50183 Inequality and Power

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: Social Inquiry
Credit points: 8 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks

Handbook description

This subject analyses in detail the concepts of inequality and power, and examines the huge variety of kinds of inequality that exist throughout all contemporary cultures. Specific attention is paid to race, ethnicity, sex, sexuality and disability as markers of difference and inequality. Power relationships that emerge from the examination of social inequalities are explored in depth, particularly in the context of contemporary Australian life. Additionally, there is an analysis of growing global inequalities and power relationships. Examining organisations such as the World Trade Organisation and the current 'war on terror', we look at what has been described as the new 'Empire'.

Through online discussions and independent research projects, students investigate many aspects of the problems facing current attempts to develop a just society here and overseas.

Subject objectives/outcomes

The objectives of this subject are to have students:

gain a much deeper understanding of themselves as social beings and of the ways in which as they live their social and communal lives they encounter forms of inequality and different manifestations of power.
develop a greater awareness of the nature of the society they live in.
analyse complex concepts of interpersonal, collective, social, political and evaluative categories.
synthesis the insights such analyses yield into consistent theoretical positions.
present coherent view on these crucially importnat problems in the field of conemproary social science.
apply advanced skills in using library and internet facilities, and in applying and assessing the findings these skills yield.
demonstrate reflective intellectual habits when they are dealing with complex social ideas and practices.

Contribution to graduate profile

The knowledge acquired and the researching skills developed in the course of successfully completing this subject will contribute to having students achieve the Faculty's desired graduate profile. This subject will help develop more observant and sharp-minded individuals, improve the quality of graduates' analytic thinking, assist graduates to develop as well-informed and inquiring people, equip graduates with useful research-skills, enhance the social consciousness of graduates, and stimulate graduates towards a greater commitment to social justice.

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject combines

Lectures with
Student-presentation based seminars
Group project work involving collaboration via the UTS Online facilities
Literature review
Research essay

There will be each week one three-hour in-class session, usually deployed as a one-hour lecture followed by a two-hour seminar, though sometimes used as a three-hour symposium.

Content

The subject involves defining inequality, sameness and difference and types of power.

It clarifies notions such as identity, marginalisation and cultural diversity. It investigates racism, sexism, prejudice and discrimination. It demands of students a close analysis of such concepts as equality, social justice and inclusiveness. Multicultural policies and practices are also scrutinised, and aboriginality is taken as a case study of the operations of Power and Inequality in Australia. Finally the subject examines what an 'Equal' society would be like.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Tutorial presentation

Objectives	This is designed to help achieve all of the subject's objectives, and especially d and e.
Value	10%
Due	In the individually assigned Weeks 2-13.
Task	To give a short in-class presentation on an assigned topic and lead a discussion on the material presented. This task may be individual or group-work, as appropriate.
Assessment criteria	Relevance of material to topic; Coherence of material as presented; Clarity of presentation; Accuracy and comprehensiveness of report posted online.

Assessment item 2: Literature review (quotebook) (1,000 words)

Objectives	This task is designed to help achieve objective c, d & e.
Value	25%
Due	Week 7
Task	Select a reading, summarise the author's perspective, and use other perspectives from the reader to critique and reflect on his/her approach. Use examples to illustrate your discussion. The cases should be concrete examples shedding light on the issues raised in the readings. At the end of the Review you should provide a couple of concluding paragraphs assessing the reading you have selected, and outlining any overarching themes highlighted by your Review. You should provide details of all your sources including the case studies and quotes.
Assessment criteria	Ability to critically analyse arguments and theories in the field of social inquiry; Evidence of reflection on the merits and flaws in ideas proposed for discussion and consideration; Identification of problems and assumptions implicit in arguments and theories presented; Formulation of questions resulting from these identifications;

Assessment item 3: Contributing to the online discussions

Objectives	This is designed to help achieve all of the subject's objectives, and especially c and e.
Value	25%
Due	Weeks 2-14
Task	Each student must contribute to the Online discussions that will be initiated on the subject's dedicated Discussion Board on UTS Online. These contributions, initially on topics assigned for in-class presentations, must amount to at least 12 interventions or submissions per individual and must total at least 3000 words in length. The initial list of suggested topics may be augmented by the class-members during the semester. Discussion can be initiated by any member on any topic they believe relevant to this subject.
Assessment criteria	Displayed ability to critically analyse arguments and theories in the field of social inquiry; Evidence of reflection on the merits and flaws in ideas proposed for discussion and consideration; Identification of problems and assumptions implicit in arguments and theories presented; Formulation of questions resulting from these identifications; Sustained and reasoned arguments for positions proposed on social issues.

