Sociology
What is Sociology?
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Ralph Benmergui Journalist, Broadcaster |
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"If there is one lesson that reverberates from my time in Sociology class it would be this one: for every social structure there is a code and format. Sociology opened my eyes to that deconstruction almost twenty years ago. Applying that truth to countless stories and interviews I have been able to burrow deeper than I would have. As though with X-Ray vision, I have been able to see what others were oblivious to. Hearing code in the way people spoke and seeing format in the physical layout of a Production studio breathes life into my journalism and informs my decisions to this day. Sociology taught me how to see and imagine the world differently." | |
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Cathy Crowe Street Nurse, |
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"I turned to Sociology when I needed to explore the issues of gender, class and economic policies such as free trade that impact on health care and nursing. I'm so glad I did! Who would have expected that years later I would come to face with a social welfare disaster such as homelessness? My Sociology background combined with my nursing has helped me face this issue to develop responses and solutions." | |
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Donna Dasko, PhD Senior Vice-President |
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"My introductory Sociology course in first year university introduced me to an entirely new and absolutely fascinating subject matter: culture, norms, roles, statuses, social institutions, socialization, and social inequality. Although I took many other courses in my undergraduate years, I majored in Sociology and went on to complete a Masters degree and then a Doctorate. Studying Sociology taught me the importance of social and economic forces in understanding human behavior and social change. I can honestly say that my Sociology education has helped me every day of my career." | |
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Sociologists are people who try to make sense of the social world, past, present and future. Sociologists reveal the hidden workings of society, and like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, they pull at the curtains of society to uncover the wizards hiding behind and operating the machinery.
What exactly is Sociology?
"Sociology" comes from the Latin word socius (companion) and the ending -ology from the Greek logos (word). The term was coined by Auguste Comte in 1838 to refer to the general but scientific study of society, where society could be observed, measured, and ultimately changed for the better. This meaning still holds true today!
At a very general level, Sociology can best be understood as the study of society. Society itself has a huge influence on what we do, how we think, and who we are.
Sociology is essentially the study of people, by people - how people form cultures, societies, organizations, laws, beliefs, families, religions, and all other aspects of human life.
But Sociology is not simply thinking about the world. Sociology uses theoretical models and practical research to scientifically study society and provide explanations for why society exists as it does -- it is the science of debunking myths.
There is no one correct way to study the social world; instead, Sociology reflects a wide range of differing views about how the world can be analyzed. People are social animals who require the existence and actions of others in order to survive. People are the producers of society, but they are also the products of society. We have an interactive relationship to the world around us.
Instead of simply accepting society as it exists, with all its inequalities and injustices, Sociology helps people make sense of why these inequalities exist, assists in challenging the norms of any society, and aids in changing the inequalities that still occur.
Sociology is basically a tool that allows anyone to explore the world around them, and help them understand why the world exists as it does. Sociology asks us all to question the assumptions we hold about the world and its inhabitants.
What does a Sociologist Do?
The modern world is constantly changing, and is moving at a faster pace than ever before. Sociologists are in high demand by the private, public and community sectors, because they have the necessary practical, creative and analytical skills that are portable across diverse fields of employment. They have a competitive advantage in today's information and high tech society. Sociologists are found working in many fields in Canadian society.
They are the people who ask the WHY and HOW questions of the world, and seek to provide answers and explanations for why the world works differently for different groups of people.
They alert the world to the very real social barriers that still exist, that prevent people globally from reaching equality in all aspects of their daily lives. Sociologists observe the social world, describe its structures and organizations, and seek explanations for human and societal actions and interactions.
"Things are not what they seem."
- Peter Berger
