Personal Troubles Analysis
In this essay, I will be addressing what Mills means by the terms ‘personal troubles’ and ‘public issues’, I will also be attempting explain how Mills’ work is what underpins McKenzie’s introductory chapter.
Mills defined ‘personal troubles’ as something that “occurs within the character of the individual and within the range of his immediate relations… A trouble is a private matter whereby an individual's cherished values are felt to be threatened.” A ‘public issue’ on the other-hand is defined as “values cherished by some publics that are felt to be threatened.”(p.11)
Mills makes a recurring point throughout the chapter ‘THE PROMISE’ that our personal troubles are derived from social issues. He uses many examples throughout this chapter to illustrate this point. One example being unemployment, as a means to convey his point he says; if 15 million men are unemployed out of a nation of 50 million, we ought to “consider the economic and political institutions of society” as we would not find the answers nor solutions by looking merely at the individuals alone(p.9). In keeping with this problem of unemployment, a person in severe …show more content…
She says she was taught that they were “the backbone of the country” (p.2) when in reality, they were seen as “the enemy within” (p.2). McKenzie tells us based on her own personal experience how unaware she was that ‘public issues’ and her own ‘personal troubles’ were explicitly linked. Her personal troubles were initially influenced by surrounding public issues and ideologies.
So, it can be seen that McKenzie incorporates some qualities Mills addresses, successfully, through illustrating how public issues and personal troubles are related. Both Mills and McKenzie’s writings reflect heavily on how our social surroundings shape and influence us each
Mills defined ‘personal troubles’ as something that “occurs within the character of the individual and within the range of his immediate relations… A trouble is a private matter whereby an individual's cherished values are felt to be threatened.” A ‘public issue’ on the other-hand is defined as “values cherished by some publics that are felt to be threatened.”(p.11)
Mills makes a recurring point throughout the chapter ‘THE PROMISE’ that our personal troubles are derived from social issues. He uses many examples throughout this chapter to illustrate this point. One example being unemployment, as a means to convey his point he says; if 15 million men are unemployed out of a nation of 50 million, we ought to “consider the economic and political institutions of society” as we would not find the answers nor solutions by looking merely at the individuals alone(p.9). In keeping with this problem of unemployment, a person in severe …show more content…
She says she was taught that they were “the backbone of the country” (p.2) when in reality, they were seen as “the enemy within” (p.2). McKenzie tells us based on her own personal experience how unaware she was that ‘public issues’ and her own ‘personal troubles’ were explicitly linked. Her personal troubles were initially influenced by surrounding public issues and ideologies.
So, it can be seen that McKenzie incorporates some qualities Mills addresses, successfully, through illustrating how public issues and personal troubles are related. Both Mills and McKenzie’s writings reflect heavily on how our social surroundings shape and influence us each