Like most faculty, I often teach SOC 110: Introduction to Sociology, where foundational theoretical frameworks are introduced to help students understand how power and privilege shape institutions and individuals within society. After roughly ten years of teaching this course, my favorite part is watching students grasp the concept of social location as they analyze intersectional aspects of identity, social stratification, and historical forms of oppression. By using antiracist practices and decentering whiteness, I encourage students to apply theories and reflect on lived experiences instead of relying on rote memorization. My scholarship connects to my teaching through intersectional identities, place-based narratives, and socio-spatial studies of the environment. Above all, I emphasize the importance of positionality, asking students to consider their lived experiences both in the classroom and in their writing.
Courses taught
- Race and Ethnicity
- Sexuality and Gender
- Social Inequality
- Social Problems
- Introduction to Sociology
- Social Deviance
- Classical Social Theory
- Research Methods
- Directed Study
Vanita Naidoo 