Articles - Page 2 - Thinking Sociologically

Quiet Neurodivergence, Spoons, and the Sociology of Invisible Struggle

This article develops quiet neurodivergence as a way of naming how some neurodivergent people appear to cope in education, work and civic life while absorbing hidden costs in masking, energy use and burnout. Drawing on neurodiversity, spoon theory, stigma and camouflaging research, and critical disability studies, it argues that quiet neurodivergence is produced by neuronormative institutions and patterned by class, race, gender and access to diagnosis.

Is Durkheim Still Relevant? Social Facts, Solidarity and Culture Wars

Durkheim never saw a social media pile-on, but he worried about what holds societies together and how they draw moral boundaries. This article introduces his ideas on social facts, solidarity, crime and anomie, and uses them to analyse contemporary “culture wars” over statues, values and offence – and to show where his framework now needs updating.

Is Weber Still Relevant? Rationalisation, Bureaucracy and Algorithmic Power

Weber wrote about files and offices, not welfare portals, tickets and AI chatbots. Yet his ideas on rationalisation, bureaucracy and legal-rational authority still help make sense of why “the system” feels both neutral and overwhelming. This article introduces Weber for undergraduates and tests his relevance against contemporary forms of algorithmic power.

Trading Places and the Myth of Meritocracy: A Sociological Analysis of Class, Race, and Capital

Watching Trading Places as a Christmas comfort film, it is hard not to see a ready-made sociological case study. The Dukes’ “experiment” looks like a simple nature-versus-nurture wager, but the life swap really turns on class, race and access to capital. This article uses Bourdieu’s framework to show how the film exposes—and then neatly smooths over—the myth of meritocracy.

Is Marx Still Relevant? Marxism, Class and the Gig Economy

Marx wrote about factories and nineteenth-century class conflict, not delivery apps or algorithmic ratings. So how far can his ideas take us today? This article introduces Marx’s core concepts and tests them against platform capitalism and the gig economy, showing what still works, what does not, and where later theorists extend his framework.

Symbolic Violence in Schools: How Class Inequality Hides in Plain Sight

What if the rules that govern school life aren’t neutral? This article explores how symbolic violence—subtle norms and expectations—rewards middle-class students while sidelining others.

Social Capital Explained: Comparing Bourdieu, Putnam, and Coleman on Networks, Trust, and Inequality

Discover how social capital works through the ideas of Bourdieu, Putnam, and Coleman. This guide explains how networks, trust, and power shape education, democracy, and social inequality in contemporary society.

Understanding Bourdieu’s Forms of Capital: How Inequality Is Reproduced Through Culture, Networks, and Status

Bourdieu’s concept of capital—economic, cultural, social, and symbolic—reveals how privilege is passed on and class boundaries maintained. This article explains each type of capital, critiques the theory, and shows its relevance in today’s educational inequalities.

Reflexivity and Power: Knowing How You Know in Sociological Research

A clear, student-friendly exploration of reflexivity in sociology, explaining how researchers’ positions, perspectives, and power relations shape knowledge production — and why acknowledging this makes research more rigorous, not more biased.

Methodology vs Method: Understanding the Difference in Sociological Research

Many sociology students confuse methodology with method—but understanding the difference is essential for credible, coherent research. This guide explains both terms, shows how they connect to ontology and epistemology, and offers practical tips and examples for designing robust sociological studies.