| CODE | SOC2006 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Sociology of Inequality | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Sociology | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit offers a critical exploration of inequality in society, and the various ideological and scholarly traditions in which debates around inequality have been taking place. Classical sociology referred to inequality in terms of stratification and social class, while contemporary sociology has extended its focus to other forms of inequality. This study-units draws on key discussions, both theoretical and empirical, around inequality of wealth and income, social class and status, gender, race and ethnicity. It puts light on the social patterning of the unequal distribution of resources, life chances, opportunities, and outcomes, on the intergenerational transmission of inequality and social mobility. The discussion will also account for select consequences of inequality affecting lifestyle and opportunities (on an individual level); as well as broader society. The unit will also put the concept of inequality in the context of the ideological and intellectual traditions which have informed its scholarship and public debate. In this light, the notion of inequality will be problematised by posing critical and fundamental questions: Does inequality matter? Should we be concerned with and about inequality? If not, when and how can it become a problem? How do different economic and social policies attempt to address (or not) inequality? And why has the concept itself become politicised? Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims to offer students: - An exposure to different classical and contemporary sociological perspectives on inequality; - An appreciation of the ways in which structures of inequalities persist,reproduce and are transmitted intergenerationally. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Review select sociological theories and concepts in the discussion on inequality; - Reflect on how the unequal access to and distribution of resources may shape social outcomes; - Appreciate the various structural and non-structural accounts of the causes of inequality. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Critically evaluate select sociological theories of inequality; - Appraise and compare the different scholarly approaches in the literature on inequality; - Analyse the literature’s empirical conclusions on the causes and outcomes of inequality. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Savage, M. (2021). The Return of Inequality: Social Change and the Weight of the Past. Harvard University Press. - Hurst, C.E. (2016 or any edition). Social Inequality: Forms, Causes, and Consequences. Oxon: Routledge. Supplementary Readings: - Atkinson, A. (2015) Inequality: What can be done? Harvard University Press. - Briguglio, M. & Brown, M. (Eds.). (2016). Sociology of the Maltese Islands. Malta: Miller. - Brandt, M., Deindl, C. & Hank, K. (2012). Tracing the origins of successful aging: The role of childhood conditions and social inequality in explaining later life health. In Social Science & Medicine 74(9), 1418–1425. DOI 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.01.004 - Ore, T. E. (2009). The Social Construction of Difference and Inequality: Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education. - Savage, M. (2021) Social class in the 21st century. Pelican Books. - Walby, S. (2009) Globalization and Inequalities: Complexity and Contested Modernities. 1st edn. London: SAGE Publications, Limited. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Dylan Cassar |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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