Career Vision Statement and Advocacy

I have grown to have a special regard for the pioneering work of a French sociologist named Emile Durkheim as a result of my interactions with numerous sociological theories during my academic career. Durkheim is regarded as the father of the functionalist sociological perspective and made substantial contributions to the discipline of sociology (Thomassen, 2012). A recurring motif in his corpus of work, especially with reference to the upkeep of stability and order, will be immediately apparent to astute viewers of his theories and research. His writings The Elementary Forms of Religious Life and The Division of Labor in Society are among the best representations of this topic. His focus on determining what binds society together was a clear demonstration that he - like I - believed in the value of shared experiences, values, and belief that instill in people a sense of belonging. Indeed, Emile Durkheim’s sociology is as relevant today as it was during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Like Durkheim, social scientists ought to own the advocacy role to educate help the broader society understand better and remediate persistent social challenges. In their scientific capacities, sociologists have the unparalleled privileged ability to comprehend and deconstruct the effects of a variety of factors on societal well-being (Tiryakian, 2013). They can apply the existing body of knowledge to explain contemporary social phenomena in ways the layperson may not immediately appreciate. Ultimately, they have the power to influence the design and implementation of socially desirable governmental policies.

The fact that sociologists have a real potential to effect positive social change indeed inspires me to become a “social scientist in action.” I intend to apply my knowledge of the implications of Durkheim’s anomie theory which proposes that the absence of a system of morals renders individuals unable to determine appropriate conduct (Schoepfer, 2016). The consequence is the emergence of unacceptable conduct or anomalies in society. This theory has been applied by criminologists to explain the disparities in the prevalence of crime. Through advocacy, I intend to apply the anomie sociological theory to advocate for the creation of equal economic opportunities and fairness in accessing such opportunities to limit the effects of anomie. I hope that through such advocacy, society may become safer.





































References

Schoepfer, A. (2016). Institutional Anomie Theory. The Encyclopedia of Crime and Punishment.

Thomassen, B. (2012). Émile Durkheim between Gabriel Tarde and Arnold van Gennep: founding moments of sociology and anthropology. Social Anthropology, 20(3), 231-249

Tiryakian, E. A. (Ed.). (2013). Sociological theory, values, and sociocultural change: essays in honor of Pitirim A. Sorokin. Transaction Publishers.