Becoming a Sociologist

This is a personal reflection on becoming a sociologist and the role Ken Plummer played in that journey. This chapter is organized in two halves. I commence by reflecting upon my early work experiences of working in factories, temping in a care home, and my first university experience, and I describe how Ken helped me to make sense of these moments and shape them into my future career as a sociologist. Now as a social researcher I explore the stories of those in social care and through this personal lens I show how Ken’s humanist approach helped me to recognise and adopt a position that puts the individual at the heart of care, to focus appreciatively on what good care can look like, and to make a difference to those visiting, working in, and living in care settings. In the second half of the chapter, I reflect upon Ken’s passion for sociology, his engagement and generosity in his teaching, and his creativity and humanity in his research. I consider the ways in which he shaped my own approach to teaching and creating the right conditions necessary for thriving at university. One of Ken’s greatest skills was being able to make sociology relevant to students and their everyday life experiences; developing their sociological imaginations. I conclude by highlighting how Ken has been instrumental in creating a new generation of social researchers.