General description

Main theories of stratification and methodological problems of survey of social structure. The discourse of social exclusion and the main aspects of social exclusion related with poverty, citizenship, immigration, unemployment, etc.

Learning outcomes

The aim of this course is to acquaint students with the major sociological theories of social exclusion, social class, inequality, and poverty. After the completion of the course students will be aware about the central historical and theoretical developments within sociology of stratification, the concept of social stratification and its variety, theories of class, social mobility and consumption patterns, gender stratification. Students will be competent to provide theoretical and practical reasoning on issues of social inequality and exclusion in the context of transformational changes in post-soviet societies as well as to understand contemporary trends of social inequality and stratification and its future perspectives.

Contents

The concept of social inequality. Social inequality dimention in the theories of Marx, Weber, Bourdieu, Giddens, Goldthorpe, Wright. The concept of social exclusion. Social exclusion dimension in the modern sociological of Bourdieu, Parkin.
The main dimensions of social inequality and exclusion: poverty, income and consumption inequality. Social stratification. Social inequality between men and women, social – economical inequality in terms of age. Education, occupation and social inequality.
Social exclusion. Quantitative and qualitative research methods of social inequality and exclusion.
Social inequality and exclusion in the national and international context. Survey on changes of social structure in Lithuanian society. Social inequality and exclusion in post-soviet societies. Comparative analysis of international researches in inequality and exclusion.

Teaching methods

Lectures, seminars, individual studying of reading materials, distance learning, discussion boards and individual tutoring supported by Moodle.
Attendance in the lectures is recommendable, attendance in the seminars is obligatory.

Teaching language

English

Evaluation and evaluation criteria

Numeric 1-5.
Accumulative mark, which consist of participation of the students in the discussions and debate during seminar and the distance learning, the preparation of a seminar report (5 pages) in one of the areas covered in the course, written examination in the end of the course which should tests analytical skills and book examination.

Study materials

Reading list:

 

- Butler, T.: Understanding social inequality. Tim Butler and Paul Watt. London Thousand Oaks (Calif.). New Delhi: SAGE Publications, 2007.

- Kerbo Harold R.: Social stratification and inequality: Class conflict in historical, comparative, and global perspective. Boston, 2006.

- Rubington E., Weinberg M. S. (eds.): The study of social problems: seven perspectives. New York Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.

- Agulnik, P. (2002): Understanding social exclusion. Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2002.

- Barnes M et al.: Poverty and social exclusion in Europe. Cheltenham Northampton: Edward Elgar, 2002.

- Hills J., Le Grand J., Piachaud D. (eds.): Understanding social exclusion. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002.

- Giddens A.: Sociology. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2001.

- Grusky, David (ed.): Social Stratification: Class, Race and Gender in Sociological Perspective. Boulder: Westview Press, 2000.

Belongs to following study modules