of the following and explain, how those personal troubles can be regarded as public issues using your sociological imagination. Be clear in your answer which one you choose!

Robert is always late for work while going from a suburb where he lives to the city where he works, mainly because of traffic jams. He’d like to live closer to work but can’t find affordable housing in the city.  

Rena is totally against the potential blockage of TikTok (proposed by President Trump when he was president) since she has 2 million followers. 

Davontae made his living as a musician, but he has only been able to play a few shows since the pandemic began in March 2020; he is now working at Walmart and relying on food stamps.

1. Tori’s father loses his job during the Covid pandemic when many people have lost their jobs. Her mother is a skilled daycare worker with years of experience, but like many daycare workers, she cannot find any jobs that pay better than her low-paying job.

John had his wisdom teeth removed in his early twenties and was prescribed opioids to relieve the pain from the surgery. He became addicted and later died of an opioid overdose in 2019. 

2. Consider the 5 theories discussed in lecture (rational choice, conflict, functionalist, symbolic interactionist, feminist). Choose one theory and discuss at least 4 words that might help you decipher or clue you into that theoretical explanation and explain why those words relate to the theory.