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Understanding Sociology's Power Dynamics

The author finds the dynamics of power and the concept of marginalization in sociology particularly interesting, noting how sociologists must look beyond societal norms to uncover truths. They draw parallels between sociology and their field of mechanical engineering, emphasizing the importance of understanding complex systems, whether in society or technology. The author believes that a deeper understanding of sociology can help individuals become better people and improve their ability to design products for others.

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sydszuba
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4 views1 page

Understanding Sociology's Power Dynamics

The author finds the dynamics of power and the concept of marginalization in sociology particularly interesting, noting how sociologists must look beyond societal norms to uncover truths. They draw parallels between sociology and their field of mechanical engineering, emphasizing the importance of understanding complex systems, whether in society or technology. The author believes that a deeper understanding of sociology can help individuals become better people and improve their ability to design products for others.

Uploaded by

sydszuba
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Sydney Szuba

Week 1 Assignment

1) What do you find most interesting about Sociology as presented here?

I found the discussion on the dynamics of power to be very interesting. I have heard the
word “marginalized” used growing up, but I never looked at the definition super
carefully. According to the video, “if a social group is marginalized, it means that it
occupies a position outside the center of power.” I thought that this was a very unique
way of describing the word and I found it interesting how sociologists need to see past
norms to identify truth, like with how things in society were operated in the past versus
how they are run now. The video used the example of how voting was only available for
white men for a while until it was later opened up to women and then other races.

2) Why would a sociologist want to view a phenomenon as “strange” that we generally


regard as unremarkable? Provide and explain an example.

For me and my line of work in mechanical engineering, I think that this is very prevalent.
The systems and devices we use every day are very complex and we easily take them for
granted. I am fascinated by understanding how these devices work. I am big into cars,
and I hope to learn more about what is under the hood and how all these complex
systems come together to operate a vehicle. I think the same can be said for sociology.
Most people drive a car every day, but many take it for granted or are not even interested
in learning more. I think you become more curious about how a car works when it
breaks down and you need to find a way to fix it or you need to go to a mechanic, and
they tell you what is wrong with your car. The same can be said about sociology. It is
important to understand how our society operates so that when some things within it
might be a little problematic, they can be analyzed and rectified. I am not saying that
everyone is cut out to be a sociologist to identify and fix problems, but I think we can be
better people if we understand people. Especially in my future career making products
for people, it is important to understand the people you are designing a product for.

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