Sociology and Understanding Society
Sociology is a field that deals with the social aspects of society such as interactions, relationships, economic dynamics and so forth. By studying sociology, one will understand why certain things are the way they are. For instance, in our society, why there are poor? Why there are rich? Why does racial discrimination exist? Sociology helps us to understand the social patterns of the community. By understanding these patterns, one understands why certain phenomena happen.
Gaining a New Perspective
By reflecting Sociology 201, it came to my realization that this subject clears stereotypes that most people hold. As much as the course provides an opportunity to learn and unlearn at the same time, its outcomes depict the reality of society. Being from a developing country in Africa, one can easily be swayed by the fact that the society cherishes idealistic kind of lifestyle, that is, simple life. However, this course helped me to avoid a pedestrian mind and think outside this perspective. The course has taught me that naivety and character shape the perception of other cultures. The course provides a basis for one to avoid ethnocentrism while viewing different cultures since each culture has its unique values and standards.
The Power of Social Imagination
Social imagination is the central concept I chose to discuss during my semester studies in sociology. Social imagination has an insightful description of the relationships among people and between society and the individual. This topic broadened my thinking regarding the different reactions of people towards others and social happenings. Social imagination also made me comprehend why people and society judge other people without prior knowledge, why people do certain businesses, why people adopt other cultures and many other social related questions. All these knowledge came to my attention after studying sociology.
Understanding Race and Racism
The topic of race and racism were also insightful subjects in sociology. The discussions helped me question why people base superiority on color. The topics taught me that race is a creation of society, and as such, people need not to compete over who is better than the other. The subject made me to see this in a bigger picture. The discussion evoked my thinking regarding how I judge other people. It gave me an opportunity to re-evaluate myself socially. The discussion helped me to realize my worthy which I had never realized. It made me realize the liberation and magnitude one feels in being honest about how we feel about others.
Challenging Preconceived Notions
Moreover, sociological imagination as a topic helped to tame my preconceived notions about everything. I grew to analyze things in a more insightful manner to avoid prejudgments. This subject enabled me to gain a different understanding of various concepts which most people fail to understand. Being from Africa and living in America, this course has helped me understand income stratification in America. This assertion dispelled my notion about America when I was still in Africa, where I thought everyone is rich. The rich will remain rich, the poor and middle class remain the same due to social factors, thanks to sociology. I learned that social prejudice is driven by stratification, which divides the society into classes, the rich and poor.
Promoting Better Relationships in Society
Generally, sociology has taught me the need to share experiences with others for personal growth. All the human race is connected with the mutual desire to make the world a better place. Sociology has taught me that combined effort is what defines a society. The experience I gained in learning sociology opened an opportunity for me to aspire to promote better relationship and harmony among people. This class has enabled me to understand that the society is the epitome of an individual's self-growth.
