Second-semester options
Gender and sociology
C Atmore, A McMahon, U Svensson and J van Bommel
Synopsis As for SCY2210.
Assessment Two essays (2500 words each): 40% each
* Examination (1
hour): 20%
Living in suburbs: the economics of everyday life
B Wearne
Objectives Throughout this subject students will read and will be confronted with material which deepens their appreciation for the concepts of urban life, suburban aesthetics and responsible planning; social and historical theories about the city; the political and contestual structure of urban planning; the social, historical and institutional constraints upon the development of urban life-style; contemporary attempts to rediscover communal coresponsibility within the urban setting.
Synopsis The subject is organised in terms of the following divisions: theories of cities; strategies for research in urban sociology; analysis of the process of urban planning; investigating urban aesthetics as an integral part of urban life.
Assessment Two essays (3000 words each): 50% each
Prescribed text
Reading list available on enrolment
Money, magic, morals and markets
Proposed to be offered next in 1998
R Jureidini
Objectives At the completion of the subject, students should be able to demonstrate a knowledge of `classical' and contemporary sociological theories of economy and society; an understanding of the relationship between rational and non-rational values attached to the use of money in both contemporary and traditional societies; an ability to apply one or more theoretical perspectives to the analysis of a contemporary socio-economic issues.
Synopsis This subject explores the social bases of money and exchange in modern and to some extent traditional society. The focus will be upon the attachment of moral values to the ritual of exchange and the cash nexus. Topics will cover sociological interpretations of ethical issues concerned with the monetary valuation of various aspects of individual and social life. Substantive issues include the following: money and the body (eg blood donation, organ transplantation, surrogacy, death and the funeral, blood money); money and risk (eg saving, gambling, life insurance); money and gender (eg marriage, dowry, prostitution); money and welfare (eg pensions, retirement, social security, poverty); money and exchange (eg barter, coinage, gifts). As an introduction to economic sociology, three theoretical and ideological paradigms will be canvassed: economic liberalism, political economy and economic sociology.
Assessment Literature review (2000 words): 35%
* Seminar paper (1000
words): 15%
* Research report (3000 words): 50%
Prescribed texts
Reading list available on enrolment
Political sociology
Proposed to be offered next in 1998
C W Chamberlain
Objectives This subject will enable students to examine political behaviour and institutions from a variety of sociological perspectives; think critically and reflexively about the dilemmas involved in building a sociological analysis of politics; examine in depth the distribution of power in modern society, and the link between class analysis and the contemporary political process; examine a number of other substantive areas (the distribution of wealth, voting behaviour, political culture, male and female involvement in politics etc.), and to make links between disparate approaches and apparently unrelated research findings.
Synopsis This subject examines political behaviour and institutions from a variety of sociological perspectives. Topics to be discussed include the distribution of power in industrial society; the political culture of contemporary Australia; variations in male and female political perspectives; competing explanations of social order; and voting behaviour.
Assessment Essay (4000 words): 60%
* Seminar presentation (2000
words): 40%
Preliminary reading
Emy H V and Hughes O E Australian politics: Realities in conflict 2nd edn, Macmillan, 1991
Society and environment
R J Birrell
Objectives This subject aims to provide students with a basic scientific knowledge about the source, nature and seriousness of major environmental issues in Australia; help students to develop an awareness of the social nature of these environmental issues; provide students with a sociological framework adequate to analyse these political and social processes and to introduce them to the major contending theories purporting to explain these processes; explore with students various case studies of environmental issues in order to help them understand the ways such issues evolve and to facilitate their review of the merits of contending explanatory theories.
Synopsis This option will cover the social processes which influence the policies affecting the state of Australia's renewable and non-renewable resource base and the state of the environment as it affects the quality of life of Australians (for example, as this is felt or perceived through pollution levels, access to recreational space and the preservation of wilderness areas). Students will be expected to become familiar with the scientific foundation of the environmental issues under consideration. However, the main focus of the subject will be an analysis of the social factors shaping the emergence of environmental problems, the changing public perception of these problems and the processes influencing the outcomes of any societal response.
Assessment Essay based on class presentation (2000 words): 40%
*
Essay (4000 words): 60%
Recommended texts
Cocks D Use with care NSWUP, 1992
Department of Environment, Sport and Territories State of the environment report 1995
Mercer D `A question of balance': Natural resource conflict issues in Australia Federation Press, 1995
Toyne P Reluctant nation ABC, 1994
Spirituality, faith and religion: society and the transcendent
G D Bouma
Objectives Students in this subject will develop an awareness of the impact of religion in society throughout history and in contemporary life; an understanding of the interrelationship of religion and society in such areas as culture, social integration and social change, and the main theoretical perspectives used to interpret and explain this interrelationship; an appreciation of the central role played by different religions in the social construction of human meaning systems and institutions, and in the processes of socialisation and social control; an ability to identify and evaluate views expressed by different authors writing about religion and society; a competence in articulating arguments orally and in written form on a variety of topics in the sociology of religion.
