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thanks you are so helpful indeed i apply ma+phd joint degrees. but i will try to find my way... i think i should not propose exactly a dissertation in my sop for ph.d. instead i can talk about my research questions and with which methodology i will answer them... i will also read some more sample sops... if u have any i would like to hear.

do we need to tell exactly a research project? i mean, if i say, i want to work on the dynamism of sexuality... give some examples.. is this enough? or should i tell exactly, specifically the dissertation topic? this option is not logical. because it is due to change... i wrote about a researcj project i made up in my mind. it is not even interesting to me!!! i do not exactly want to work on it!! but i wrote it for the only reason that i wanted to look like i even know my phd dissertation subject, title exactly. help please.

I think it is cool. But I read not good comments on this forum about your last choice of university. so I am not sure about its quality.

I can send it to your inbox in the forum in case you reply to my post... Keywords: social movements, sexualities, identity ... Warmly, C. :-)

http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2011/subject-rankings/social-sciences/sociology i am not for rankings but they are interesting to look at

I would like to hear your comments. Thank you so much! ------------------------------------------------------------------ I have always been a person pondering on people's behaviours, political groups' actions, declarations of identity, assumptions about sexuality, gender roles as rooted in changing power relations, assumptions, knowledges which are present and changing in our societies unbeknownst to some people. I have studied in the first Women's Studies program in Turkey. In my second year, I decided to attend the Gender Studies in Germany to open my ongoing thesis to different influences. In Women's Studies in (xxxxxxx) University, I started to do research on sexuality studies in my first year. Wide-ranging faculty directed my research approach in sexuality studies in different ways. I chose the social critical approach to sexualities; this approach differs itself from cultural-textual analysis of humanities and ideological, categorizing sciences. In the first hand, it is a social critic of power relations that bases itself on understanding people's experiences in the hands of social institutions. I also met Professor David Halperin in Istanbul and our ongoing exchange over topics of LGBT, Queer Theory and sexuality studies has shaped my foundation in sexuality studies. I took classes entitled Feminism and Political Theory, Seminar by an urban-sociologist, and others where the very idea of sex, gender and identity is called into question and the experiences of men and women with same/opposite sex desire from different geographies were studied. I could have the chance to get influenced with prominent feminists including Professor (xxxxxxx) and other important names in Istanbul's feminist scene through my master education. On my second year, I attended to a Gender Studies program in Germany. I did extensive research on topics related to sociology of sexuality and sex/gender. I was closely advised by a prominent German sociologist, Professor (xxxxxxx) who is a good friend of Raewyn Connell. She complimented to me saying she found my thesis and my research very interesting. So I could find the chance to interact with a known sociologist in Germany. On the other hand, I advanced more in Queer Theory attending queer-oriented classes on theories of intersectionality and AIDS. This 5-month period was a fruitful and tense period which is only focused on readings, deciding on the plan and methodology of my thesis and interactions with academics working on sexualities and identities. In Istanbul, I was a volunteer to (xxxxxx) LGBT Solidarity Association where people were pondering on the notions of sex/gender/sexuality, questioning class, ethnicity, classifications of people and contemporary political issues. My experience in this association enabled me the predisposition of understanding political group actions and behaviours on the level their liaisions with group behaviour, theoritical body of knowledge on identity, movements and freedom, and contemporary times. When I was in Europe, I got accepted to the PhD seminar of Nordic-Arab Network of Research,Women's Empowerment,Gender and Poltics as the only master student. There I met once Harvard Professor (xxxxxx) who was the chair in Media workshop. After my presentation, she commented, knowing my wish for Sociology PhD, ''You will surely get accepted to Sociology and your thesis will be talked so much!'' She also wrote a very supportive letter of reference which I did not include since it is the fourth one. My research has followed two strands: Sociology of sexuality and Identity. And I need PhD education in sociology for my future goals: teaching classes and writing about sexuality and power. In my PhD, I aim to work on sexualities and sexual social movements. Thus, I aim to specialise in two LGBT/Queer associations comparatively. Political actions of LGBT rights movement has evolved in respect to theoritical body of knowledge concerning sexuality, identity, and political history, and contemporary realities such as capitalism and profiting. An association develops its actions in respect to people who constitute this association as volunteers, donors, fans as much as theories and practical experience. My aim is to explain the personal experiences of sexuality and identity, the intersections of individual self with the group and the movement, political action plans, stand on social issues, and their imagination of social life through interviews, documentations about associational activities from past to presents. Studying two associations, one from Turkey and another one from USA, comparatively will enable us a very helpful inside about sexual movements, sexualised selves, their relations to capitalism and state, their different uses of opportunities, crisises, and urban. This study will open a different vision on study of sexualised self and sexual politics and group behaviour. Apart from Women's Studies master, I was also accepted to Sociology master program at Kent University which I could not attend due to financial reasons. In Istanbul I wrote for an independent and powerful online newspaper (xxxx) and started to write for an online LGBT magazinne (xxxxxx) continuously on topics that concerns LGBT in Turkey, contents of which I summarized in my CV. These writings are a result of my studies, what I learned in them and wanted to share with people. My last article on Ex-Gay Industry in Turkey was succesful according to many shares on forums, blogs, networks, internet by readers who seem belonged to different sexualities. On the other hand, I did my best to contribute to our Women's Studies Centre reflecting my ideas to the cohort of master, arranging departmental activities. Seeing my contributions, the heads of department did not see any reason not to invite me to meetings with international academics over future collaborations, working groups for future seminars. I also moderated mail and facebook group of the department, presentation order of master cohort in two courses. I was also honoured by one of our associate professors who said I would have been in department's top 3 choice for assistantship position if it was opened. But due to government policy about opening new positions in universities, the department could only have two assistantships for years. Being in your department, I will be equipped with ethnographic methods with Prof. (xxxx) which I will benefit in my PhD research. On the other hand Associate Prof. (xxxxx) can direct me when I work towards combining queer theory more with sociological theory. I will also benefit from Prof. (xxxxx) about feminist perspectives on identity, political action. And your faculty will also provide necessary branches of sociology for my PhD studies (e.g. Urban Sociology) and my future career paths (e.g. Political Sociology) Your program structure will also develop me the best in sociology with the joing Gender Studies program and its workshops on very important topics for my research. After PhD in sociology, I envision myself as an academic who publishes about what he sees necessary to be researched in social theory, sexuality studies and social movements, and influence my students and readers who deal with topics concerning power, sexuality and identity.

