Sociology Scholars

A combined effort of undergraduate, graduate, and faculty submissions from the Sociology Department at Michigan State University. Submissions can be sent to -- [email protected]

[sociologyscholars]

When was the last time you felt like what you learned in class truly caused an uproar in your mind, shifting your beliefs in a completely new and unforeseen direction?

What caused you to feel this way?

[sociologyscholars]

[sociology-of-space]

Because all knowledge is interrelated, there are inevitable problems in defining and cataloging the social sciences. Often, it is difficult to know where one social science ends and another begins. Not only are the individual social sciences interrelated, but the social sciences as a whole body are also related to the natural sciences and the humanities. The strains of the old song, “The hip bone’s connected to the thigh bone, …” are appropriate to the social sciences. To understand history, it is helpful, even necessary, to understand geography; to understand economics, it is necessary to understand psychology. Similar arguments can be made for all of the social sciences

Elgin F. Hunt & David C. Colander - Chapter 1 Social Science and it’s Methods In. Social Science: An Introduction to the Study of Society, 14th Edition (2011)

[fyp-science]

I love science, and it pains me to think that so many are terrified of the subject or feel that choosing science means you cannot also choose compassion, or the arts, or be awed by nature. Science is not meant to cure us of mystery, but to reinvent and reinvigorate it.

Robert M. Sapolsky (via fyp-science)

[sociologyscholars]

Breaching -- Breaking through the status quo with a message or action that challenges a cultural norm.

The first step is to find what makes you uncomfortable. The second step is to control your immediate reactions. The third step is to ask questions and discuss the ambiguities and nuanced details to gain further understanding.

How often do interactions break down at step 2, before reaching step 3?

How many classrooms are dedicated to spending time having great discussions about uncomfortable topics?

Move people. Otherwise, what's the point?

[sociologyscholars]

A seemingly simple reflection, yet a profoundly valuable lesson.

Who are you? When did you become who you are? How did you become who you are? Why is this important?

[sociologyscholars]

Working together to join history, design, architecture and gastronomy to produce a symphony effect on food, its historical positioning, how it's consumed, and why it has an importance to the future of the culture.

How could this same approach be used to cultivate an understanding and comprehension for some of the cultural foods in your region?

[sociologyscholars]

How could this message have been expressed, without reinforcing the idea that women need to disrobe in efforts of gaining attention, to be heard/seen?

Certainly the video is about the value of photoshop and how it is used in society to misrepresent models. However, do the gains that the video makes in expressing bodily authenticity, get detracted by the fact that the models are first seen clothed, are seen stripping, and then are displayed (standing/posing with no purpose other than to be seen)?

[sociologyscholars]

Willie Baronet trades money for stories -- In the end, he has hundreds of homeless signs to show for it.

This story was linked to my personal fb from a friend, sharing a story on Reddit. He mentioned how this man had stolen my idea. My idea was to offer the homeless in my neighborhood the option to trade their sign for either A.) A bag of apples or B.) $3-$5.

My goal in this was to create a commodity for the homeless. Rather than merely donating money, I would be instilling a sense of work, by also providing. Perhaps it isn't much work to find another piece of cardboard, but where do the homeless find the marker, I asked myself.

The homeless have continued to line the corners of my streets, "begging" as people call it, for money.. for help. It was my intention to determine what kind of help they sought by providing them the option of immediate food (An apple a day keeps the Dr. away), or a small temporary financial gain. I also wanted to send a message to those that would see this transaction, the others around me that continue to shame and look away. I wanted to suggest that there might be another way to interact with these people outside of quietly, and passive aggressively, giving them their money. To me, the signs would be something of value, something worth framing, something worth looking at each day I awoke, a subtle reminder of what I have and what others don't.

Just like many ideas, this one never came to fruition, not for me at least. I still give to the homeless when I can, and I do my best to make eye contact, to acknowledge their presence, to look at them, instead of through them.

Cheers to Mr. Baronet for making a difference, both in the lives of those he interviews, and to me.. someone with an equal idea, an equal observation.

[sociologyscholars]

The Presentation of Self

Sociology in Real Life

[sociologyscholars]

Fuck The Poor

What does it mean to be fucked? Are the poor fucked? How can the poor be fucked?

Help The Poor

What does it mean to be helped? Are the poor helped? How can the poor be helped?

[sociologyscholars]

Thoughts on:

The idea of being basic? Social norms? Breaching? Social pressure?

[sociologyscholars]

Why can't we walk together?

For my theme song

My leather black jeans on

My by-any-means on

Pardon, I'm getting my scream on

Enter the kingdom

But watch who you bring home

They see a black man with a white woman

At the top floor they gone come to kill King Kong

Middle America packed in

Came to see me in my black skin

Number one question they're askin'

Fuck every question you askin'

If I don't get ran out by Catholics

Here come some conservative Baptists

Claiming I'm overreactin'

Like them black kids in Chiraq bitch

Black Skinhead - Kanye West

[sociologyscholars]

8 College Degrees with the Worst Return on Investment

While there's no doubt that a college degree increases earning power and broadens opportunities, today's high cost of education means it makes sense to more carefully consider which degree you earn. When it comes to return on investment (ROI), not all degrees are considered equal.

Not EVERY degree can be measured by the economic gain of its holder. While I agree that Sociologists may earn far less than other occupations, is it not likely that Sociologists are misunderstood? I have a B.A. in Sociology, with a minor in Educational Studies... and this degree has not so far afforded me an instant position outside of school.

With that said, I wouldn't give back the perspective that I've gained through the Sociological Imagination. Perhaps in the future, you, I, and anyone else out there interested in the study of people, behavior, and social influences of them on each other could work to make our branch of understanding more readily known and accepted.

So much potential value in understanding people, their motives, and the functionality of each within group dynamics.

[explore-blog]

[sociologyscholars]

Flipping a common saying provides insight on how this can be implemented.

Rather than saying, "What's good enough for me, is good enough for you."

Instead, "What's good enough for you, is good enough for me."

In that regard, the focus is on improving the goodness of others, letting that be the guiding motion for actions and thoughts, rather than what is considered merely good enough for us, first.

Care first about the quality of life of others -- and the byproduct is improving the quality of life of yourself.

Cheers to Saturday.

[sociologyscholars]

CELL PHONE CRASHING at the AIRPORT! A Breaching Experiment

I can't get enough of these different breaching tactics & the responses that people have when encountering them.

Hope you enjoy.

[sociologyscholars]

Of the top 200 TOP SCORING REDDIT POSTS OF ALL TIME The 3rd highest in the funny subreddit, is a social experiment applying breaching. Thankful to be a Sociologist.