This article suggests that American sociology has developed a de facto tradition in the sociology of the marked that devotes greater epistemological attention to 'politically salient'? features of social life. Although the 'unmarked'? comprises the vast majority of social life, the 'marked'? commands a disproportionate share of attention from sociologists. Since the marked already draws more attention within the general culture, social scientists contribute to re-marking and to the reproduction of common-sense images of social reality. This has important analytical consequences. This article argues for developing a stronger tradition in a sociology of the unmarked that explicitly foregrounds 'politically unnoticed'? and takenforgranted elements of social reality.