yes i already have some department names and i am a good fit to them. i am preparing for GRE. thinking over SOP. writing as long as i find solid words. i hope they give me the chance... i am really ambitious about sociology of sexuality and identity. i will try my best. and see what happens then... best, caner

this is a chapter of theory about sexualisation of ourselves. yes I use Foucault. And Foucault interlocutors: Ian Hacking, and some other names. I need to burnish it to make it easily flowing while reading. My research is based on interviews of men-loving men from Turkey. This is a part of 16 pages of theory. I just talk about theory here. I do not use the data from interviews here. (But I can try to include if you say so) How sexual apparatus created a new way of identification and spectacle to the world.

this is my option one. it is a part of my ma thesis. i am currently working on other parts. i summary the topics in my sample. i want to apply sociology departments with sexualities interest. here is the topics in my sample it is divided into 2 and consist of 16 pages: -birth of homosexual category in 19th century -how before 19th century sexual identity was absent and after 19th century it was present -the process of producing a sexual identity under the institutions -how people transform their identity over time -modern sexual apparatus and its effects -how modern sexual apparatus call people to take their sexuality into surveillance -foucault's power theory and how it is evident in sexual apparatus of our civilization -concluding remarks of how once stigmated homosexual identity has changed to be itself like it is in contemporary times i will translate this part of my thesis and send to several friends to be checked to make it better. your ideas?

