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Indigenous Sociology

 

In general terms, sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behaviour. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organisations and societies and how people interact within these contexts. Indigenous sociology is about understanding Indigenous concepts and how they relate to the discipline of sociology in contemporary society.

In 2021, The Oxford Handbook of Indigenous Sociology was published by Oxford University Press.

Walter, Maggie, and others, 'Introduction: Holding the Discipline of Sociology to Account', in Maggie Walter, and others (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Indigenous Sociology (2023; online edn, Oxford Academic, 8 Dec. 2021), https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197528778.013.47.

"Indigenous sociology makes visible what is meaningful in the Indigenous social world. This core premise is demonstrated here via the use of the concept of the Indigenous lifeworld in reference to the dispossessed Indigenous Peoples from Anglo-colonized First World nations. Indigenous lifeworld is built around dual intersubjectivities: within peoplehood, inclusive of traditional and ongoing culture, belief systems, practices, identity, and ways of understanding the world; and within colonized realities as marginalized peoples whose everyday life is framed through their historical and ongoing relationship with the colonizer nation state. The Oxford Handbook of Indigenous Sociology is, in part, a response to the limited space allowed for Indigenous Peoples within the discipline of sociology. The very small existing sociological literature locates the Indigenous within the non-Indigenous gaze, and the Eurocentric structures of the discipline reflect a continuing reluctance to actively recognize Indigenous realities within the key social forces literature of class, gender, and race at the discipline’s center. But the ambition of this volume, its editors, and its contributors is larger than a challenge to this status quo. They do not speak back to sociology, but rather claim their own sociological space. The starting point is to situate Indigenous sociology as sociology by Indigenous sociologists. The authors in The Oxford Handbook of Indigenous Sociology, all leading and emerging Indigenous scholars, provide an authoritative, state-of-the-art survey of Indigenous sociological thinking. The contributions in the Handbook demonstrate that the Indigenous sociological voice is not a version of the existing subfields but a new sociological paradigm that uses a distinctively Indigenous methodological approach."

Social science researchers looking to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities are encouraged to read:

The Oxford Handbook of Indigenous Sociology

and familiarise themselves with:

The Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research; and 
The CARE Principles  for Indigenous Data Governance


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Book List
Book List
"The Welcome to Country Handbook" by Marcia Langton is a great introduction to Australia's First Nations histories and cultures. It is a good resource for anyone seeking to understand cultural heritage and contemporary issues facing Indigenous Australians.

"Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia", Anita Heiss (ed) is an anthology showcasing diverse Indigenous experiences.

"The Yield", Tara June Winch. Indigenous culture and language. Winner of the Miles Franklin Award.

"Carpentaria" by Alexis Wright is an epic(!!!) award-winning novel addressing native title rights and political struggles.

"Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence" by Doris Pilkington is a true story about three young Indigenous girls who escape from a government settlement to return to their families. The book and movie highlight the Stolen Generations and resilience.

"Tell Me Why: The Story of My Life and My Music" - singer-songwriter Archie Roach’s memoir and his experiences as part of the Stolen Generation.

"My Tidda, My Sister" by Marlee Silva is stories of strength and resilience from Indigenous women and girls.

"Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray" by Anita Heiss is about a woman's search for her lost family and Country.

"Tiddas" by Anita Heiss follows the lives of five women and explores themes of friendship and personal growth.

"Terra Nullius" by Claire G. Coleman is a fiction novel examining colonisation and its impacts.

"The Old Lie”, also by Claire G. Coleman, tackles war and colonialism, parallels between past and present conflicts faced by Indigenous Australians, and the ongoing impacts of colonisation.

Kim Scott's novel "That Deadman Dance" is set in Western Australia and explores early contact between Europeans and the Noongar people.

"The Secret River" by Kate Grenville. This novel explores the early days of British colonisation in Australia and its impact on Indigenous peoples. It delves into the complex relationships between settlers and the Aboriginal population, making it a compelling read for understanding historical and sociological perspectives on colonisation.

Andrew McGahan’s "The White Earth" is set in the Queensland outback. Themes of land ownership, cultural displacement, and the haunting legacies of Australia's colonial past provide insight into the ongoing struggles of Indigenous Australians.

"A Most Peculiar Act" by Marie Munkara, protectionist policies and their impact on Indigenous communities.

"The White Girl", Tony Birch - an Indigenous grandmother protecting her granddaughter from welfare authorities.

