SCY2041

Sociology of ethnicity and minority relations

Proposed to be offered next in 1999

8 points
* 3 hours per week
* Caulfield
* Prerequisites: First-year SCY sequence or equivalent

Objectives On completion of this subject, students should have acquired knowledge of concepts and theoretical perspectives useful for examining issues relating to ethnicity and minorities; enhanced their appreication of cultural diversity and globalisation; and gained a greater understanding and knowledge of cross-cultural communications and cross-cultural management.

Synopsis The aim of this subject is to engage students in thinking about the key sociological issues related to ethnic and minority groups, for example, the social construction of ethnic identity, integration versus assimilation, prejudice, discrimination and racism. The approaches taken to examine these issues are sociological (social phenomenological, interactionist/labelling perspective, Marxist and functionalist), anthropological, psychological and literary (through autobiographies, biographies, fiction and films). Certain ethnic groups will receive special attention in this subject, eg Asian Australians - Chinese, Vietnamese, refugees etc. A comparison of Asian immigrants with European immigrants in Australia in the context of multiculturalism and the Asianisation of Australian society will also be made.

Assessment Tutorial presentation and summary (500 words): 20%
* Essay (3000 words): 40%
* Test (2.5 hour): 40%

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