The Misleading Images of Sociology.
Why do you think some people go to university and devote themselves to study sociology? Most people might have the perception that when you learn sociology, it indicates that you are truly concern to help the society, offering humanitarian services to them, as well as being benevolent. But, what many people will never think of it is that in the real life, some are studying sociology as a tool to equip themselves with countless information about society, so that they can plan a better criminal steps, or briefly, being malevolent.
In sum, Peter L. Berger mentioned this situation in one remarkable sentence: ‘working with people’ can mean getting them out of slums or getting them into jail, selling them propaganda or robbing them of their money, making them produce better automobiles or making them better bombing pilots.
That is one of the misleading images of Sociology, starting almost a hundred years ago up to recent era. Another misleading image portrayed is, sociologists never attempt to understand the society, and instead they tend to practice more. This is what people say, but the truth is vice-versa. Sociologists are not social reformers which intend to change to whole society institution; indeed they strive to an uphill battle sequentially to understand the society better.
There’s another misleading perception which -for me- is quite interesting and appealing. It’s about a deceptive image toward sociology of more recent date and more recent development in discipline. It sounds a bit like this: sociologist is a gatherer of statistics about human behaviors. Yes, it is true that many sociologists use statistics in developing theories and to understand what’s actually happening. However, it is to be born in mind that statistics or numbers alone are not sociology. Numbers become a part of sociology only when they are interpreted sociologically. It can be explained using this example:
Today, in IIUM Gombak, the percentage of male students is only 35% whereas female students have reached 65% in quantity. Had this percentage is left with no interpretation from sociological views, it will remain as numbers and insignificant. However, to make it a part of sociology and possessing a bigger meaning, the above percentage has to be interpreted this way:
1. Now women got more chances to study even to a higher level education institution, compared to our ancestors’ time.
2. Women are predicted to get married late. Pursuing studies seems to become the prioritized event in life.
3. Late marriage means children will ‘come’ later.
4. Women with degree/master degree tend to involve in career world, living the housewife title behind, which usually will force them to not to have much children.
Why do you think some people go to university and devote themselves to study sociology? Most people might have the perception that when you learn sociology, it indicates that you are truly concern to help the society, offering humanitarian services to them, as well as being benevolent. But, what many people will never think of it is that in the real life, some are studying sociology as a tool to equip themselves with countless information about society, so that they can plan a better criminal steps, or briefly, being malevolent.
In sum, Peter L. Berger mentioned this situation in one remarkable sentence: ‘working with people’ can mean getting them out of slums or getting them into jail, selling them propaganda or robbing them of their money, making them produce better automobiles or making them better bombing pilots.That is one of the misleading images of Sociology, starting almost a hundred years ago up to recent era. Another misleading image portrayed is, sociologists never attempt to understand the society, and instead they tend to practice more. This is what people say, but the truth is vice-versa. Sociologists are not social reformers which intend to change to whole society institution; indeed they strive to an uphill battle sequentially to understand the society better.
There’s another misleading perception which -for me- is quite interesting and appealing. It’s about a deceptive image toward sociology of more recent date and more recent development in discipline. It sounds a bit like this: sociologist is a gatherer of statistics about human behaviors. Yes, it is true that many sociologists use statistics in developing theories and to understand what’s actually happening. However, it is to be born in mind that statistics or numbers alone are not sociology. Numbers become a part of sociology only when they are interpreted sociologically. It can be explained using this example:
Today, in IIUM Gombak, the percentage of male students is only 35% whereas female students have reached 65% in quantity. Had this percentage is left with no interpretation from sociological views, it will remain as numbers and insignificant. However, to make it a part of sociology and possessing a bigger meaning, the above percentage has to be interpreted this way:
1. Now women got more chances to study even to a higher level education institution, compared to our ancestors’ time.
2. Women are predicted to get married late. Pursuing studies seems to become the prioritized event in life.
3. Late marriage means children will ‘come’ later.
4. Women with degree/master degree tend to involve in career world, living the housewife title behind, which usually will force them to not to have much children.
[Back then, for Malay women, when they are asked about the quantity of the children, and the answer is 6, people will react by saying, “only six???!!!” but nowadays, when the answer is 6, people are more likely to say, “Six???!!! How do you take care all of them simultaneously??” It normally happens in urban lives.]
5. Smaller amount of children will lead to the decreasing population of society.
Now 35:65 becomes more noteworthy and essential. :)
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