A former U.S. president. A renowned advocate for racial equality and justice. A popular “sex doctor.” A Super Bowl-winning NFL quarterback. What do they all have in common? All were sociology majors, and they all have names we remember due to their stature and achievements.
Here we’re going to highlight some influential people who majored in sociology. To make this brief lesson even more interesting, we’ve included a few names from popular culture that demonstrate that not all sociology majors focus on government, political philosophy, or activism.
Influential Sociology Majors
- Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama went on to become a lawyer, author, and First Lady of the United States and was the first person of color to attain that title.
- Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan was a Hollywood actor and president of the Screen Actors Guild, governor of California, President of the United States, and the namesake of “Reaganomics.”
- Shirley Chisholm
The daughter of immigrants, Shirley Chisholm was an ardent social activist and, as a New York state representative, the first Black woman to become a member of the U.S. Congress.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a minister, orator, civil rights leader, and the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
- Frances Perkins
Frances Perkins was a leading advocate for workplace safety, architect of the 40-hour workweek and Social Security, and secretary of labor during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. The latter role made her the first woman to join a presidential cabinet.
- Karl Marx
Karl Marx was an economist, author, philosopher, and the namesake of the controversial political theory Marxism.
- Joe Theismann
Joe Theismann went on to become a record-breaking quarterback for the Washington Redskins (his live-on-TV 1985 injury still shocks people to this day), entrepreneur, and author.
- Dr. Ruth Westheimer
“Dr. Ruth,” as she is commonly known, became an internationally respected sex therapist, broadcaster, educator, and author.
- Regis Philbin
Regis Philbin was the host, co-host, or presenter of numerous popular television shows including “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” He was also a singer and actor.
- Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd became part of the original cast of Saturday Night Live, a comedic actor known for films such as “The Blues Brothers” and “Ghostbusters” (1984), a screenwriter, and an entrepreneur.
- Kal Penn
Kal Penn became an actor known for the “Harold & Kumar” films, associate director of public engagement for President Barack Obama, and an author.
Are you considering becoming a sociology major yourself? The discipline attracts people of widely varying interests, some of whom have gone on to consequential and noteworthy achievements.
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Sources:
https://www.asanet.org/famous-sociology-majors/
https://www.thoughtco.com/famous-sociologists-3026648