It is a sociology presentation of bachelor of technology second year environment science audit course........In t2 syllabus: Indirect method, FM demodulation (3 tech) , superheterodyne receiver, sampling ( instantaneous sampling and natural sampling , brief intro of Flat top sampling , reconstruction), TDM, uniform quantization, quantization error, basic idea of non uniform quantization, PCM, DPCM, DM............................................

1. COVID-19 AND STRUCTURAL INEQUALITIES: SOME
REFLECTIONS ON THE PRACTICE OF SOCIOLOGY

2. CRISIS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE
• Historical Roots of Sociology in Crisis
• The COVID-19 Pandemic as a Contemporary Crisis
• Intersectionality of Inequality
• Critique of Indian Sociology
• Shifting Focus to Vulnerabilities
• Call to Action
• Introduction to the Blurring of Common Sense and Sociological Knowledge
• Impact of Globalization and Technology
• The Revealing Nature of Crises

3. • Cognitive Invisibility and Its Causes
• The Need for Structural Analysis
• Challenges in Sociological Practice
• Conclusion

4.  Historical Roots of Sociology in Crisis: Sociology emerged in response to societal crises, such as industrialization, urbanization,
and political upheavals. These transformations challenged established norms and institutions. For instance, industrialization led
to the rapid growth of cities and the emergence of new social. Urbanization brought about changes in social organization,
family structures, and community dynamics. Political upheavals like revolutions and social movements highlighted the need to
understand social change and its impacts on individuals and communities.
 The COVID-19 Pandemic as a Contemporary Crisis: The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a contemporary crisis that exposes and
exacerbates existing social inequalities. It has had a profound impact on education, with disparities in access to online learning
widening existing educational inequalities. Employment has been affected unevenly, with marginalized groups facing higher
rates of job loss and economic instability.

5.  Intersectionality of Inequality: The pandemic has highlighted intersecting inequalities along various axes such as gender, caste,
ethnicity, race, class, and disabilities. For example, women, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, have faced
disproportionate challenges in balancing caregiving responsibilities with remote work or job loss.
 Critique of Indian Sociology: Early Indian sociologists have been criticized for being insensitive to inequalities due to influences
from dominant ideologies, cultural anthropology, and their own social backgrounds. Colonial episteme, methodological
nationalism, and theoretical frameworks have shaped Indian sociology's focus, often neglecting the experiences of
marginalized communities.
 Shifting Focus to Vulnerabilities: There's a need for Indian sociology to shift its focus towards studying society's specific
vulnerabilities to better understand its structure. This entails acknowledging and addressing intersecting inequalities and
examining the root causes of societal vulnerabilities.

6.  Call to Action: Scholars and practitioners in Indian sociology should critically reflect on their research priorities and
methodologies. There's a need for a renewed emphasis on understanding and addressing societal vulnerabilities to create
more equitable social structures. This involves actively working towards social justice and advocating for policy changes that
address systemic inequalities.
 Introduction to the Blurring of Common Sense and Sociological Knowledge: Sociological practice often blurs the line between
common sense understandings and sociological knowledge. In everyday settings like classrooms, conferences, and workshops,
individuals draw on both their intuitive, common sense beliefs and sociological theories to make sense of social phenomena.
This blending can sometimes lead to misconceptions or oversimplifications of complex social issues.
 Impact of Globalization and Technology: Globalization and the internet enable the rapid spread of new terms and ideas from
academic centers worldwide. This influx of information can blur the line between valuable sociological insights and superficial
trends. Sociologists must critically evaluate and integrate new concepts into their practice, rather than uncritically adopting
them, to maintain the integrity and rigor of sociological knowledge.

7.  The Revealing Nature of Crises: Crises like the COVID-19 pandemic lay bare the underlying structures of society. Peter
Berger's analogy of bombarded houses suggests that crises expose hidden social structures by revealing how societies
respond to challenges. Sociologists can use these moments to analyze the functioning of social systems and identify areas
for improvement or intervention.
 Cognitive Invisibility and Its Causes: Cognitive invisibility occurs when individuals accept dominant rhetoric without critical
examination or neglect to engage with social structures. This can lead to a lack of understanding of enduring societal
arrangements and perpetuate inequalities. Sociologists must challenge dominant narratives and critically assess the
underlying structures that shape social life.
 The Need for Structural Analysis: Studying social structures such as class, caste, and gender is crucial for understanding
society's organization. Rather than treating these structures as discrete entities, sociologists should analyze them as
relational systems that intersect and influence one another. This approach provides a more nuanced understanding of how
social inequalities are produced and maintained.

8.  Challenges in Sociological Practice: Sociologists face challenges from buzzwords and common sense perceptions that can
impede analytical rigor. It's essential to pause, reflect, and disentangle oneself from conceptual traps to conduct
meaningful sociological analysis. By critically evaluating assumptions and interrogating underlying structures, sociologists
can produce more accurate and insightful interpretations of social phenomena.

