Across the nation, politicians are interfering in educational decisions that should appropriately be made by subject matter experts. In Florida, for example, sociology was removed from the general education core course options by the Board of Governors, despite the recommendation of an expert panel of faculty. Educational gag order laws have been passed in many states, and similar bills are currently under consideration. Several states have executive orders or other forms of policy restricting what can be taught in classrooms. At the heart of these gag orders is the subject matter sociologists teach, including inequality, race, gender, and sexuality. The current political movement against so-called “divisive concepts” is in fact an existential threat to our discipline. The best way to fight these attacks is to demonstrate to voters and policymakers the value of the work we do. That is the goal of the Value of Sociology Initiative.

Update for Students: The Value of Sociology TikTok/Instagram Contest. The deadline to enter is April 22, 2024.