lˈaɪk sˌʌm ˈʌðɚ sˌoʊsɪˈɑːlədʒˌɪsts hˌuː bɪɡˈæn ðɛɹ kɚɹˈɪɹz ɪnðə mˈɪdtwˈɛntiəθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi, ɡˈænz hˈæzbiːn ˈæktɪv bˈoʊθ æz ɐ skˈɑːlɚ ænd ˈædvəkˌeɪt, ɐdvˈaɪzɪŋ ˈɜːbən plˈænɪŋ, ˌæntɪpˈɑːvɚɾi ænd ˈʌðɚ pˈʌblɪk pˈɑːlɪsi ˈeɪdʒənsiz.
Like some other sociologists who began their careers in the mid-twentieth century, Gans has been active both as a scholar and advocate, advising urban planning, antipoverty and other public policy agencies.