Module SXU-1006:
Social Divisions

Module Facts

Run by School of History, Law and Social Sciences

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 2

Organiser: Dr Teresa Crew

Overall aims and purpose

Despite having a wide range of resources such as wealth, status and power, we inhabit a deeply unequal society, characterised by inequality and division. This module investigates the nature and consequences of social divisions within societies.

Social divisions refer to the classification of populations and their differential treatment (Anthias, 1999). These categories of divisions can mean one experiences advantages or disadvantages, as well as discrimination and disparities. So much so that even our personal lives are influenced by patterns of hierarchy and social difference (Bottero, 2005).

This module will first consider the early stratification categories of class, gender and ethnicity before focusing on contemporary areas of sociological analysis such as age, sexuality, gender expression, disability, religion, nation and geography. Students are encouraged to develop an awareness of how social divisions permeate the social order both publically, and privately, at times leading to differentiation, exclusion and disadvantage

Course content

Subjects will include, but will not be limited to: Introduction to social divisions and discussions of Social Class, Gender, Ethnicity, Age, Sexuality, Gender expression, Disability, Religion, Nation and Geography.

There will be a focus on the social policy areas of housing, health, crime, education and employment.

Assessment Criteria

excellent

Excellent (A* to A-)

Essay

  • Has a critical understanding of the main concept of social divisions and is able to critical engage with one example in detail (e.g. class, gender, ethnicity, age, religion, sexuality, gender expression, disability, religion, nation or geography),
  • Can critically engage with key issues such as differentiation, exclusion and disadvantage.
  • Can critically discuss and evaluate relevant research.

Presentation

An excellent presentation that discusses individual experiences of social divisions in an informed and reflective manner

  • Excellent description of the individual's social divisions
  • Excellent evaluation of how social divisions relate to their individual experience
  • Has an excellent understanding of research related to social divisions
  • Enthusiastic and engaging delivery that makes the audience want to listen;
  • Excellent presentation slides that compliment the oral presentation e.g no more than 5 bullet points & text, mixture of texture of picture, only Time or Ariel font, design is clear
  • Perceptive and interesting responses to question/s

good

Good (B+ to C-) Essay

  • Understands the main concept social divisions and are able to outline one example in detail (e.g. class, gender, ethnicity, age, religion, sexuality, gender expression, disability, religion, nation or geography),
  • Understand key issues such as differentiation, exclusion and disadvantage.
  • Can communicate effectively about relevant research.

Presentation

A good/Very good presentation that discusses individual experiences of social divisions in an informed and reflective manner

  • Has a good/Very good understanding of the research related to social divisions
  • Overall, a good/very good delivery, but one or two improvements were needed relating to delivery e.g speech patterns, eye contact, presentation slides, more research; preparation for the questions
  • Good/very good presentation slides but one or two improvements needed e.g no more than 5 bullet points & text, mixture of texture of picture, only Time or Ariel font, design is clear
  • Good/very good responses in discussion but more preparation needed

threshold

Threshold (D+ to D-)

Essay

  • Shows a basic awareness of students' individual social divisions.
  • Provides a basic description of the literature in this field.

Presentation A satisfactory presentation on the student’s individual experience of social divisions

  • Uses little or no research related to the subject.
  • Satisfactory delivery, but one or two improvements were needed relating to delivery e.g speech patterns, eye contact, presentation slides, more research; preparation for the questions
  • Satisfactory presentation slides but one or two improvements needed e.g no more than 5 bullet points & text, mixture of texture of picture, only Time or Ariel font, design is clear
  • Satisfactory responses in discussion, but much more understanding of the subject area was needed

Learning outcomes

  1. Evaluate the extent of change and continuity in relation to social divisions and inequalities

  2. Understand and articulate both structural and individual experiences of inequalities, difference and in/exclusion

  3. Evaluate the processes which result in social divisions

  4. Discuss key social divisions (for example, class, gender, ethnicity, age, sexuality, gender expression, disability, religion, nation and geography) in the contemporary world either through group or individual work - whether it be written or oral communication.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATION Reflective presentation

Use academic literature alongside your own experiences to reflect on and present your own individual experiences of social divisions

 50.00
ESSAY Essay

Critically evaluates an example of a social division

 50.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Workshop

2 Weekly On-line linteractive workshops over Semester One ( approx 2 hours x 11 weeks)

 22
Private study

Reading the literature and other sources that are recommended

 178

Transferable skills

  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sentistevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

Subject specific skills

  • Articulacy in identifying underlying issues in a wide variety of debates.
  • relationships between these and social divisions and social change.
  • the capacity to analyse, assess and communicate empirical sociological information
  • the ability to undertake and present scholarly work
  • the ability to recognise the relevance of sociological knowledge to social, public and civic policy.

Resources

Talis Reading list

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/sxu-1006.html

Reading list

Reading list

Anthias, F. and Yuval-Davis, N. (1992) Racialized Boundaries: Race, Nation, Gender, Colour and Class and the Anti-racist Struggle. London: Routledge.

Anthias, F. (1998). Rethinking social divisions: some notes towards a theoretical framework. The Sociological Review, 46. 505 – 535.

Bottero, W. (2005). Stratification. Social Division and Inequality. Routledge

Bradley, B. (2015). Fractured Identities: Changing Patterns of Inequality, 2nd Edition. Wiley

Payne, G and Harrison, E. (2020). Social Divisions. Inequality and Diversity in Britain. 4th Edition. Bristol: Policy Press.

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: