A sociology study finds that white men in public positions, especially politicians, are most likely to have to issue a public statement of apology, usually in connection to racism or a similarly offensive remark.
Continue reading “Sociology of Apologising”
Sociologist Nicholas Christakis created a huge stir in 2013 when he argued that social science should contribute more to biomedical fields like neuroscience, computational science and behavioural science. What he missed, of course, is that social science has long contributed to these fields and that our pursuit of complex social justice issues remains our strength!
Continue reading “Social Science Quote: Nicholas Christakis on the Promise of Social Sciences”
There has been a sharp increase in the number of people with tattoos in Western nations. Tattooing and body modification is actually more common than not in most cultures, but there were strong norms against it in Western societies. Professor Nicholas Thomas, Director of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge University, says technology has changed how people feel about bodies.
Continue reading “Anthropology of Tattooing”
Professor of sociology, Howard E. Aldrich, argues that we do social science a disservice by positioning qualitative research (data using words, such as interviews) as having less prestige than quantitative research.
Continue reading “The Public Value of Qualitative Research”
2.5 million Australians live below the internationally accepted poverty line. Of these people 61% are unemployed and 33% are working poor (not earning enough income through their jobs).
Continue reading “Working Poor”
It’s time to end paternalistic and xenophophic discussions about Muslim women.
Continue reading “Let’s Stop Racist Dog Whistling about the Burqua”
The term “Brother Boy” describes an Indigenous transgender man and “Sister Girl” describes transgender women. In this short interview with The Wire (below), brother boy Kai Clancey talks about his social identity being a “double edged sword.”
Continue reading “Transgender Indigenous Australians”
“All things are subject to interpretation; whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not the truth.” Did Friedrich Nietzsche really say this? Not quite.
Continue reading “‘It Is Precisely Facts That Do Not Exist, Only Interpretations’”
The Australian Government is getting ready to displace Indigenous Australians living in over 150 remote communities in Western Australia, in a bid to save money. Rather than fixing existing social services, Indigenous Australians will be forced to move from their homes. This poorly conceived policy is nothing short of colonial violence, by dispossessing traditional owners from their homes.
Continue reading “Displacement of Indigenous Australians”
Sociologist Arlie Hochschild researched the sociology of emotions, which shows the work that individuals put into managing their own and other people’s emotions.
Continue reading “Sociology of Emotions at Work”
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