I have a bachelors in sociology, and I’m taking a leave of absence from law school and I’m having trouble finding employment. I can substitute teach, but that pay is pretty poor but it works with my daughter’s school schedule, I’ve done upwards of 70 applications. Legal assistant jobs, case management jobs, but what else can I apply for? I really want to start working. I even applied to be an assistant general manager at McDonald’s. It’s getting desperate

This is our local recurring future-planning thread. Got questions about jobs or careers, want to know what programs or schools you should apply to, or unsure what you'll be able to use your degree for? This is the place.

This thread gets replaced every Friday, each week. You can click this link to pull up old threads in search.

Would someone be willing to point me in the direction of macro theorists (whom aren’t conflict theorists- just trying to diversify my go to’s) who would be great lenses to view the most US election through? If not allowed please remove, thanks in advance!

This is more-so a question than a theory or observation.

In one of my classes on social theory we have been discussing how the global north has created the framework (binary oppositions) for all sociological knowledge that is widely accepted today however throughout history there have always been certain groups (typically from the global south) that have been excluded from such meetings of the minds for not meeting certain criteria’s.

Now using what was just talked about, and thinking about the general trend of wealth inequality, and less easily accessible routes to higher education (in the United States) would it be crazy to say that some rappers and hip hop artists are practicing sociological methods in their rhyme schemes but aren’t recognized due to their lack of cultural capital in the world of academia?

This was a shower thought as I was listening to music so feel free to rip this question to shreds if it is wild to say but I couldn’t get it off my mind.

My family background is Chinese and I have noticed that, among the many many lenses that the Chinese popular media uses to see the world, a recurring idea is the distinction between what is modern and what is traditional/feudal (following marxist frameworks).

I'm in my undergrad in Canada and I noticed that the only social theorists that have made a distinction between pre-modern and modern society were the ones from the classical social theory tradition, such as Durkheim and his mechanical and organic solidarity.

I just began reading into contemporary social theory, but it seems most have moved past this distinction.
But why? I can't imagine that this distinction is no longer useful, since the world is still in the process of modernizing.

What do you guys think?

Hello Everybody,

Recently I’ve been conflicted with my current major, Chemistry. I enjoyed it a lot in highschool and when I first tried attending a community college before taking a break for a few years, but now that I’m back I took a course in Sociology, and it seems like more up my alley.

Based on the very simple look I’ve had into the profession, it looks like sociology is primarily about discovering about societies through research methods, which sounds like something that I’d like to do. However, making a decent wage eventually is a very big factor for me. I would also hate to go into the field and discover that I’d be working for the government against the people, or working for HR. Does anyone have any insight on this? I’d love to use the data I collect to better the lives of people as a career, but if sociology isn’t like that, I don’t want to go into it.

Hello fellow sociology scholars and lovers! I am doing my bachelors capstone and struggling to find a specific lens of conflict theory to apply to my paper. My paper looks at the world of Harry Potter as it relates to conflict theory. I note the racial like divisions between blood classes as well as muggles and wizards- citing the secrecy law in terms of crime control theory. But am struggling to find an overarching theory to connect my race theory. I also take a look at the censorship by the ministry of magic (government) during the fifth book and "keeping stuff quiet and covered up" and the deviantization of those who object the ministry's claim. I have a clear vision, but the connection to a specific theory is stumping me. I've spent hours researching different views and the more I look the more I'm conflicted on what works best. If anyone has any specific articles or views, I'd really appreciate the help!

Does the average american have any trust in sociologists or sociology as a whole? What do you think?

hello, i have an assisgment and im not sure what all i can include under this topic, id really appreciate it if yall could help me brainstorm and give opinions and ideas :D

Exploring Digital Inequality in Schools – Thoughts?

I’m researching how differences in students’ access to tech like smartphones and AI impact learning and social relationships in primary schools. Using Bourdieu’s theory of capital, Habermas’ system/lifeworld framework, and Turkle’s ideas on tech and social interaction, I’m exploring how digitalization can create or deepen social divides. Insights come from an ethnographic study by Livingstone & Sefton-Green and Danish research on digital inequality.

Curious to hear others’ thoughts! How do you see tech shaping learning and social dynamics in schools? Any ideas for bridging these digital divides?

A lot of folks in my department are trying to decide how (and if) they will address the election in class. Some plan to open a space for discussion in their classes for part or all of the meeting. I personally tend to avoid moderating that kind of discussion in class just because I don't think I'm very good at it or equipped to do so. But I do think students often appreciate teachers who can and do give them that space. I also feel a little weird about teaching Foucault in my Theory class like nothing has happened.

What are you all going to do? Any strategies for keeping a class discussion civil and sociological?

I observed current trends and I’ve noticed, that a lot of guys leaning towards some specific people. I can see huge increase of supporters people like Trump, Andrew Tate, Elon Musk, basically specific, i would say masculine leaders. Worth mention is the fact that almost all of them are rightist - pretty conservatives. I would like to search some more information about psychology behind that. Why as many people pick them like leaders, even though they don’t treating others with respect, as well dont share trends like equality and stuff. Obviously if you have same interesting book about strict politics right/left psychology i would be content but in the same time im looking for some break down of this image of strong, masculine leader that instead of lack of competence at some topic still is appealing to people tricking them with overconfidence. Hope i dont insult anyone by saying that, its just my observations. Best regards

How will the election affect schools of sociology around the States? And more than that, do you think there'll be any international impact?

hello guys, do you have any suggestions on what research questions to pursue if we are to look at females doing waste/garbage collection, sociologically? i've read papers but most of their focus is on the health/sanitary aspect.