"Too Much Lip", Melissa Lucashenko - family dynamics and social justice issues, Bundjalung Country.

"Mullumbimby" by Melissa Lucashenko is about an Indigenous woman navigating her identity and connection to her heritage in a predominantly white society; she explores land rights, cultural heritage, and personal resilience.

"Grog War" by Alexis Wright. A remote Indigenous community's battle against alcohol abuse. Sheds light on Indigenous Australians' social and cultural challenges and efforts to reclaim their health and heritage.

Legal reform
Alison Whittaker's "Blakwork" is a mix of memoir, reportage, fiction, and poetry that critiques contemporary society from an Indigenous perspective.

"Talking to My Country" is Stan Grant’s memoir addressing racism and the need for societal transformation.

"Australia Day" by Stan Grant again is a reflective book on Australian identity and Indigenous struggles for belonging.

"Law: The Way of the Ancestors" by Marcia Langton and Aaron Corn explores intricate Indigenous legal systems, emphasising how traditional laws have shaped and continue to influence contemporary Indigenous culture and identity.

"Everything You Need to Know About the Uluru Statement from the Heart" by Megan Davis and George Williams explains the significance of the Uluru Statement and the journey towards a representative Voice.

In "Finding the Heart of the Nation: The Journey of the Uluru Statement Towards Voice, Treaty and Truth," Thomas Mayor discusses the Uluru Statement's impact and the need for constitutional change.

Because it’s all about Country …..
Environmental activism

Margo Neale and Lynne Kelly's "Songlines: The Power and Promise" examines the significance of Songlines and their role in preserving knowledge, culture, and the environment through generations.

"Fire Country: How Indigenous Fire Management Could Help Save Australia" by Victor Steffensen explores traditional fire management practices and their benefits for modern environmental challenges. Challenges about the value of incorporating traditional knowledge and science with Western knowledge and science.

Bruce Pascoe's "Dark Emu” challenges colonial misconceptions about Indigenous agriculture and land management, including the myth of Indigenous Australians as "mere hunter-gatherers". It presents evidence of sophisticated agriculture, aquaculture, and permanent dwellings before European settlement.

 


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What can you do with a sociology degree?
What you can do with a sociology degree?

If you’re interested in working with people and communities, then sociology is for you. Sociology focuses on the study of human behaviour and social interaction to understand how societies are organised, develop and change. Graduates in sociology develop skills and knowledge applicable to a wide variety of jobs. These skills and knowledge include:

  • an understanding of social and cultural issues
  • high-quality written and oral communication skills
  • research skills and a capacity for detailed observation
  • the ability to work independently and in groups.

Graduates also develop more specialised skills and knowledge that are needed for the following types of employment:

  • Work involving social groups and social processes: such as minority and ethnic groups, crime and substance abuse, youth issues, family matters, industrial relations, poverty, globalisation…
  • Social research: devising surveys, collecting data, and conducting interviews and fieldwork; including the analysis, interpretation and presentation of the information collected
  • Social policy and planning: community development, cultural resource management, social justice issues, social aspects of health care, migration…

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Where do graduates in sociology work?
Where do graduates in sociology work?

Many areas of the public and private sectors employ graduates with social science skills. For example:

  • Federal, State and Local Governments: social services, teaching, industrial relations, criminal justice work, policy development and implementation, case management, group work with youth or the elderly, urban planning, general administration, migrant and multicultural affairs…
  • Community and Non-profit Organisations: administration, overseas aid & development agencies, social research, policy development, lobbying…
  • Business: consumer/social research, public relations, publishing, personnel work, training.
  • Further Study and Academic Work: Honours, Masters and PhD study, university and TAFE teaching, research assistant work.

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Some of the jobs recent sociology graduates have taken
Some of the jobs recent sociology graduates have taken
  • Youth officer | Multicultural affairs liaison | Welfare officer | Journalist
  • Community project officer | Development officer | Age & disability officer
  • Administrative officer | Electorate officer | Personnel administrator | Research assistant
  • Market analyst | Sales office manager | Service adviser | Client service manage

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Sociology careers web sites
Sociology careers web sites





Kate Huppatz (L) and Steve Matthewman (R) congratulating Michelle Peterie on being the 2018 JoS Best Paper Award winner for Docility and Desert: government discourses of compassion in Australia’s asylum seeker debate. 


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