<p>Hi,
I’m a H.S. sophomore from MA writing a career research paper on sociologists. One of the requirements is that we need to interview someone who works in our chosen field. I am doing sociologists. Are there any sociology majors on here (or even better, actual working sociologists) who would like to answer a few questions, to the best of their ability?</p>
<p>If you can’t answer a question feel free to skip it.</p>
<li> What is the best part of your job as a sociologist/studying sociology?</li>
<li> What are the positive aspects being a sociologist/studying sociology?</li>
<li> Are there any negative aspects?</li>
<li> What benefits does a career in sociology provide?</li>
<li> What was your college experience like and did you feel that it prepared you for your job?</li>
<li> Would you say that there is much variety in the day-to-day work you perform as a sociologist?</li>
<li> What is the most interesting thing you’ve researched/learned about?</li>
<li> Describe your day-to-day routine as a sociologist/sociology major.</li>
<li> What is your work environment like?</li>
<li>What level of education did you need to pursue for this job?</li>
<li>What do you think is the most important quality in a sociologist?</li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>I was a sociology major, but am currently in medical school, I'm not sure if that helps...</p>
<p>1 and 2) I really enjoyed the diversity of topics covered in sociology and how it helped me look at the world. I've always been a person to look at the how and why, and sociology gives a unique perspective on how and why groups have the characteristics they do. I've also been more of a macro-level, big picture sort of person, and thus liked that the focus wasn't so much on the individual but on the group.</p>
<p>3) I personally don't like the perception that sociology is an "easy" major. I think that it tends to be view as a less legitimate discipline compared to something like Psychology, which is unwarranted. I also think that it's unfairly labeled as "liberal propaganda" or whatever simply because a lot of the discussions and findings it has found on race and class point to a set of conclusions that aren't in-line with conservative doctrine. The political implications of a lot of sociology also tends to lead to a perception that it's a soft subject. </p>
<p>4) Like I said, I'm in medicine, but I think that it has been very beneficial even there. I'm studying to become a physician because of the people aspects of being a doctor, not just the science, and so sociology has helped me in a lot of that sort of stuff. I think that I have a better understanding of patients that aren't like me, that I understand their situation and the complications they face on a day to day basis if they aren't upper-middle class like most of my classmates.</p>
<p>7) If I had pursued getting my master's or my PhD in sociology I probably would have focused on college students, particularly those in fraternities and sororities. My senior capstone course required an independent research project and mine was a content analysis of fraternity and sorority magazines in regards to differences between racial and gender groups. I also was particularly interested in educational inequality (see Jonathan Koziol's Savage Inequalities for example) and also differences in childhood development (Annette Laureau's Unequal Childhoods is one of the best books I've read). I also worked on a research project this past summer looking at how doctors and patients discuss prevention of disease with a sociologist who works in the Department of Family Medicine at my medical school.</p>
<p>Thanks for the answers, Bigredmed.</p>