The use of performance-enhancing drugs by athletes is one of the topical problems of modernity. Different interest groups provide their arguments for and against the legalization of steroids. This paper will use sociological imagination as the approach offered by Mills for discussing the deviant behaviors of ‘juiced’ athletes as personal trouble and public issue influenced by social structures.
Using sociological imagination for discussing the steroid issue would mean viewing it in broader historical context instead of limiting discussion to particular athletes and cases. Wormer, Besthorn and Keefe (2007) stated that by using sociological imagination, an individual can understand his/her fate in its relation to the broader historical scene (p. 28).
The fact that the issue of performance-enhancing drugs is being discussed at different levels can be regarded as an indicator that it is possible that steroids will be legalized similar to alcohol drinks and gambling which were strictly forbidden, but later on were legalized and became drivers for the social change. The use of performance-enhancing drugs can be defined as a victimless crime.
According to Macionis and Gerber (2010), the victims of this category of crimes cannot be readily defined, whereas individuals committing them position as offenders and victims at the same time (p. 211). Taking into account the evidence of the harmfulness of the performance-enhancing substances, it can be stated that the juiced athletes suffer from their own unhealthy lifestyles.
Apart from the pressure on just athletes, the harm for the community is minimal. However, the use of steroids by athletes is considered as deviant behavior, reflecting the relative power and privilege of different interest groups. Thus, a wider historical scene and the role of particular interest groups in labeling this behavior as deviant and those who offer to legalize it should be taken into account to make a more consistent conclusion.
The analysis of the historical scene of the early twenty first century and Canadian political situation should be integrated into the discussion of the use of performance-enhancing drugs considered as deviant in modern sport. Brewer (2003) noted that the complexity of the social constructs of people’s lives should be viewed through the lens of duality of private troubles and public issues (p. 108).
Mills himself emphasized the importance of distinction between “the personal trouble of milieu” and “the public issues of social structure” as an effective tool used by sociological imagination (p. 8). In that regard, the issues of steroids usage can be viewed as a personal trouble of every individual athlete which however is the result of the environment and the influence of the social structures.
On the other hand, the increased popularity and the issue of legalization of the performance-enhancing substances can be regarded as the direct consequence of the relative power and privilege of different interest groups involved into the decision making process.
Explaining the deviance, social conflict theory and Mills who is recognized as one of its founders placed the main emphasis upon rule makers, those who name steroids usage as deviant behavior.
Taking into account the fact that the most powerful individuals are responsible for establishing the norms and even translating them into laws, it can be stated that ‘juiced’ athletes breaking the common rules can be viewed as a threat to the established social structures and order and their behavior is named as deviant by the powerful members of society who can influence the public opinion.
Applying the sociological imagination to discussion of performance-enhancing drugs in sport, this phenomenon can be explained as duality of personal trouble and public issue which due to the norms established by powerful groups is treated as deviance.
Reference List
Brewer, J. (2003). C.Wright Mills and the ending of violence. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Macionis, J. & Gerber, L. (2010). Sociology, seventh Canadian edition. Toronto: Pearson Education Canada.
Mills, C.W. (2000). The sociological imagination. New York: Oxford University Press.
Wormer, K., Besthorn, F., & Keefe, T. (2007). Human behavior and the social environment, macro level: Groups, communities and organizations. New York: Oxford University Press.