Putting the sociological literacy framework to work to understand unemployment

This article introduces students to sociology as both a way of thinking and a set of skills to understand the social world. Using the Sociological Literacy Framework (SLF), we outline key sociological concepts: the sociological eye, social structure, socialization, stratification, social change and social reproduction. We show readers how sociologists apply these concepts to a central social issue: unemployment. Sociology shifts us from individualized to social explanations, encouraging us to recognize social patterns that shape social outcomes, like inequality. In addition, we highlight core sociological skills: applying theory, evaluating evidence, and analyzing data, which enable students to critically think about social phenomena and engage policy debates. Sociology is a field that equips students to develop critical thinking around the social forces shaping their lives.