Sociology 2220h
Peterborough 2013fa
Social Inequality
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Jim Conley
Otonabee College 232
705-748-1011 x7822
jconley@trentu.ca *
Secretary:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Linda Sweeting
Otonabee College 220.1
705-748-1011 x7537
sociology@trentu.ca
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 14:00 - 15:00, or by appointment
Lectures: Monday
Wednesday
17:00-17:50
16:00-16:50
OCA 203
OCA 205
Workshops: FO1 Monday
FO2 Tuesday
FO3 Tuesday
18:00-18:50
13:00-13:50
12:00-12:50
OCA 207
OCA 206
OCA 206
Confirm locations here: https://
scheduler.trentu.ca/
AcademicTimetable/Peterborough/
FallWinter/TimeTableGen26.htm
Introduction
This course introduces the analytic and systematic study of the production and reproduction of
structured and durable social inequalities, in particular class, gender, racial and ethnicity
inequalities. Lectures will develop ways of understanding social inequality through an
examination of a variety of sociological theories and the exploration of mechanisms and
processes highlighted in each. In workshops, these resources will be used to understand
ethnographic studies of social inequalities.
Format
Two lectures and one workshop weekly. It is expected that students will have done all readings
prior to the lectures and workshops, and it often helps to re-read them after they have been
discussed. To encourage this, students are expected to answer a quiz before each workshop.
Students are responsible for all material presented in lectures and workshops, as well as all
required readings. If you cannot attend, you should make arrangements to get notes from others
in the class.
Lecture outlines and quizzes will posted on Blackboard. If there is student interest, other
components of the system (such as discussions) will be added.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, you will be expected to have:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
learned to think about social inequalities and their persistence analytically and
relationally using a general theory;
learned to use that theory to understand and analyse sociological monographs that (like
social life itself) do not share the same theoretical framework;
presented that understanding and analysis an essay and exams
developed the capacity to use theories to think hypothetically
thought in new ways about how inequality is justified and critiqued
* Please note that only emails from Trent addresses can be considered official. Emails from other
addresses may disappear into the black hole of spam filters.
SOCI 2220h 2012 Fall - 2
Texts (available at the Trent Bookstore)
Salzinger, Leslie. 2003. Genders in Production: Making Workers in Mexicoʼs Global
Factories. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Dunk, Thomas. 2003. It's a Working Man's Town: Male Working-Class Culture in
Northwestern Ontario, 2nd edition. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen's University
Press.
Other readings will be available electronically or on reserve.
Course Requirements
Online quizzes
15%
To encourage preparation for seminars, short quizzes based on each week's readings will
be posted on BlackBoard and should be completed before the workshop. Each will be worth 2%
of the final grade. You will receive your 7 best grades plus a 1% bonus if you complete them all.
Workshop participation
10%
Class members are expected to participate constructively in workshop discussions on the
weekʼs readings. Participation can also occur through online discussions on Blackboard, but
online participation is not a substitute for attendance: if you cannot attend a class for any
reason, please email me. The grade will be calculated by multiplying attendance by a
percentage grade based on the quality of participation (contribution to in-class or online
discussion in the form of pertinent observations, knowledge of the readings, questions and
helpful suggestions addressed to other students or the instructor, etc.).
Mid-term exam, Oct. 16
On material covered to Oct. 9
20%
Essay, due 4:00 pm Friday Nov. 15
25%
Why did the four factories studied by Salzinger in Genders in Production have such
different configurations of gender performances and inequalities?
First, describe the important differences between the factories. These are what you will be
trying to explain. Second, use the mechanisms of inequality covered in weeks 1 - 8 of this
course to analyse the causes and the consequences of the differences you have described.
You are expected to use ideas from the required readings and lectures, but do not repeat
their words. Put your understanding in your own words, showing that you grasp the ideas and
can explain them clearly. You will be graded on: i. your understanding of the mechanisms of
inequality; ii. your understanding of Salzingerʼs ethnography; iii. your use of the mechanisms to
analyse Salzingerʼs ethnography; iv. your ability to answer the question, that is to construct an
argument using relevant concepts and descriptions v. organization and clarity of your writing.
The essay should not exceed 2,500 words. Citation format: Chicago author-date.
