This chapter examines the impact of the 1960s on contemporary sociology. Specifically, it seeks to highlight and tease out the links between several sixties trends that over the years have served to transform the discipline from one known for its “relevance” to a field largely hostile to “applied” work and increasingly irrelevant to a set of real-world constituents about whom sociologists profess to care deeply. These trends include the rapid expansion of the field; the leftward drift of American sociology; the growth and changing nature of American Sociological Association sections; the...

This chapter examines the impact of the 1960s on contemporary sociology. Specifically, it seeks to highlight and tease out the links between several sixties trends that over the years have served to transform the discipline from one known for its “relevance” to a field largely hostile to “applied” work and increasingly irrelevant to a set of real-world constituents about whom sociologists profess to care deeply. These trends include the rapid expansion of the field; the leftward drift of American sociology; the growth and changing nature of American Sociological Association sections; the emergence/transformation of specific subfields; and the devaluation of “applied” work.