’I love to study people, and that’s basically what Sociology is’ – Kamaru Usman ‘The function of Sociology, as of every science, is to reveal that which is hidden’ – Pierre Bourdieu Have you ever wondered why incidents of knife crime are increasing; why overall, girls achieve far better exam results than boys; or why the police tend to target younger rather than older people? If you have then Sociology might be the subject for you. Sociology is the study of human social life, groups, and societies. It attempts to describe and explain people’s social behavior. In so doing, it asks questions such as why is it that people commit crimes? Why do some people join gangs? Why are some people rich and others poor? Why do 50,000 people in the world die of poverty every day? How do the media and social media shape the world in which we live? Sociology can help you to understand the social structures that shape us and prepare us for our place in the world, such as the family and education. It can also shed light on hidden aspects of society such as the power of those who own the media, criminal gangs, and youth subcultures.