I have taught sociology for forty years and in this time I have become more certain that good sociology is needed – more than economics, politics and other social sciences. I call my blog ‘holleysociology’ because it expresses my personal view that sociology can potentially explain what is unique about society, as distinct from the economic and political. My sociology unites the lifecourse, family demographics, intimate relationships, and the activities of successive generations. My work over all these years has been is to link together these components conceptually. My plan is to provide a definition of society that is sociological. This involves seeing how interpersonal associations that are informal, private, and temporary create effects that are both immediate and long term. I am discovering these effects in youth, courtship, career choice, where adults settle, and commitment to parenting. My vision is of a sociology that can answer the big questions that people, lay and professional, most want to understand.
This blog is not hosted on any university computer and all conceivable disclaimers about the separation of professional employment from personal blogging apply.