1.5 Why Study Sociology?
There are many career paths available in the world today. Sociology is one path that offers ways to work toward improving society. Additionally, there are a wide range of fields (domestically and internationally) in which sociologists work.
To Build a Better Society
Many sociologists are driven by the scholarly desire to contribute knowledge to their field, while others see it as a way to not only study society but also improve it. Sociology has played a crucial role in social reform, including the desegregation of schools in the 1950s. Sociology has also contributed to other important societal shifts, such as equal opportunity for women in the workplace, improved treatment for individuals with mental illnesses or learning disabilities, increased accessibility and accommodation for people with physical disabilities, the right of Indigenous populations to preserve their land and culture, and prison system reforms (figure 1.19).
To Understand Everyday Experiences
American sociologist Peter L. Berger describes a sociologist as “someone concerned with understanding society in a disciplined way.” He asserts that sociologists have a natural interest in the monumental moments of people’s lives, as well as a fascination with everyday occurrences. Berger also describes the “aha” moment when a sociological theory becomes applicable and understood:
[T]here is a deceptive simplicity and obviousness about some sociological investigations. One reads them, nods at the familiar scene, remarks that one has heard all this before and don’t people have better things to do than to waste their time on truisms—until one is suddenly brought up against an insight that radically questions everything one had previously assumed about this familiar scene. This is the point at which one begins to sense the excitement of sociology. (Berger 1963)
Learn more about the social construction of reality when you watch the video in the next activity (figure 1.20).
Activity: Discovering Sociology
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4E0jBHS1N8
After viewing the embedded link, please return and answer the following questions:
- What makes a good sociologist? Why does Berger suggest they need to have a good sense of curiosity?
- How can we train ourselves to take a sociological perspective?
To Connect Our Differences
Sociology can be exciting because it teaches us how we fit into the world and how others perceive us. Looking at ourselves and society from a sociological perspective helps us see where we connect to different groups based on the many different ways we classify ourselves and how society classifies us in turn. It raises awareness of how those classifications—such as economic and status levels, education, ethnicity, or sexual orientation—affect how we are perceived.
Sociology teaches us to reject easy explanations. It teaches us how to organize our thinking, ask better questions, and formulate better answers. It reveals how others think differently from us. It increases our willingness and ability to try to see the world from other people’s perspectives, preparing us to live and work in an increasingly diverse and integrated world.
To Prepare for the Workplace
Employers seek people with transferable skills. This means they want to hire people whose knowledge and education can be applied in a variety of settings and whose skills will contribute to various tasks.
Studying sociology can provide a broad knowledge base and a skill set that can contribute to many workplaces, including:
- An understanding of social systems and large bureaucracies
- The ability to devise and carry out research projects to assess whether a program or policy is working
- The ability to collect, read, and analyze statistical information from polls or surveys
- The ability to recognize important differences in people’s social, cultural, and economic backgrounds
- The capacity for critical thinking about social issues and problems that confront modern society (Department of Sociology, University of Alabama n.d.)
Sociology can help prepare you for a wide variety of careers. Many students with a bachelor of arts in sociology pursue graduate work to become a professor, researcher, social worker, or even lawyer. With an undergraduate degree, you will be prepared for entry-level positions in business, social services, and government. The perspectives you learn will also prepare you for careers in journalism, politics, public relations, or public administration. If you would like to explore more ideas, see Careers in Sociology [PDF], published by the American Sociological Association.
In relatively stable societies, sociologists are hired by government agencies and corporations in fields such as social services, counseling (e.g., family planning, career, substance abuse), community planning, health and welfare services, education, marketing, market research, and human resources. Some sociologists become independent consultants and help organizations examine issues such as workplace equity. Others pursue careers as social researchers and work for survey and polling organizations or as caseworkers, community organizers, public policy researchers, or data analysts. Even a small amount of training in sociology can be an asset in careers like sales, public relations, journalism, teaching, law, and criminal justice.
Licenses and Attributions for Why Study Sociology?
Open Content, Original
“Why Study Sociology?” by Jennifer Puentes is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
“Activity: Discovering Sociology” by Jennifer Puentes is adapted from “Profile: Dr. Peter L. Berger (Social Construction of Reality)” by Open Road Media, shared under the Standard YouTube License, and is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Modifications include authoring questions and framing the activity.
Open Content, Shared Previously
“Why Study Sociology? by Jennifer Puentes is from “1.4 Why Study Sociology?” by Tonja R. Conerly, Kathleen Holmes, Asha Lal Tamang, in Introduction to Sociology 3e, OpenStax, is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Modifications include revision and editing for consistency and brevity.
“To Understand Everyday Experiences” from “1.4 Why Study Sociology?” by Tonja R. Conerly, Kathleen Holmes, Asha Lal Tamang in Introduction to Sociology 3e, OpenStax, is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
“To Connect Our Differences” “To Understand Everyday Experiences” is from “1.4 Why Study Sociology?” by Tonja R. Conerly, Kathleen Holmes, Asha Lal Tamang in Introduction to Sociology 3e, OpenStax, which is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
“To Prepare for the Workplace” from “1.4 Why Study Sociology?” by Tonja R. Conerly, Kathleen Holmes, Asha Lal Tamang in Introduction to Sociology 3e, OpenStax, which is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Edited for consistency and brevity.
Figure 1.19. “green printer paper” by Brittani Burns is licensed under the Unsplash License.
All Rights Reserved Content
Figure 1.20. “Profile: Dr. Peter L. Berger (Social Construction of Reality)” by Open Road Media is licensed under the Standard YouTube License.
the scientific and systematic study of groups and group interactions, societies and social interactions, from small and personal groups to very large groups and mass culture; also, the systematic study of human society and interactions.
a group of people who live in a defined geographic area, interact with one another, and share a common culture.
a statement that proposes to describe and explain why facts or other social phenomena are related to each other based on observed patterns.
a lens that allows you to view society and social structures through multiple perspectives simultaneously.
categories of difference organized around shared language, culture and faith tradition.
enduring patterns of romantic or sexual attraction (or a combination of these) to persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or to both sexes or more than one gender.
organizations that have a clear division of labor, a hierarchy, and formal rules and procedures.
a method of collecting data from subjects who respond to a series of questions about behaviors and opinions, often in the form of a questionnaire or an interview. Surveys are one of the most widely used scientific research methods.