CLOTHES MAKETH THE PERSON: SOCIOLOGY STUDENTS EXPLORE LINKS BETWEEN CLOTHING AND IDENTITY
18.01.2024Year 12 Sociology students at HNC have recently taken part in an insightful workshop as part of the Sociological Imagination Project with the University of Leeds, exploring the sociology of clothing and fashion.
The project, which provides A Level students with the opportunity to experience a ‘day in the life’ of a Sociology student at the University of Leeds, began with the group reading academic texts from a set reading list ahead of taking part in a degree level seminar. The topics the group were asked to read included ‘Fashioning ourselves to fit the post-pandemic world’, ‘Dress code switching: family, identity and tradition in Samoa’, ‘Skirting the issue: do queered clothes still make the man?’ and ‘Going off script: the subversive potential of mis-worn clothing’.
During the seminar, the group were invited to share what they had learnt from their pre-reading, and apply that knowledge to their own experiences. This was followed by a hands-on activity where the group explored a range of sartorial subcultures, designing a ‘uniform’ that an individual could wear to identify with a certain style, looking at a diverse range of identities from ‘goth’ to ‘jock’. Next month, the group will visit the University of Leeds for the final part of the project, where they will take part in a range of sociology lectures, explore the campus, and find out more about university life.
Emily Saxon, Head of Faculty Enrich, comments “In A Level Sociology, you explore a wide range of topics – it is a course that provides a genuine foundation to understanding society, making it a valuable subject that is well respected across many sectors. Taking part in the Sociological Imagination Project has been an enlightening experience for our Year 12 students as it has given them an opportunity to explore the subject at degree level. Not only does this help our students to start thinking about their next steps, it also stretches and challenges their knowledge, helping them to become their best selves.”
“Student feedback has been positive, with one member of the group commenting ‘They calmed my nerves about university classes and made me feel more confident about answering questions. They answered all my questions about the course and I’m more certain that I want to do Sociology.’ The group has been genuinely inspired by the seminar and we are looking forward to the next part of the project”.
If you would like to find out more about A Level Sociology and how it can support you to achieve your career ambitions, join us on Tuesday 23 January at our Lesson Tasters. Find out more and book here.
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