First sorry for taking your time again... I have a score of 85.14 out of 100 in MA degree... in BA, my score is 81,83 out of 100... I do not know the GPAs right now. Possibly, according to chart in Turkish system they are: 3.36 (MA) and 3.22 (BA) Master is in Women's Studies and Undergraduate was in English Teaching. I want to apply Northwestern, NYU, Santa Barbara, Rutgers, Brandeis and some more. I am a hardworking student when I do research. They will see from my writing sample. But in Turkey, the situation is a bit different. They did not rate my work in thesis and in my specific field. And very respectable professor can tell that i am in top 3 out of 20 people if there was any recruitment possibility. The rest info about my degree and education is here: Thanks, Bye

Hello, 1st Question: Is it easier to get funded as a PhD candidate in a Private University? Should I eliminate Public ones to increase my chances to get funded? 2nd Question: Do top sociology department lists tell the very truth? For example: Emory, Vanderbilt or Boston College are not favourable places in USA? Is there so much difference between 7th deparment and 40th department in the list? Thanks, Caner

Yes, I am not going to mention about Queer theory much in my application. I know this. I will think about Texas. Also, I want to apply some other departments with joint gender/women's studies programs. Sociologists who study sexualities from a qualitative approch are few i know. but in my future plans, mere gender studies phd does not give me necessary education. because my ambition is to combine sexuality studies with more sociological approach like Ken Plummer, Henning Bech and few other names in USA do. For this I need sociology education, courses of Urban Sociology, about class. I would like to show my application package to you before applying. I hope I can reach you this winter. and I can confirm the usefulness of my ideas to write in my SOP which I am excited about...

Hello, For example Steven Seidman graduated from Virginia and he is one of best names (for me) in sociology of sexuality and queer theory of sexuality. So I think Mr Seidman did not go to Virginia to specialise in sociology of sexuality because he is one of the first names in it. So I believe if I go to a socioılogy department where I am close to feminist and queer theory, I can be good at sociology of sexuality. According to above I have questions: - I want to apply around 5 departments. One is private only. Q: What are the chances to be accepted and get funded in Public ones versus Private ones? -Q: Which sociology programs have joint program with gender/women's studies? Some you know? - Feminist sociologist friends, you have some advices on programs? Best, Caner.

Wonderful! Thanks! I think this is great! :-) I won't decline the offer never and ever

hello i try to orient myself about phd studies in usa... i have some conflicts: -in europe we are so used to writing a research proposal for phd admission. but in usa they do not mention about it... so i ask it is not so important for us departments to learn what phd project exactly i will carry in the department? my phd thesis title will be decided during my phd studies? -what is cohort size? they say ''We usually admit about twenty-five people each year. Our goal is to have a cohort size of thirteen. ''... ??? if you admit it is not cohort? what is cohort then? )) i am really ambitious for usa but i have never heard cohort whilst searching british departments...

my GPA in MA 85.14 out of 100... in BA, my GPA is 81,83 out of 100.... so i think it is good i will study for gre hard

Hello, I do not have sociology background. I am a MA in Women's Studies in ıstanbul University. My characteristics: -my MA thesis is titled ''giving meaning to sexual identities'' in which i draw upon heteronormativity/sexuality/identity politics to analyse gay men's interviews. -my one professor think i have a sociological stand-point. i aim to combine queer&sexuality studies with more sociological stand point. -i am going to write a review for Jamie Heckert's upcoming book ''anarchism&sexuality'' -my toefl ibt is 93. in gre what kind of examination should i take and what score will be nice? -my ma thesis is in turkish. i will translate some parts for application. -i did my best reading nearly all important names in the sexuality field. -i have written 4 articles for online magazinnes. 3 of them for lgbtt magazinne. -i think of writing a research proposal too. i have ideas. but i see some american universities are not requesting research proposal at first. -did one speech in a seminar in denmark. -been to germany gender studies for 5 months. -has a reference letter from a professor i met in the seminar in denmark. and also my teachers will write. Yes, my university (Istanbul University) and department (Women's Studies) is good but not superb in turkey. I did my best as a MA student. been to germany even for 5 months. And I want to go to SOCIOLOGY in USA because I think its system is good for me. Can you give me tips to maximise my chances keeping the fact that I am not from sociology even I aim to be good at it and MA education was in Turkish and I did my best to make my MA as similar to a MA in Europe. Kind regards, Caner