This year has been a doozy. From a global pandemic to global awareness of racial oppression to global effects of climate change. Through all this, our leadership has divided people rather than brought us together. As a result, our tendency to call those who disagree with us “idiots” has grown.

I’m wondering if someone calling you an idiot has ever persuaded any of you to another opinion? It has not done so for me. In fact, rather than lean in to the other person’s view, I tend to just withdraw.

Since this is not the usual year, this will not be a usual newsletter. In it, you will find what some faculty and students have been doing for self-care and how they are bringing sociology into their experiences.

Read the full blog here.

On Bringing Sociology into Experiences: I bring sociology into my experiences with hiking and going on road trips by wanting to have a deeper understanding of the area around me in terms of history and culture.

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On Self-Care: I would consider furthering my education as an example of my self-care; my matriculation through SIUE has allowed me to stay focused and to better manage my time during these challenging times of the pandemic, climate change, political turbulence and racial injustice.

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On Bringing Sociology into Experiences: Connecting with the natural environment helps to counter feelings of alienation and provides much-needed nourishment for continuing the fight for social justice.

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On Self-Care: Whenever I have had a long day of Zoom classes, reading and homework, I crack open a book. Reading brings me relaxation and knowledge at the same time. 

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On Bringing Sociology into Experiences: There are few better examples of how illness impacts and is impacted by broader social structures like inequality, racism, politics and the economy than the COVID-19 pandemic.

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On Bringing Sociology into Experiences: While sequestering, sociological training has enabled me to understand the connections between the numerous structural reasons why I’m situated for individually experiencing privileges at this time.

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On Bringing Sociology into Experiences: There’s a lot going on right now in the world that can leave me feeling demoralized. Sociologically I am aware that working to create change in these areas can give me a sense of hope, agency, or at least connect me to a collective of people such that we can have a shared struggle.

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On Self-Care: I study violence. This is hard because such oppressive acts are interconnected and also taken for granted (see Venn diagram). Because this work is so difficult and draining, I garden and engage in exercise.

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On Bringing Sociology into Experiences: We are social beings, and this pandemic has complicated how I connect socially with others (friends, family, students). Sociology allows me to be mindful of how important it is to stay connected with others around me.

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