Australian Sociology provides a concise and current introduction to the field of Sociology, through an analysis of Australian society. In doing so, it draws on a diverse range of perspectives as well as a myriad of topics that go to issues at the core of Australian social life. Our ever-changing society presents continuing challenges to sociological analysis. This edition of
Australian Sociology sets out to document these many changes, while retaining an organised analysis required of an introductory overview of Australian society.
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Features
- Learner outcomes for each chapter provide students with a roadmap and alert them to important concepts to be covered.
- Feature boxes highlight or expand on an issue discussed.
- Case studies focus on aspects of Australian society which demonstrate sociological issues.
- Key terms are highlighted throughout the text with margin notes and in a glossary at the end of the book, where these terms are clarified and their use is discussed.
- 'Critical thinking questions' provide students with an opportunity to develop their analytical skills while challenging their understanding of the issues raised in the chapter.
- References appear at the end of each chapter.
- The last chapter on sociological research offers an overview of the process of conducting a small research project. With a hands-on approach, students are given a practical snapshot of what is involved in constructing, conducting and evaluating social research.
New to this edition
- In this edition, recent changes affecting traditional divisions of class, race, ethnicity and gender have been documented and analysed with the latest statistics. These include the Northern Territory 'intervention' and the use of comparative statistics in the 'Closing the Gap' policy, new health statistics for Indigenous Australians, and the 'stress' epidemic and its relation to rising trends in mental illness.
- The rise of neoliberalism, and the impact of globalisation on education are covered, while the sociological implications of new education policies are also examined.
- Economic models of education delivery are investigated, such as the changing funding formulas for secondary schools and the emergence of free courses at universities delivered by MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses).
- Perhaps the most extensive revisions are evident in the chapter on class, not simply with the statistics but by exploring new ways of measuring class stratification.
- Global inequality is also re-examined in the chapter on globalisation and the city - much expanded in the world today, with more than half the world's population living in metropolitan cities.
Three chapters that stand out for the way they suggest a shift in the field of sociology itself are:
- Personal Lives (Chapter 8), is premised on the observation that the modern 'family' as a unit is no longer recognisable as it once was. The once-heralded social unit of the nuclear family continues its steady decline, as blended families and postmodern living arrangements such as heteronormativity, living alone, living apart together, living with friends, and the living patterns of adult children of divorce become increasingly common forms of the household unit.
- Changing the Climate: Modernity at its Limits (Chapter 15). This chapter, which first appeared in the last edition and is fully updated in this new edition, tackles what is arguably the most pressing issue facing global society - the threat that climate change poses to the continuation of modern social life.
- From Mass Media to Social Media (Chapter 14). This chapter explores the extraordinary take-up of social media in Australia and around the world and the impact that it now has on our lives and society.
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