Hi all. I will be graduating with a BA in Sociology, but always had a knack for languages, logic, language structure etc. I have taken an intro survey course on linguistics, which included applied weekly problem sets. Is this enough to qualify me for applying to a Linguistics MA/MS? Maybe Sociolinguistics?

Thanks!

Hi friends! I'm currently in my second year as an undergrad sociology student, and I'm planning to transfer from community college to university next fall. I need to begin narrowing down my possible areas of interest in preparation for upper division classes. I have been interested in the subfield of industry, specifically labor markets. My ultimate goal is to become a professor and I fully intend to earn a Master's and PhD, however, I know teaching positions can be so hard to secure. Does anyone have experience with alternative career paths related to industrial sociology? Thanks! :))

send me questions to ask my future soc professor! Basic level/I’m learning but super super interested in sociology since starting college but not extremely familiar with a lot of the concepts that aren’t just “basic knowledge” also your favourite concepts and stuff for me to look into! TIA - a newbie

Hello,

I'm an undergraduate student studying political science and sociology and am currently brooding over a few ideas concerning my next term paper, and I thought perhaps some of you could give me their thoughts on the topic/method!

My seminar is on social identity groups and political parties and I would like to write about strategies used by populist (youth) groups or relevant actors of the New Right movement to appeal to social media users, specifically the younger demographic. I'm quite new to working empirically, which is why I'm not quite sure if this is a task I could handle. I thought about looking at different accounts, their posts over time and the specific content and how different metrics are correlated. As you can see the concept is still in the early stages, so bear with me haha

Has anyone on here worked with social media as data before, or could think of an more appropriate method? I would also love some literature recommendations, if you have any:)

Hello everyone,

I am a 3rd year student about to finish my first semester at university (I transferred). I tell everyone that I want to do some sort of social work, which is not a complete lie, but I have found that my interests really lie in social research. I am an undergraduate research assistant for a social research project at my school and I am getting a Spanish minor to broaden my reach, but other than that I feel lost as to where I should start. I have just started looking into internships for summer 2025 but I do not know what companies would need social researchers or any that would even take undergrad students. Are there any companies worth applying to? I am very open to the possibility of going to graduate school. If anyone has any experience with graduate research how was it?

This is our local recurring homework thread. Simple questions, assignment help, suggestions, and topic-specific source seeking all go here. Our regular rules about effort and substance for questions are suspended here - but please keep in mind that you'll get better and more useful answers the more information you provide.

This thread gets replaced every Monday, each week. You can click this link to pull up old threads in search.

Hello all. There was a bit of a fad whenever a World War broke out to analyze the sociology of German philosophers. I am thinking about John Dewey's book in WW1 and Popper's "Open Society" in WW2. What I can't understand is why there weren't more surveys of Germanic or Anglo-Saxon sociology. Given the foundational repute of "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism", you would think many other writers would have followed such a thread, at least among German or Anglo-Saxon writers. What I'd be more interested in is a survey written by, say, an Irish or French writer who would have been a bit more antagonistic. Do such books exist but were deliberately shelved in someone's nether regions?

Hello, I'm a sociology student and I'm running into trouble finding any books written by mentally ill authors about mental illness. For reference we are reading (I've already finished) Crazy by Early. While he is the parent of a person with a diagnosed mental illness & had his sons permission to write the novel I am disturbed by the apparent lack of literature that I would consider to fully meet the criteria for nothing about us withought us. While the book we read wasn't policy related, everyone learning about people labeled mentally ill are still receiving their "knowledge" second hand from an able perspective

I'm taking a sociological theory class right now, and I've realized my passion lies in sociology. I love how it puts so many of my perspectives into words and concepts. I enjoy Marx the most because his ideas are still relevant today despite the years that have passed since his publications. I would love to potentially do research on class struggles or just write anything centered on Marxian concepts.

but tell me, why do you love sociology?

I graduated with my MSW in forensic social work and since, I’ve primarily worked in legal settings as an immigration/deportation defense social worker. Because of my art therapy and psychology undergrad background, I decided to get my MA in clinical art therapy and counseling to gain more clinical skills to work with my detained clients who tended to be artistically inclined.

Here’s my dilemma: I’m currently enrolled in a DSW program. I completed two semesters before taking two semesters off for personal reasons. That time made me contemplate whether I wanted to continue with the program or apply to different programs, but not for social worker.

Deportation defense is my passion and working in a public defense office has made me toy with the idea of going to law school. I have guest lectured at NYU’s law school in a trauma-informed lawyering class and testified in front of City Council on immigration detention issues. Needless to say, I loved it.

However, it’s not so much that I want to do direct legal representation, but rather I’d like to do more macro and policy work. I’ve been contemplating applying to a PhD sociology program that has a focus on immigration. Would getting my PhD in sociology be worth it? Or should I stick to my DSW program? Or should I just go crazy and apply to law school? Haha. Clearly, my educational background is all over the place.