The age old question of Humanities Degrees being Worthless or dubbed as Soft Degrees has reemerged.
Why is it that people who have a Science Degree are treated as some extra-terrestrial animates with great superpowers whereas the people who have a Humanities background are dubbed as either dumb or vacuous.
I was personally on the receiving end of this whole debate. When I decided to opt for Humanities, while, I was fortunate to find the support of my family, there were some who out-rightly branded me as dull-witted who could not cope with the intricacies of Sciences.
IMPORTANCE OF HUMANITIES SUBJECT:-
History- The general thought process ridicules this subject as nothing but a bunch of mistakes committed by someone. But, in all reality if one was to be unaware of how things were in the past and what's the reason for current situation one would be living in Dystopia.
(Would you not want to be aware why certain nations are friends and others share an aura of animosity, or, why certain borders are disputed.)
Geography- Would you not want to be aware about the Structure of the Earth, The composition of the Planets and Seasonal winds, Seas, Mountains and other physical features. (Oh don't tell me you would want to visit and see the flat end of the Earth and maybe peek what's below.)
Economics- This is the subject that comes in handy in your daily life. How and why Governments formulate their policies and what impact it has on you. How your savings and expenditure determine your spending spree and most importantly the job market. (Now if you say you don't want to have a knowledge about how money works well maybe Barter System is the one for you.)
Political Science- As a civilised human if you follow laws and and abide by the Constitution would you not want to be aware of how those laws were formulated and what are the various features of the said law. (OK maybe you like the hooligan life where no laws prevail and you are a rowdy soul)
Psychology- This subject helps you in understanding why humans react the way they do, it helps humans to live in harmony as social beings. (Unless of-course you take Social distancing too seriously and do not want to interact with other people and would prefer to live in a cave)
Languages and Literature- The knowledge of these helps one in communicating with one another and helps us evolve and understand each other. There are several Languages spoken in the World and the understanding of these helps us in getting along and also not being isolated. Literature on the other hand, is the creative writing or composition in these Languages which helps us in understanding the socio-political and economic background in which the literary text has been written and we learn about new places and cultures through it. ( So if one wants to interact he needs to have a knowledge of Languages unless, he chooses to use pictograph as a means of communication)
The importance of only a few Humanities subjects listed above show, how crucial the knowledge of each and every subject is. No wonder at schools no subject is branded derogatory to the other. But, why is it that general masses then dub the Humanities as being a study for dummers.
We need to bust this misconception that has somehow crept inside the minds of people and treat each subject as a source of information necessary for life. Governments too, need to employ a different approach where they instead of preferring the Sciences ask students to study the stream (line of Education that allows the students to apply their learning in real life situations) of their choice.
Love
Pankhuri
PS.- I have only listed a few subjects of Humanities and their importance in real life scenarios, but feel free to mention other subjects and their importance in the comments sections below.
Also, please share which Stream did you opt for in your Higher Education- was it Humanities, Sciences, Commerce, Management or some other and did you have to go through peer or parental or societal pressure when you chose the subject of your liking.
