Logbook Essay

The island of sociology is wonderful, yet some is still uncharted. Sociology’s commonality with other subjects is evident, but I learned firsthand how unique it can be as well. What I experienced is far from what I actually expected during my time in class; I got more than I bargained for, which in this case, is a good thing. The commonality shared amongst several sociologists is their viewpoint of life that may differ from the everyday human. Sociologists study how a society functions and how its members cope no matter how taboo it may seem. An amazing piece to consider; not only do sociologists study society, they also inhabit it (Berger 8).
I am experiencing a whole different world in education as a college freshman. This can relate to the sociological perspective, which is described in both textbooks. Henslin begins the chapter explaining how the sociological perspective is a motivating force within sociologists' lives, because it grants a new look at recognizable worlds (Henslin 4). For example, one of my field work tasks was to observe couples naturally hold hands to find hints about any dominant or passive behaviors. At first, I did not comprehend much about couples holding hands, but after the assignment it gave me a new perspective on the matter.
Sociologists do not solely explore within their perimeters. They travel to various countries, both lavish and primitive, to observe how the divergent groups coexist. Although, we do not have to travel any further than a street block to see how our own groups coincide. For example, the film "True Colors" by Mark Lukasiewicz & Eugenia Harvey reveals how our society's dominant groups (whites) and minority groups (African Americans) discriminate on the basis of race (Henslin 226-231). Fundamentally, sociologists study how the myths and reality of race affect a society as a whole. (Henslin 226)
Societies are like flower gardens. A few are small and undeveloped while others are vast and fully blossomed. Regardless of size, they all are fragile. An example of how fragile societies really are was the September 11 incident; the country as a whole felt insecure and feared other attacks. Even through difficult times like these, a society brings a sense of identity. City life offers two contrasting models. One model is alienation within the city, which establishes a sense of impersonality. On the other hand life in the city also has a sense of community. This is apparent in subsections within the city. Communities create a feeling of familiarity and association. (Henslin 416,417)
In closing, every piece of everyday interaction between humans is notable. Sociologists play a role of observant, while residing as a entity. Even simply playing the role of sociologist for a day may open one's eyes to a different perspective. From field working in the local community to observing couples at a different city the field work helps us better understand how society's function or dysfunction. Is a day of loathing in the mall more beneficial than a few hours helping communities at the local soup kitchen?

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