Sociology

Sociology is the study of society and how humans interact with them. This includes social structure, class, and demography (Repko et al., 2020). How we interact within our individual societies dramatically impacts the way we think and the actions we take. Society influences every aspect of our lives, from the clothes we wear to the religions we favor and the education we receive. 

Sociology can be a powerful tool to examine societal structures and how they contribute to educational inequalities, especially regarding access to technology in lower-income and rural school systems. By analyzing social class, institutional policies, and cultural expectations, sociology can shed light on broader forces that shape how education can influence knowledge and wisdom within the system.

Goldstone, Baker, and Barg (2021) evaluate social class inequalities in parental involvement in education, emphasizing dynamics, institutional design, and cultural influences. This study helps to show how social class impacts parental involvement in their children's schools, which influences students' abilities to be successful in their education. Parents in lower-income and rural areas often face unique barriers such as limited financial resources, inflexible work schedules, and a lower level of digital literacy. These external problems directly impact their ability to support their children in educational environments successfully.

These inequalities also contribute to technological resources. Schools in wealthier areas benefit from more funding, allowing them to have the latest technological resources, stronger connections, and training for school staff on these new resources. In comparison, schools in underprivileged communities are often faced with a lack of resources due to funding. This only furthers the increasing digital divide. This technological gap leads to many communities being behind in their digital literacy skills, which are becoming increasingly essential to navigating everyday life as technology advances.

Using sociology, we can show that educational equality is not just based on an individual's inability to learn but a deep-seated error in social structures and how they play into the educational system. Addressing these inequalities requires acknowledging that they exist and working towards deconstructing the barriers that prevent equal access to technology.

Short Comings and How We Can Overcome Them

When looking at issues within education, sociology by itself cannot solve them by itself. It tends to look at widespread social patterns and can overlook how individuals relate to technology and develop their own cognitive abilities. It also cannot evaluate how teachers plan their curriculums. Additionally, sociology focuses on identifying problems but not necessarily on how to fix them in real-life situations.

In cases like this, interdisciplinary studies can bring in more diverse perspectives. Examples may include literature for understanding personal narratives or philosophy for developing ethical reasoning and justice within the system. By combining these studies and more, we can form a stronger understanding of the complete picture of inequality. This will help create a plan of action that can benefit society and push educational institutions to become more inclusive.