This is a clip of Sudhir Venkatesh on The Colbert Report discussing his new book, which focuses on his research on gangs in Chicago. This research was previously discussed in Freakeconomics.
What is interesting about this clip is that Venkatesh, who has spent a year working with economically deprived individuals, goes on television to promote his book (which I'm sure he will make a tidy sum of money from) and garner some laughs at the expense of his research subjects. Furthermore, his description of the questions he asked the gang members at the start of his research project are ridiculous. He asked them how it felt to be "black and poor", but said that they could not answer. Someone who is a doctoral student at the University of Chicago ought to know better!
Throughout the interview, Venkatesh reinforces stereotypes about inner-city gang members and does not question why police choose not to intervene in conflicts in these neighborhoods. In fact, he seems to enjoy the attention he is receiving for his research intuition. I mean, because sociologists never research poor people or non-white people. Again, this is an example of the 'sociology of the marked', the desire of sociologists to question and research that which is exotic to them. Furthermore, Venkatesh's ability to gain access to this population and publish a book about them highlights the legitimacy that social scientists (and other formally educated individuals) are given in our society that is not given to other people, such as gang members. How would Venkatesh feel if gang members decided to follow him around for a year in an attempt to understand the life of doctoral students? Because as members of the social world, aren't we all sociologists?
Friday, March 21, 2008
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