166-130 Sociology 1A: Society and Self Identity

Credit Points

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Semester

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Subject Description

This subject introduces sociological approaches to exploring the social world, focusing on questions of individual and collective identity. It introduces sociological approaches to social structure and social action, through exploring the changing experience of contemporary identity and individuality in domains such as work, the public and the private, the social construction of the lifecourse, sexuality and gender, ethnicity, the consumer society and Aboriginality. The focus is on contemporary Australian experience, with an opening out to other societies of the Asia/Pacific region. Students are introduced to questionnaire techniques, and the subject involves a fieldwork interview exercise. Students who complete this subject should: have an understanding of the basic concepts of sociological analysis including role, status, identity, socialisation and social structure; have an understanding of the difference between commonsense understanding and sociological explanation; understand the basic methods of social inquiry; be able to analyse family, kinship, peer and mass media relationships, and to explain their sociological significance; be able to analyse social significance of personal experience using social theories.

Assessment

A fieldwork report of 1000 words; a 1-hour class test and a 2000 word essays.

Prescribed Texts

• Haralambos et. al, Sociology: Themes and Perspectives. Australian Edition, Sydney: Harper Collins, 1995.