Autoanalysis, with particular reflections on sociology

This article aims to contribute a sociology of knowledge via an autoanalysis marginalised member the British upper-middle class, who moved first from South North England and then Scottish society as immigrant: ‘stranger stayed’. Written in person, Bridget Fowler’s reflections move between different religious political worlds, focusing especially on her reception conflicting sociological theories own development through these. Influenced by five exceptionally learned lucid sociologists – John Rex, Herminio Martins, Raymond Williams, Pierre Bourdieu Terry Lovell she has spent career contributing demystification power various forms. In particular focused significance secular culture notably literature creating hegemonic domination. She also analysed role symbolic revolutions social transformation, avoiding this respect falling either into idealism or simplistic class reductionism. Arguing that theory still needs teach Marx, Weber Durkheim, these founding figures should not be seen scientific terms unified architectural construction, but read with against one another; further, they need combined other, more contemporary, influences. Finally whilst noting existential salience movements around identity nation, gender, sexuality disability argues discipline must continue reach out ‘beyond fragments’, address totalities broadly, including wider issues space structures power.