Sociology involves studying human behaviors and relationships, which is an important aspect for me as a military veteran working in human resources. This course will help me evaluate social issues such as race and gender equality in the military, war and peace, the recruitment process, handling military families, and the social organization in the military. In evaluating social representation, sociology will help me examine which groups of people are not represented in the military, why they are not represented, and its impact. For instance, gay and lesbian people were not allowed in the army until President Bill Clinton changed the policies. Racism in the military should be evaluated, especially for minority ethnic groups. Women’s representation in the army should be studied to ensure equal participation in the military.
In analyzing war and peace, sociology will help me understand the importance of peace in a country. I will be able to understand different aspects of conflict, such as the psychological effects, the impact of battles on climate change, and how fighting changes the policies of a nation. Sociology can help in the recruitment process by assessing the psychological health of individuals before having them join the military. Families have become a significant issue in the military since more personnel in the army are married. Thus, sociology will help address family issues such as child care, family compensation, medical insurance of family members, and the general welfare of military families. Finally, in assessing the social organization of the military, I will be able to understand how the role of the military has changed in society. In the past, the military was a combat-intensive job; however, it has evolved, and many people consider it a career.
Some of the subjects that I have enjoyed learning in sociology are gender roles and deviance. Being a black woman in the military, I understand that females face some challenges in the army. I have found sociology to be very helpful in learning to address some of those problems. Female parents are more attached to their children compared to their male counterparts. This shows that when they join the military, they need psychological help to ensure that they are not distracted from the main goal of being in the army. In addition, the role of women in society has changed; women are now taking over more male roles in the military, which is an impressive move. Thus, deviance has become an important issue because people focus more on having an equal community.
I have successfully used the knowledge that I have learned from sociology in my field. I have been reviewing the gender roles and impact of women in the military. This has helped me understand that traditional social norms did not allow women in the military because they were considered housekeepers whose job was to stay home and look after the families. However, women are now more empowered, and there is more representation in the army. Working in the human resource department, I have successfully advocated for women’s rights in the army by proposing an increase in the number of women’s recruitment and special compensation for women in the military.
I will integrate my profession as an army officer with sociology. Being in the army requires a good understanding of people’s behavior because the army is not always involved in a war; sometimes, they go to enhance peace. Therefore to spread the message of peace, it is essential to understand the causes of war and the psychological factors that trigger it. This knowledge helps to solve problems from the grassroots providing long-lasting solutions.
I want to use my sociology degree in social work. Since social work is most concerned with helping society, sociology would be important to this career by helping me understand people’s welfare hence providing more impactful solutions. Social problems and social forces significantly impact people’s lives; therefore, understanding sociology would help view the problems from different perspectives. Sociology helps social workers to evaluate their assumptions and have the capacity to question their policies and how they impact their clients. This makes them more knowledgeable and allows them to use the most effective method. Therefore, after finishing my degree, I can volunteer as a social worker and deal with some societal problems. This will be a good way of giving back to the community.
Finally, I can use my sociology degree to pursue a career as a psychologist. Studying sociology will provide me with a wide spectrum to explore different theories connected to behavorial and cognitive abilities. The main aim of a psychologist is to improve people’s lives; this can be achieved by learning about their welfare and problems to provide effective solutions. Since I work in the human resource department of the army, I can use my sociology degree as a psychologist to address the mental issues of military personnel. This will enhance their wellbeing and increase my skills in managing employees.