More detailed instructions will be provided before Reading Week.
Final exam, during Dec. 6-21 exam period
Covering entire course, but emphasizing material covered after reading week
Notice on Academic Integrity
Academic dishonesty, which includes plagiarism and cheating, is an extremely
serious academic offense and carries penalties varying from a 0 grade on an
assignment to expulsion from the University. You have a responsibility to
educate yourself – unfamiliarity with the policy is not an excuse. You are
strongly encouraged to visit Trent’s Academic Integrity website to learn more –
www.trentu.ca/academicintegrity.
30%
SOCI 2220h 2012 Fall - 3
Policy on Late Assignments
Assignments are due on the dates specified in this outline. Extensions will be granted only in
exceptional circumstances. Late assignments will be subject to a 2% penalty for each day after
the due date.
Access to Instruction
It is Trent University's intent to create an inclusive learning environment. If a student has a
disability and/or health consideration and feels that he/she may need accommodations to
succeed in this course, the student should contact the Student Accessibility Services Office
(SAS), (BH Suite 132, 705-748-1281 or email accessibilityservices@trentu.ca).
Note on classroom conduct
It is the policy of the Department of Sociology that students are expected to be fully engaged in
classroom activities, and to conduct themselves in ways that facilitate everyone's learning.
Conduct that distracts the instructor or other students (such as the use of computers or other
electronic devices for non-class activities) or that inhibits their participation will not be tolerated.
sans abri, Paris — Oct. 2010 © Jim Conley
WEEK 1
Lecture: this course outline
Ed Grabb, Theories of Social Inequality, on Durkheim* [on reserve]
1.1 Introduction to course
Monday Sept. 9
1.2 Why inequality matters
Wednesday Sept. 11
Video (in class): Richard Wilkinson (2011) "How economic inequality harms societies"
WEEK 2
Workshop: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives,Why Inequality Matters in 1,000 Words or
Less pp. 10-18, 22-24 (Kesselman, Beach, Myles, Cunningham)
2.1 justifying social inequality
2.2 Denouncing social inequality
Monday Sept. 16
Wednesday Sept. 18
Workshop 2 — Sept. 16, 17
Why should you (or anyone else) care about social inequality?
Based on the readings and lectures, what do you think are the three most important
reasons why inequality matters? Prepare to to argue your case.
* on Durkheim: 5th edn: 73-80; 4th edn: 78-86; 3rd edn: 70-77; 2nd edn: 53-63
SOCI 2220h 2012 Fall - 4
Week 3
Lecture:
if you are ambitious, read Davis, Kingsley and Wilbert E. Moore. (1945). "Some
principles of stratification." American Sociological Review, 10 (2), 242-9, and Tumin,
Melvin M. 1953. “Some Principles of Stratification: A Critical Analysis.” American
Sociological Review 18, 4:. 387-394
Workshop: Salzinger, Genders in Production, Ch 1-2
3.1 Case Study 1: Producing gender
Monday Sept. 23
Film (in class): Maquilapolis (City of Factories) (2006)
3.2 Explaining social inequality functionally
Wednesday Sept. 25
Workshop 3 — sept. 23, 24
Justifying, condemning or explaining inequality
How does Leslie Salzinger identify inequality in the maquiladoras? Does she justify or
condemn it? How? What sociological questions do these chapters raise?
Week 4
Lecture: Tilly, Charles. 2003. “Changing forms of inequality.” Sociological Theory 21, 1: 31-36
Grabb, Edward, Theories of Social Inequality, on Marx* [on reserve]
Workshop: Salzinger, Genders in Production, Ch 3
4.1 Explaining social inequality Relationally
4.2 Mechanisms of inequality 1: Exploitation
Sept. 30
Oct. 2
Workshop 4 — Sept. 30, Oct. 1
Organizing exploitation
What does Salzinger mean by "the trope of productive femininity"? How did it come to
be self-defeating? What were the consequences of its failure?