9. • Perspective Involved:
• 1. Symbolic Interactionism: The text touches upon the role of symbols, meanings, and interpretations in
shaping social interactions and realities. It mentions how concepts like "global village," "beautiful people,"
and "new normal" become buzzwords that influence public discourse and societal perceptions.
• 2. Conflict Theory: The discussion about structural inequalities, nation-states, legal frameworks, and power
struggles reflects conflict theory perspectives. Conflict theory focuses on social inequality, power dynamics,
and how dominant groups maintain their status and privilege at the expense of marginalized groups. The
way marginalized groups were treated during covid-19 has led to conflict between these groups.Like when
lockdown took place the upper class people were provided with facilities but the lower middle class or lower
class people did not have access to a lot of healthcare facilities which led to conflict between upper class and
lower class thereby disturbing the smooth functioning of society.’
• Functionalism emphasizes the role of culture in promoting social integration and cohesion. Terms like
"cultural hybridity," "fluid boundaries," and "plurality" reflect how diverse cultural elements come together
in modern society.
COMMON SENSE AND SOCIOLOGY

10. • Common Sense Perspective : People see COVID-19 as bringing a big change in how we live. It's about
individuals doing things like washing hands. Assumes everyone can easily follow guidelines.
• Sociological Perspective: COVID-19 shows existing inequalities more clearly. It's not just about individuals,
but also about bigger social issues. Emphasizes collective action and community support in dealing with
crises.
• DURKHEIM’S CONCEPT OF SOCIAL FACTS : These social facts include norms, values, laws, customs,
and institutions that shape collective behaviour and social order. Durkheim argued that these social facts
are not merely individual choices but powerful forces that constrain and guide human actions within
society.
• Durkheim's idea of social facts as external, coercive, and general can be seen in the context of COVID-19
measures. Governments and health authorities implemented various social distancing guidelines, mask
mandates, and lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus. These measures represent external, coercive
social facts imposed on individuals to protect public health.

11. CONCLUSION:
The conclusion of the"COVID-19 and Structural Inequalities" reflects on the potential lessons sociologists can draw from the crisis
brought on by the pandemic. It revisits C. Wright Mills' three central questions for sociological inquiry, which prompt a deeper
examination of the structure of society, its historical context, and the prevailing human condition
1)essential components, which are related to one another?
a) Healthcare System: The healthcare system serves as a foundational component, especially during a pandemic.. However,
structural inequalities often lead to disparities in access to healthcare, exacerbating the impact of diseases like COVID-19 on
marginalized communities.
b) Economy: The economy plays a crucial role in shaping societal responses to crises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, economic
disparities were highlighted as certain sectors suffered more than others. Structural inequalities, such as unequal access to
employment opportunities and wealth disparities, magnified the economic impact on vulnerable populations.
c) Social Welfare Systems: Social welfare systems, including unemployment benefits, housing assistance, and food security programs,
are vital for supporting those most affected by crises. However, structural inequalities can limit access to these resources for
marginalized groups, deepening existing disparities.
d)Government Policies and Governance: Government policies and governance structures influence how societies respond to crises.
Effective policies can mitigate the spread of diseases and alleviate the impact on vulnerable populations. However, structural
inequalities often result in widening the gap between the rich and the poor.
e)Education: Education is a key determinant of future opportunities and socio-economic mobility. However, disparities in access to
quality education perpetuate structural inequalities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, school closures widened the educational gap,
particularly for students from low-income households who lacked access to online learning resource

12. 2) Historical context:Right now, our society is facing a very important time. It's like other big moments in history when
things changed a lot. Back in the Middle Ages, there was the Black Death. Then, in the early 1900s, there was the Spanish
flu. And there was also the Great Depression. Each of these times made big changes in how things worked, like who was in
charge, how money was handled, and how people lived together
. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused big changes:
1.People noticed more how unfair things are. The pandemic showed that some groups face more problems with healthcare,
jobs, and money. This made people want big changes to make things fairer.
2.People had to rethink how work and money work. More people started working from home, and some industries changed
a lot. The pandemic also made people talk about making money and jobs fairer for everyone, like giving everyone some
money regularly and sharing wealth better.
3.Groups who usually don't have much power got more power. They were hit hardest by the pandemic, so they started
speaking up more for change. Movements for things like fairness for different races, equal money, and saving the
environment got stronger

13. . 4.Technology became even more important. People started using technology more for work, healthcare,
learning, and shopping. This can help us stay connected and work better, but it also makes some people worry
about not having access to technology or their privacy
• Ways people are empowered or held back:
• A)Working together: Some people join groups to fight for fairness and big changes. These groups give
support and help people stand up against unfair treatment.
• B) Facing repression: Even though people try to make things fairer, some groups still face unfair treatment
and discrimination. Racism, xenophobia, and unequal sharing of resources make it hard for some
communities to improve their situation
• Human behaviors we see during this time:
• A)Being strong and flexible: People show they can handle tough times by being strong and adapting. Many
also show kindness and help each other through hard times.
• B)Being vulnerable and unequal: The pandemic shows how some people are more at risk and have fewer
opportunities. It reveals how unfair the world can be, especially for those already struggling