GISDepartment of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies

Social inequality has always been a part of human society, and social scientists have invested much effort into “figuring out” why there is social inequality and how social inequality is sustained and reproduced. Earlier efforts focused mostly on socioeconomic inequality, while later endeavors explored racial, gender, sexual inequalities and their interconnections. These efforts resulted in classical and contemporary social theories on inequality. In this course, students will learn these theories, which are interesting in and of themselves, but more importantly, they will learn to think about inequality deeply and sophisticatedly.

In mastering the social theories covered in this course, students will hone their critical thinking skills, develop their own theories of various aspects of society and the world and consider solutions to lessen inequality. Students will acquire the skills to engage with complex ideas and think systematically and logically, and remaining aware of social injustices and problems. By the end of the course, students should be able to form and support their opinions with ease.

Will be able to gain “DP 1”, “DP 2”, “DP 3”, and “DP 4”.

英語 / English

This course is taught through a combination of lectures interwoven with short discussions, student presentations based on readings, and post-presentation discussions.
After the active learning section, the instructor will give feedback to each student personally in verbal or written form.

あり / Yes

なし / No

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[オンライン/online]：Overview

Overview of theories to be covered. Nature of the class. Course requirements.

2[対面/face to face]：The Trio in Classical Theories (1)

Karl Marx on social class

3[対面/face to face]：The Trio in Classical Theories (2)

Max Weber on social stratification

4[対面/face to face]：The Trio in Classical Theories (3)
Yet Another View? Norms and Inequality

Emile Durkehim on the division of labor in society
Ralph Dahrendorf's theory of the origin of inequality

5[対面/face to face]：The Cultural Turn in Social Theory?

Pierre Bourdieu’s Distinctions and the significance of taste and lifestyle

6[対面/face to face]：Presentation and Discussion: A "Common Sense" Theory and its Critique

Student presentation and discussion on Davis and Moore's structural-functionalist theory and Tumin's critique

7[対面/face to face]：Race, Ethnicity and Inequality (1)

Theories related to racial inequality: The work of W.E.B. Du Bois, Michael Omi & Howard Winant, Joe Feagin

8[対面/face to face]：Race, Ethnicity and Inequality (2)

Theories related to racial inequality: Critical Race theories (CRT)

9[対面/face to face]：Student Presentation and Discussion

Student presentation and discussion of CRT

10[対面/face to face]：The "F" word: "Classic" Feminist Theories on Gender Inequality

What is feminism? Liberal Feminism: the feminist theory? Mary Wollstonecraft, John Stuart & Harriet Taylor Mill, and Betty Friedan

11[対面/face to face]：It's All Together Now: Race, Class and Gender

Black Feminist Standpoint Theory: Patricia Hill Collins
Intersectional Theories: understanding multiple inequalities

12[対面/face to face]：Global Inequality

Dependency Theory and World-Systems Theory:
Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Enzo Faletto and Immanuel Wallerstein

13[対面/face to face]：Basic Concepts and Theories

Student presentation based on theories introduced in class.

14[対面/face to face]：Theories on Inequality: One More Time

What have we learned? Where to go from here?
Short presentation and discussions of "favorite concepts"

Since the class is centered on reading and discussion, students are expected to do the readings before class and also review materials after each class. Every effort will be made to keep the amount of readings reasonable and enjoyable. Preparatory study and review time for this class are 2 hours each.

The instructor will prepare materials to be distributed in class or downloaded from the university portal.

Grabb, Edward G. 2007. Theories of Social Inequality. 5th edition. Toronto, Canada:Thomson Nelson.

Presentations (22%), reading assignments (40%), take-home examination (30%), class participation (8%).

Students were positive about the course, despite the rather heavy workload. However, to encourage students to engage more with the class materials, short discussions have been integrated into the lectures from 2017.

If you like to read, think and discuss, this is the course for you. If you have taken and liked courses in political theory, philosophy, cultural anthropology or other sociology courses, it's likely that you find this course enjoyable as well.

Aslo, students who have passed Introduction to Sociology will be given admission priority. All students who intend to enroll in this class have to attend the first class.

None