Sociology myths debunked

Sociology faces its fair share of misconceptions, but fear not, Sociology student Grace Ryder has debunked some common myths about the subject.

1. "Sociology is not a useful degree"

Sociology is an extremely useful and valuable degree and helps you to develop a range of transferrable skills such as critical thinking, written and communication skills, the ability to use logic and reasoning and researching. During your degree you will develop these skills, which will allow you to use them in a wide range of career paths.

Sociology does not limit your career options either. The opportunities are endless; you can work for governmental organisations, the criminal justice system, become a lecturer or a teacher, social worker, or even work in marketing.

So, studying sociology does not mean that your career options are limited, or that you won’t make money. If you choose to do a degree in sociology, you will develop a range of skills that will be applicable to any career you choose.

If you enjoy your degree and find the things you learn interesting, it is useful! 

2. "Sociology is easy"

Sociology is not easy! Just like any degree, it requires hard work and an interest in the subject. It also requires you to think critically and question everything you know. You will need to look at things through multiple perspectives, and often there is no “right” answer.

Sociology is more than just common sense. Studying sociology highlights how everything in society is constructed for a reason; it is up to you to question why, find explanations and theories and evaluate how useful they are. For example, you have probably worn a uniform to school, but have you ever wondered why? According to the theory of Marxism, wearing a uniform in school accustoms us to the work place, preparing students for work and hierarchy-perpetuating inequality.

To study sociology, you need to be able to think critically and go beyond the boundaries of what you know. This allows you to gain a higher level of self-awareness that you can use to tackle inequalities in society.

3. "Social Science isn’t a science"

Sociology does not always have to be a science, but it can be! During your time studying sociology, you will find that adopting and applying a scientific approach to the subject is very valuable and often necessary when conducting research. You will become a social researcher: collecting data, creating a hypothesis, analysing patterns in data and even processing and presenting your findings. Data is often quantified to make it easier to compare, so that sociologists can identify trends and patterns.

Treating sociology as science also has advantages; it allows researchers to be objective, meaning their biases aren’t affecting the data they are collecting. So, sociology does not always have to take a scientific approach, but it certainly can thrive in one.

4. "Sociology and Psychology are the same"

Sociology and Psychology can sometimes overlap and work together - but they are not the same thing.

They do have some similarities; they both require similar skills such as analysing research and studying behaviour (although this is done through different lenses). The good thing is, if you study sociology, you still have the skills to do some psychology related roles.

They also have many differences. Sociology involves the study of the functions and processes of society, while psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour of individuals. Sociology questions why society works like it does and psychology attempts to explain why individuals think and behave like they do. Psychology may look at issues such as mental illness, addiction and relationships with others, while sociology often looks at broader societal issues such as globalisation, poverty and inequality. For this reason, the two can often intertwine, but this does not make them the same.

GRACE RYDER
BSc (Hons) Sociology student