Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Assoc Prof of Sociology and convenor
Shaun Wilson
Contact via Email answered within 24 hours
AHH level 2
12pm Wednesdays (organise by email)
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
39cp at 100 level or above
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
The organisational and institutional dynamics of modern societies are powerful generators of social inequality and yet they equally generate resources through which inequalities can be identified and challenged. This unit explores the social mechanisms that drive inequalities and surveys the impact of socio-economic inequality on a wide range of areas of social life (gender, culture, employment, and the economy). The unit considers how sociological theory can explain the emergence and persistence of social inequalities, the normative conflicts and struggles that inequalities produce, and the ways social institutions overcome, respond or merely adapt to inequality. We conclude the unit by looking at whether democratic societies can survive widening socio-economic inequalities and how we might explain the improvement in some types of inequality and discrimination and the curious persistence of others.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Weekly participation | 15% | No | weekly |
Class test | 15% | No | Week 6 |
Exam | 55% | No | End of semester |
Assignment | 15% | No | Week 9 |
Due: weekly
Weighting: 15%
ONLINE participation: assessed out of a total 15 marks based on (i) evidence of reading (ii) contributions to online discussion and (iii) responses to comments and contributions of others.
For now, let's try and run participation via a centralised blog, the Inequality Blog. See the I-Learn website.
If we need an alternative forum, I will advise via Announcements -- but for now, let's see how the Inequality Blog goes!
Due: Week 6
Weighting: 15%
A quick 30 minute class test covering definitions and problems of inequality.
Multiple choice and short answer format.
For external students, this Test will be conducted via to I-Learn page at 11-11.30am on April 4.
Details will be posted on I-Learn in the week before (i.e. late March).
Due: End of semester
Weighting: 55%
Final exam of 2 hours consisting of multiple choice responses and longer answers.
Due: Week 9
Weighting: 15%
Responses to three questions about interesting readings and problems in the field of social inequality.
Readings will be available via the SOCI399 I-Learn webpage (and shortly) a Library web-page dedicated to readings for this Unit.
Week | Topic | Seminar/tutorial/online discussion |
week 1 (28 February) | Intro: the challenge of inequality in the era of Trump | No tutorial/seminar this week |
week 2 (7 March) | The economics and sociology of measuring inequality | Processes of 'active discrimination' |
week 3 (14 March) | Better or worse? Trends in global inequality | The global politics of same sex rights |
week 4 (21 March) | Piketty's Capital in the 21st Century: Trends and reactions | Countries with very high inequalities |
week 5 (28 March) | Two concepts: exploitation and opportunity hoarding | Precarious workers |
week 6 (4 April) | Inequality and theories of justice | Class Test (11am) - Restorative justice and prisoners |
week 7 (11 April) | Equality of opportunity and outcomes, affirmative action | Work, the labour market and gender inequality |
week 8 (18 April) | Inequality and the labour market | Class structures of Australian society |
week 9 (2 May) | Predistribution and redistribution as mechanisms of equalisation | No tutorial/seminar this week |
week 10 (9 May) | Inequality and the politics of identity | Black Lives Matter and #MeToo |
week 11 (16 May) | Inequality and the politics of retribution | One Nation and voting in Australia -- Is there a 'white backlash'? |
week 12 (23 May) | Jobless futures: AI, automation and the basic income | Basic income trials around the world |
week 13 (30 May) | Can social democracy be renewed? | Unit review + study guide |
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Date | Description |
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09/03/2018 | Clarification of assessment + further details on tutorial program. thanks Shaun |