Why I’m Considering the SOAN Major

Sociology and Anthropology, a single major at Carleton that is lovingly called SOAN (pronounced “So-Anne”), is calling my name. 

Lexi, Lexi, Lexi! 

I hear it as I ride the bus to Target, as I eat in the dining hall, and as I awkwardly wave at people who are definitely not waving at me. I hear it as I write my blogs, call my parents, and even as I sit alone in my dorm room in the dark (hehe, I don’t do that very often, I promise).

You see, SOAN is a combination of two fields that study people. “Society and culture” should be the official motto of the SOAN department. Whenever we engage in any activity, whether we’re alone or with others, we’re engaging with both of those concepts. 

I really want to study that. Besides the fact that “society and culture” is objectively (or maybe, subjectively) interesting, here’s just a few reasons why I am considering the SOAN major:

Perfect intersection of science and humanities

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I want some numbers with my words. Not Greek letters in my math problems, if you catch my drift. What I find to be the most compelling reason to be a SOAN major is the fact that it is so interdisciplinary. It combines the best of science–data analysis–and the best of humanities–learning about people–into one(ish!) categories of study. Data in these two fields can be both quantitative and qualitative, and always relating to people in some way. 

Through SOAN, I can learn how to investigate the beliefs that arise from my everyday musings on people’s role in society or culture. I do not believe that numbers are the most convincing piece of evidence when it comes to describing society or culture at large, but I think that data analysis from those numbers is an integral part of understanding ourselves and identifying patterns/non-patterns in the way we think and act. Simultaneously, I love hearing about people’s lives and elevating their voices in ways that I can. SOAN is an opportunity for me to combine my love for statistical analysis with non-fiction writing all while remaining focused on my human-centered values.

Amazing professors

Okay, okay, okay, so I’ve only technically taken three classes with the SOAN department so far, and only have had two professors, but I have had such a great time! Dr. Annette Nierobisz and Dr. Cheryl Yin are two sides of the same coin–sociology professor and anthropology professor, respectively–and what they share in common is an extraordinary dedication to their fields. Both professors really value connecting SOAN back to the real world and how we can make a difference in others’ lives through study of SOAN. I can really tell that the study of SOAN has personally impacted their lives in a positive way.

Funnily enough, I can see myself living a very similar life to these two professors.  It’s comforting to meet people with similar personalities and interests thriving in “the real world.” In my A&I The Rhetoric of COVID-19, Dr. Annette Nierobisz taught me that I don’t have to give up my bubbly personality in order to be a serious, well-respected professional. And right now, in my Introduction to Anthropology class, I am learning from Dr. Cheryl Yin about the power of feeling personally connected to the topics that you research and teach: passion speaks louder than lectures alone. To teach at a small liberal arts college and engage with young professionals who value community and curiosity would be an absolute dream of mine. Maybe the SOAN department will be hiring in a decade?

Growth-oriented field

It’s no secret that SOAN hasn’t always been the highly-respected field that it is today. Part of that is due to “founders’” personal biases that were extremely harmful to others. While some problems still persist in the field, there has been and will continue to be considerable steps taken to mitigate the problems SOAN can create. This starts right at the level of undergraduate students learning about SOAN for the first time.

For example, in Dr. Nierobisz’s “Intro to Sociology” class, one of our readings was a sociological study into the idea of “Founding Fathers of Sociology.” The sociologists behind it analyzed a bunch of college syllabi and found that there were three prominent figures used in many of them (Durkheim, Marx, and Weber), but they went on to say that there are a ton of other early sociologists that deserve credit in the field (W.EB. Du Bois, Sojourner Truth, Ida Wells-Barnett). They explain the importance of acknowledging everyone’s contribution to sociology, and even give real-world solutions that professors can use to rectify the “Founding Fathers” myth. This growth-oriented mindset–having the courage to own up to where the field has come short in the past as well as the wherewithal to do something about it–is very persuasive to me.

Answering important questions for myself

SOAN is a field where you are exposed to many different viewpoints, and as you look for commonalities and differences between those viewpoints, you’re afforded an opportunity to look for a viewpoint within yourself. Of course, you must decide whether you have to share your viewpoint at that moment or wait for a private conversation with your grandmother. But, as you interview people about their experiences, you will come to understand your own more fully.

Hearing about what other people value has helped me to decide what I value too. I’ve learned a lot about myself by engaging in “participant observation” for an anthropology assignment. As I studied people’s behavior on 2nd Libe to do the assignment, I realized how much I care that everyone in that room has an equal opportunity to learn and grow. I realized that I value making the world a better place to be. I may not understand the computer science homework on my neighbor’s laptop screen, but I value their right to study it in a safe, comfortable environment.

Making a Difference

Making the world a better place to be can be done in a huge variety of ways. There’s nurses who care for us when we are ill, teachers who encourage us to do great things, and sanitation workers who keep our cities clean. Sociologists and anthropologists make the world a better place by researching people, figuring out what they need, and (sometimes) making suggestions for public policy. Their work is focused on people’s relationships with each other and institutions/culture formed around them. That is very important work when it comes to figuring out how we can live more sustainably and keep ourselves from senseless cruelty!

While I am confident that Carleton College is preparing me to make a positive difference in the world around me, I’m not always so confident as to what that difference will be. With SOAN, I feel as though I have the best chance to make the world better in whatever way strikes my fancy after college. Because the degree is so interdisciplinary, I will graduate with a huge variety of skills that apply to so many fields, and thus I will always be able to find meaning in the work that I do.

Takeaway

Like all college students, I worry about what my future will look like. However, for maybe the first time in my life, I think I know what path I want to take to get there. That’s an important thing to remember: your major is only one stepping stone on the path to your future!