Assessment item 4: Research essay (1,000 words)

Objectives	This is designed to help achieve all of the subject's objectives, and especially f.
Value	40%
Due	Weeks 14
Task	To write a well structured, widely researched and cogently argued essay, with appropriate references and bibliography.
Assessment criteria	Demonstrated intelligent use of libraries, current media output, internet, and other sources to discover documents relevant to the topics; ability to address the topic and explore its implications; to read and analyse writings in the area; to identify relevant issues raised by the literature; to conduct independent research (beyond the set readings); to develop and argument/point of view; to provide evidence to support that view; to use correct referencing and English expression.

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.

Recommended text(s)

The 'Book of Readings' for the subject is the recommended text.

Indicative references

The following are some additional useful references:

Afshar, H and Maynard, M (eds) The Dynamics of 'Race' and Gender: some feminist interventions,

Taylor and Francis, London 1994.

Attwood, B. (1992) 'Introduction', in Attwood, B. & Arnold, J. Power, Knowledge & Aborigines, La

Trobe University Press, Bundoora, Victoria Australian Feminist Studies, Gender and

Ethnicity, (special issue), No.18, Summer 1993.

Balibar, E and Wallerstein, I Race Nation Class: ambiguous identities, Verso, London, 1991.

Banton, M Racial and Ethnic Competition, Camb UP, Camb, 1983.

Barker, M The New racism, Junction Books, London, 1981.

Bhabha, H (ed) Nation and Narration, Routledge, London, 1990.

Bottomley G., de Lepervanche M & Martin J Intersexions, Allen & Unwin, Sydney 1992.Bottomley,

G From Another Place: Migration and the Politics of Culture, Camb UP, Melb, 1992.

Braham, P, Rattansi, A and Skellington, R (eds) Racism and Antiracism, Sage, London 1992.

Calhoun, C Nationalism, Open University Press, Buckingham 1997.

Castles S & Kozak G Immigrant Workers in the class structure in Western Europe, OUP, 1973

Castles S, Cope B, Kalantzis M & Morrissey M Mistaken Identity: Multiculturalism and the demise

of nationalism in Australia Pluto Press 1989/92

Castles, S and Miller, M The Age of Migration: international population movements in the modern

world, Macmillan, London, 1993

Collins, J Migrant Hands in Distant Lands, Pluto Sydney 2nd ed 1991.

Donald J & Rattansi A (ed) 'Race', Culture and Difference, Sage, London 1992

Eriksen, T Ethnicity and Nationalism, Pluto, London, 1991.

Fairclough, N. (1993) 'Discourse and Power', Ch. 3 in Language and Power, Longman, London & New York

Fanon F Wretched of the earth (preferably the edition with the introduction by J.P.Sartre)

Featherstone, M Undoing Culture: globalization, postmodernism and identity, Sage, London 1995.

Ferguson R., Gever M., Minh-ha T & West C Out there: marginalisation and contemporary cultures

MIT Press 1990

Foucault, M. (2003) Society Must Be Defended, Picador, New York.

Guerra, C and White, R (eds) Ethnic Minority Youth in Australia: challenging the myths, National

Clearing House on Youth Issues, Hobart, 1995.

Guibernau, M and Rex, J (eds) The Ethnicity Reader: nationalism, multiculturalism, and migration,

Polity, Cambridge 1997.

Habermas, J. (1962) The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere: An Inquiry into a Category

of Bourgeois Society (Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought), The MIT Press; Reprint

edition (1991), Cambridge, MA.

Hardt, M. and Negri, A. (2000) Empire, Harvard University Press, Cambridge.

Hardt, M. and Negri, A. (2004) Multitude, Penguin Press, New York.

Jakubowicz, A (ed) Racism Ethnicity and the Media Allen & Unwin, Sydney 1994.

Pettman J Living in the margins: racism, sexism and feminism in Australia Allen & Unwin 1992

Robinson, C. (2007) Understanding iterative homelessness: The case of people with mental disorders, www.ahuri.edu.au

Rowan, L and McNamee, J (eds) Vocies of a margin: speaking for yourself, Central Qld Uni Press, Rockhampton, 1995.

Roy, A. (2004) The chequebook and the cruise missile: Conversations with Arundhati Roy, Harper Perennial, London.

Said E Orientalism Harmondsworth Penguin 1968

Stiglitz, J.E. (2002) Globalisation and its discontents, Allen Lane, London.

Yuval-Davis, N and Anthias, F (eds) Woman-Nation-State, Macmillan, London 1989.

Zournazi, M. (2002) Hope, Pluto Press, Annandale.

Recommended Journals

Black Scholar

Cultural Critique

Cultural Studies

Ethnic and Racial Studies

International Migration Review

Journal of Intercultural Studies

New Formations

Race and Class

Social Identities

Third Text