Ask the Powerful Five Questions

What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interest do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? How can we get rid of you? Only democracy gives us that right. That is why no one with power likes democracy and that is why every generation must struggle to win it and keep it; including you and me, here and now.  Tony Benn, 2005 Via: Phil BC. Continue reading Ask the Powerful Five Questions

From Sociolinguistics to Entertainment

What can you do with a social science degree? Carrie Brownstein has been a rockstar with Sleater Kinney and has found further success as a comedy writer and star on Portlandia. Here’s how she sees the link between her degree in sociolinguistics and her comedy TV show.

Carrie Brownstein is a white woman with short brown, curly hair. She wears red lipstick and smiles
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The inside of Parliament House is shaped in a 'u' formation, with seats surrounding a central seat for the Speaker of the House of Representatives

Sociology of Class and Australian Politics

A look back at Australia’s enduring class struggle for power and how billionaires appeal to working-class ideals.

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The Importance of Learning History

Noga Arikha, historian, on the importance of learning history:

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Ageing Positively: How Technology Can Help

Western societies have dramatically changed the way we see ageing. Getting older once meant prestige: a special status and social influence within a community. This has declined in modern times, as societies became increasingly obsessed with youth. As advanced societies face an increasingly older age structure, we have started to look for social policy solutions to improve “positive ageing.”

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Discourses of Disability

Inspiration porn is an image of a person with a disability, often a kid, doing something completely ordinary – like playing, or talking, or running, or drawing a picture, or hitting a tennis ball – carrying a caption like “your excuse is invalid” or “before you quit, try”…  Let me be clear about the intent of this inspiration porn; it’s there so that non-disabled people can put their worries into perspective. So they can go, “Oh well if that kid who doesn’t have any legs can smile while he’s having an awesome time, I should never, EVER feel bad about … Continue reading Discourses of Disability