The American Sociological Association’s Value of Sociology Initiative is aimed at making clearer—to wide audiences—how sociology makes a positive difference in the world. This initiative brings sociologists together to defend the discipline against unwarranted attacks, such as the removal of principles of sociology from the general education requirements in Florida, or the widespread dismantling of DEI initiatives that are grounded in sociological research. It is critical that we inform the larger public about what sociology really is and how empowering it can be to communities and students.
This issue includes reflections from many people whose lives have been touched by sociology. Former students explain how the critical thinking, research, and collaborative skills their sociology coursework gave them led them into meaningful careers as doctors, teachers, therapists, and leaders in government, businesses, and nonprofits. They also describe how sociology makes them better parents, friends, and community members.
Many former students note that they would be much less successful in their careers without the perspective that sociology has given them. They discuss the empathy they have gained through sociology—the understanding of the complexity of each person’s experience. As Patricia Diaz, vice president of marketing for Global LT, says, sociology teaches us that “people want the same things: to be seen, heard, and understood.”
In this issue of Footnotes, sociologists also describe the meaning and value of their work, whether they are teaching students to think differently about who the criminal justice system serves, or disseminating their research findings to the broader world, or working to create more inclusive communities or processes. Sociologists have testified in courts and before legislative bodies, and their work has been read widely and cited in NGO and federal reports, legislation, and U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Sociological research is also used by workers and communities around the globe to create positive changes in the world around them.
Sociologists who responded to our call for examples of the real-world impact of sociology are conducting research that explores many different areas—creating strategies to develop and implement fair housing, improving access to healthy food, developing greater understanding of gender-based violence, increasing workplace safety, fostering more accessible mental health services, addressing the overdose crisis, highlighting the exploitation of prison labor, documenting discrimination against immigrant workers, identifying the effectiveness of paternity leave, and helping seniors stay in their homes. Indeed, sociology provides a deeper understanding of how to engage in effective social change.
As Carol Jacob, program director of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, puts it, sociology is a “superpower. . .[which] changes the way you view the world and its problems, the people in your everyday life, the people you walk by on your commute.” The Value of Sociology Initiative works to ensure that everyone can access this superpower. Thank you all for engaging!