Week 5
Lecture: Grabb, Edward, Theories of Social Inequality, on Weber† & on Parkin‡ [on reserve]
Workshop: Salzinger, Genders in Production, Ch 4-5
5.1 Mechanisms of inequality 2: Exclusion
Oct. 7
5.2 Mechanisms of inequality 3: Interior & Exterior Categories
Oct. 9
Workshop 5 — Oct. 7, 8
class and Gender inequality at work
What are the main differences between Panoptimex & Particimex? Describe the
organization of class relations in both factories. After you have done that, describe the
organization of gender relations in each.
* on Marx: 5th edn: 15-27; 4th edn: 17-29; 3rd edn: 15-26; 2nd edn: 21-31
† on Weber: 5th edn: 47-58; 4th edn: 51-63; 3rd edn: 45-56; 2nd edn: 53-63
‡ on Parkin: 5th edn: 164-167; 4th edn: 177-180; 3rd edn: 156-159; 2nd edn: 165-168
SOCI 2220h 2012 Fall - 5
Week 6
Thanksgiving
Oct. 14
Mid-term exam I
Oct. 16
No Workshops — Oct. 14, 15
Reading Week
Oct. 21-25
Week 7
Lecture: Merton, Robert K. 1948. “The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy.” The Antioch Review 8, 2:
193-210.
Workshop: Salzinger, Genders in Production, Ch 6-7
7.1 Mechanisms of inequality 4: emulation, Adaptation & Prophecy
Oct. 28
7.2 Mechanisms of inequality 5: Ethnic & Racial Boundaries
Oct. 30
Workshop 7 — Oct. 28, 29
Rigid Categories & Malleable Contents
What are the main differences between Andromex & Anarchomex? How does the
organization of work affect gender relations in each?
Deadline for withdrawal from Fall courses: Nov. 5
Week 8
Workshop: Salzinger, Genders in Production, Ch 8
Lecture: Dunk, It's a Working Man's Town, Ch. 1, 3
8.1. Mechanisms of inequality 6: Payment systems
Nov. 4
8.2. Inequality North: From Mexico to Thunder Bay
Nov. 6
Workshop 8 — Nov. 4, 5
Class, Gender & Ethnicity at work
Describe the position of managers within corporate hierarchies and ethnic categories.
How do they help explain the different strategies for recruiting and coordinating workers
at Andromex, Anarchomex, Panoptimex and Particimex?
Essay to be submitted on Blackboard by
4:00 pm Friday Nov. 15
SOCI 2220h 2012 Fall - 6
Week 9
Workshop: Dunk, It's a Working Man's Town, Ch. 4 "The Tournament"
9.1. Mechanisms of inequality 6: solidarity rituals
Nov. 11
9.2. Mechanisms of inequality 7: Racial Boundaries
Nov. 13
Workshop 9 — Nov. 4, 5
Gender exclusion in Play
Describe the solidarity-creating rituals performed by "the Boys". How do they facilitate
gender exclusion? How does Dunk connect them to "the Boys" class position?
Week 10
Lecture: Denis, Jeffrey S. 2012. “Transforming meanings and group positions: tactics and
framing in Anishinaabe–white relations in Northwestern Ontario, Canada.” Ethnic and
Racial Studies 35, 3: 453-470
Workshop: Dunk, It's a Working Man's Town, Ch. 5 "Race, Ethnicity & Regionalism"
10.1. Mechanisms of inequality 8: Networks and exclusion
Nov. 18
10.2. Mechanisms of inequality 9: Symbolic boundaries & adaptation Nov. 20
Workshop 10 — Nov. 20, 23
Racial categories, Racial boundaries
Describe the boundaries between "the Boys" and local First Nations people. What
relations, beliefs and practices sustain the boundaries?
Week 11
Workshop: Dunk, It's a Working Man's Town, Ch. 6 "Knowledge, Work and Hegemony"
11.1. Mechanisms of inequality 10: Forms of exclusion
Nov. 25
11.2. No lecture today!
Nov. 27
Workshop 11!— Nov. 25, 26
Categorical Inequalities and Status
Describe the stories the boys tell about ʻIndiansʼ, professionals, and common sense.
What do they tell us about their status position and relation to local and external
powerholders?
Week 12
12.1. Review & Conclusions 1 — No readings
Dec. 2
12.2. Review & Conclusions 2 — No readings
Dec. 4
Final exam during Dec. 6 - 21 exam period