“You were born an original, don't die a copy” - John Mason. Obsession is one of the most common problems in society that affects women in an almost depressing way based on the fact that we are manipulated into thinking that looking perfect is the way of life. The truth is, constant self-evaluation and the compulsion to look “perfect” are a potential threat to your well-being. We live in a world where we are constantly surrounded by advertisements, magazines, television, the Internet and much more in a way that is changing our perspective of beauty. This essay will consist of Mill's conception of the sociological imagination and the distinction between how I am personally influenced by my obsession with looking beautiful and how the public has influenced my perspectives, decisions, and general need to alter my physical appearance. Sociological Imagination American sociologist, C. Wright Mills created the term “Sociological Imagination” to illustrate the type of insight provided by the study of sociology. His concept demonstrates the fact that we are able to recognize the relationships between individual biographies and the larger society. This includes social structures, cultural values, historical development, and current changes that influence society and our individual experiences. It allows us to understand the relationships between our personal selves and how we fit into society and even history as a whole. Furthermore, it allows us to step outside our individual sphere and encounter the world as others experience things. In this way we can see the sociological reality of everyday life. Mills believed that sociology needed sophisticated thinkers who were not only careful in reporting ba...... middle of paper ......el and Lacey in 1992 who analyzed 221 American television programs and found that 69% of the characters women have “thin and anorexic body types” (Raphael & Lacey, 1992, p.108). Our society's unhealthy obsession with beauty has led girls at a very young age to make very unhealthy decisions. Plastic surgery is the number one thought in my head. I personally like to blame the media for making girls believe that it's not about being healthy and looking healthy, but about doing things that have turned into very serious and dramatic issues like eating disorders. Why not encourage different body types instead of skinny ones? Thankfully, I feel like I have a sense of control and a sense of what realistic beauty is, however, as mentioned in my bio, my personal experiences with beauty-related insecurities are tied to the world's most important and broader social forces.