Synopsis Focusing on religion in Australia, this option examines the problem of religious meaning, the emergence and maintenance of religious systems of meaning. The interaction between religion and society. The operation of religious meaning systems - the way in which they develop, become organised, are propagated and maintained - is the core concern of the subject.
Assessment Research report (3000 words): 60%
* Seminar papers (7 x
300 words each): 30%
* Class test (900 words): 10%
Prescribed texts
Black A Religion in Australia Allen and Unwin, 1991
Bouma G D Religion: Meaning, transcendence and community in Australia Longman, 1992
Kurtz L Gods in the global village: The world's religons in sociological perspective Forge, 1995
Recommended texts
Beckford J A Religion and advanced industrial society Unwin Hyman, 1989
Bouma G D The religious factor in Australian life Marc, 1986
Mol H The faith of Australians Allen and Unwin, 1985
The joy of `X': computer data processing and analysis using SPSS-X
P C Hiller
Objectives Students in this subject can expect to develop skills in data entry and analysis using the SPSS-X computer program; an understanding of the operation of the program that will enhance their ability to work independently; skills in the formulation of research issues that can be handled using SPSS-X.
Synopsis This option builds on both the second-year research methods subject and `Data appreciation'. Whilst not formal prerequisites, students will benefit most if these subjects have been taken previously. It deals with the principles and practices of coding and with the practicalities of analysing sociological data, especially using modern `statistical packages' (SPSS) on computers.
Assessment Students will be required to complete a variety of practical exercises which will together be the equivalent of 6000 words written work.
Prescribed texts
Diemer K M and Hiller P C The joy of `X': A research lover's introduction to SPSS-X 2nd edn, Monash U, 1992
Recommended texts
de Vaus D A Surveys in social research Allen and Unwin, 1985
The research process
G D Bouma
Objectives On completion of this subject, students will be knowledgeable about strategies and techniques that are available at different stages of research; be aware of choices and constraints in relation to different types of research designs; view research as a creative problem-solving activity; be aware of ethical considerations in research; demonstrate knowledge and skills that will enable them to carry out research; be able to understand and evaluate the work of other researchers.
Synopsis This option provides students with the opportunity to develop skills in designing and doing empirical sociological research by engaging in a group research project. A variety of techniques and methodologies will be explored and used in studying a research topic selected by the students.
Assessment Two minor reports (1500 words each): 25% each
*
Participation in group research project (3000 words): 50%
Prescribed texts
Bouma G D The research process OUP, 1996
de Vaus D A Surveys in social research
The sociology of men and masculinity
A McMahon
Objectives Students will become familiar with the major perspectives in sociological work on men and masculinity, and will be able to apply these perspectives to the analysis of contemporary social questions.
Synopsis This option explores recent sociological analyses of men and masculinity, which start from the realisation that men's lives are just as much gendered as are those of women. Topics covered include childhood; men in family life, work, sport and politics; men and emotions; male sexualities; men in popular culture; men and social change; the men's movements; historical and anthropological perspectives. There will be a focus on current debates about such issues as fatherhood, health and violence, and on the controversies surrounding the place of men's studies within the wider field of gender studies.
Assessment Literature review (1500 words): 25%
* Seminar paper (1500
words): 25%
* Essay (3000 words): 50%
Recommended text
Connell RW Masculinities Allen and Unwin, 1995
Women, psychiatry and madness
J van Bommel
Objectives This subject aims to introduce students to the socio-historical background which has shaped the various phases of the institutionalisation and de-institutionalisation of madness in contemporary society; introduce students to the diverse sociological and feminist critiques of the subject area, women, psychiatry and madness; familiarise students with different interpretations of psychoanalysis and female subjectivity, such as, Freudian, Lacanian and French feminist; enable students to understand, analyse and articulate the various theoretical approaches studied; provide students with analytical and conceptual resources so they may write clear and competent essays on various topics.
Synopsis We will begin with a socio-historical analysis of the institutionalisation of madness and its current practice of de-institutionalisation. We will then critically assess sociological, medical and feminist theories of women, femininity and madness. We will focus on how the institutions of psychiatry and psychotherapy `understand' madness for women. As well, we will examine various feminist critiques of psychoanalysis and female subjectivity.
Assessment Two essays (3000 words each): 50% each
Preliminary reading
Bernheimer C and Kahane C (eds) In Dora's case: Freud, hysteria, feminism Virago, 1985
Busfield J Managing madness Unwin Hyman, 1989
Chesler P Women and madness Doubleday, 1972
Foucault M Madness and civilization Tavistock, 1967
Grosz E Sexual subversions Allen and Unwin, 1989
Russell D Women, madness and medicine Polity, 1995
Showalter E The female malady: Women, madness and English culture, 1830-1980 Pantheon, 1985
Smith D E and David S J (eds) Women look at psychiatry Press Gang, 1975
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