Social Inequalities and Change

When considering social matters, a lot of activists have the desire to dismantle oppressing systems, but to truly bring equality to the world we need to know what systems are in place in order to do so. I think a lot of people with the drive to bring change oppressing systems tend to experience this longing but don’t always know where to begin. For me, I started this journey with a bachelor's in Social Work from the Hague University of Applied Science. After feeling the need to do even more for society in general and having new ambitions to further my academic career I completed my pre-master in Sociology and was admitted to the Social Inequalities and Change programme.

The courses within the programme explored the many topics in which inequality is present and how these intricate systems are interconnected to be upheld by those in power and in which ways people are affected by them. This was mainly done through interactive classes in which we applied the theories to various cases, as well as contemporary events. I found this way of working very enjoyable as it immediately became clear what the actual value and practicality were of the theories which were just presented. Besides that, most assignments offered multiple options, as well as a lot of freedom in the execution of the assignment to find your own way towards a great paper. This allowed me to mainly focus on power structures and dynamics, while others may prefer topics like racism or other forms of discrimination. 

Keeping the importance and broad scope of sociology in mind, the social inequality programme connects the macro with the micro, the abstract systems and the tangible effects on the individual. The knowledge obtained will be useful in many fields of practice. For me, I have expanded my knowledge within higher education in combination with my social work background to enrich both my teaching skills and to empathise with my students in their own respect.

After finishing my bachelor's in Sociology at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, I was still longing to learn more about social matters. By choosing the master Social Inequalities and Change I got the opportunity to explore what actually interests me. The courses provide you with a broad foundation of sociological concepts, mechanisms and research tools that apply to various societal issues. The freedom to write papers on self-chosen topics contributes to deepening your understanding of a preferred field in sociology. My interests focused on educational inequalities while some of my fellow students focused their attention on health and gender inequalities. By discussing the different interests among the group, a variety of knowledge and views are shared that you may have missed if the courses were more fixed. You learn to approach topics from different perspectives.  

The lecturers were very engaged with the academic development of their students. They created a safe environment that allowed students to share personal experiences, knowledge, and skills among the group. They are committed to raising you academically without the need to change the essence of your being. The small-scale groups made it possible to really create meaningful bonds among students and teachers. If you are looking for a master's that will deepen your understanding of the societal issues you have at heart, then Social Inequalities and Change might be just the right match for you.

After I completed my bachelor's degree in American studies from the University of Groningen, I was keen to learn more about complex societal issues from a sociological perspective. For that reason, I decided to start the Social Inequalities and Change track. American Studies was an arts degree, so this new angle was both exciting and challenging for me. The Social Inequalities and Change programme is especially interesting as you have a lot of autonomy in shaping the programme to your wishes and interests.

This track was also a good fit for me as it helped me translate theory to practice and taught me more about the ways in which data and peoples lived realities shape policies and how these policies influence citizen’s lives. The programme was quite broad, meaning that we discussed social inequalities in a variety of topics, such as inequalities in income, gender, health and more. My classmates’ diverse backgrounds certainly added to this variety of interesting topics. This diversity also allows for students to either specialise in one area (by focusing all their assignments on this area) or to learn more about a variety of areas in which social inequalities are prominent.

I think the Social Inequalities and Change track is very suitable for people that are interested in filling their toolbox with both theoretical and practical tools to address and counter social inequalities, whether they have a background in health, economics, arts, or science.