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Social Inequality: Forms, Causes, and Consequences, 5/E
Charles E. Hurst, The College of Wooster

ISBN-10: 0205375596
ISBN-13: 9780205375592

Publisher: Allyn & Bacon
Copyright: 2004
Format: Paper; 448 pp
Published: 05/27/2003

This item has been replaced by Social Inequality : Forms, Causes, and Consequences, 7/E.

This text explores how social inequality in the United States can be explained, how it affects us, and what can be done about it.

Two chapters on classical and contemporary theories about stratification show how inequality is a complex and multidimensional problem that is structural and socio-historical.

Part III looks at the consequences of inequality in contemporary social life.

Includes a separate chapter on inequality based on sexual orientation.

Includes detailed presentations and vignettes throughout as a way to relate abstract study to real-life situations dealing with inequality.

Boxes in every chapter feature popular material from the media as they relate to issues of social inequality.

Other pedagogical features include end-of-chapter critical thinking questions and Internet exercises that utilize current information and data about inequality that is available online.

An examination of the pros and cons of globalization has been added to the chapter on globalization (Ch. 8) to strengthen the comparative component of the text.

Stronger in-depth discussion of socioeconomic status of homosexuals and legal discrimination demonstrates how sex, sexual orientation, and gender lead to discrimination in the legal system (Ch. 5).

Added coverage of environmental racism (Ch. 12) reminds students that economic “resources” are not limited to income, but also to land.

The addition of discussion on Herbert Spencer's theories of social inequality (Ch. 9) complements the discussions of the poor and welfare reform in Chapter 16.

New coverage of the social constructionist theory in Chapter 10 aids in student recognition of preconceptions and biases in the manifestation of social inequality.

All chapters conclude with “Summary,” “Critical Thinking,” and “Web Connections.”

Preface.

1. An Introduction to the Study of Social Inequality.

Some Controversial Issues of Substance.

Issues of Methodology.

Organization of the Book.

I. FORMS OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY.

2. Economic Inequality.

Technology and the Shaping of the U.S. Class Structure.

Structure of the U.S. Class System.

Income Inequality.

Is the Middle Class Shrinking?

Wealth Inequality in the United States.

3. Status Inequality.

The Theory of Social Status.

Bases of Status in the United States.

4. Sex and Gender Inequality.

The Status of Women in the Early United States.

Present Occupational and Economic Conditions for Women.

Microinequities in the Treatment of Women.

General Theories of Sex and Gender Inequality.

5. Sexual Orientation and Inequality.

The Complexity of Sexuality and Gender.

Public Opinions on Homosexuality.

Homosexuals as a Status Group.

Discrimination, Legal Confusion, and Sexual Orientation.

A Socioeconomic Profile of Homosexuals.

Negative Consequences of Stigmatization.

6. Racial and Ethnic Inequality.

Race, Ethnicity, and Inequality in the United States: A Brief History.

Racial Inequality Today.

Microinequities in the Treatment of Racial and Ethnic Minorities.

The Intersection of Class, Race, Sex, and Gender.

Theories of Racial and Ethnic Inequality.

7. Political Inequality.

Portraits of National Power Structure.

Distribution of Political Power.

Interlinkage of Economic and Political Power.

Ruling-Class Unity.

8. U.S. Inequality in Comparative Perspective.

Industrialization and Globalization.

Differences in Quality of Life.

Economic Inequality.

Gender Inequality.

Racial/Ethnic Inequality.

II. GENERAL EXPLANATIONS OF INEQUALITY.

9. Classical Explanations of Inequality.

Karl Marx (1818-1883).

Max Weber (1864-1920).

Emile Durkheim (1858-1917).

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903).

10. Modern Explanations of Inequality.

Functional Theory of Stratification.

Theories of Social Construction and Reproduction.

Labor-Market Theories of Income and Earnings Distribution.

III. CONSEQUENCES OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY.

11. The Impact of Inequality on Personal Life Chances.

Basic Life Chances: Physical Health.

Health-Care Costs and Inequality.

Basic Life Chances: Psychological Health.

Basic Life Chances: Food and Shelter.

12. Crime, Protest, and Inequality.

Violence in the Family.

Inequality and the Measurement of Crime.

Street Crime and Inequality.

White-Collar Crime, Corporate Crime, and Punishment.

Hate Crimes and Inequality.

Structured Inequality and Collective Protests.

Social Inequality and Environmental Equity.

IV. STABILITY AND CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY.

13. Trends in Mobility and Status Attainment: Openness in U.S. Society.

Questions Concerning Openness.

Methodology in the Study of Mobility.

U.S. Mobility over Time.

Comparative Studies of Mobility.

Status Attainment: What Determines How Far One Goes?

Mobility and Attainment Process Among African-Americans.

Patterns of Mobility and Attainment Among Women.

Some Observations on Studies of Status Attainment.

14. Justice and Legitimacy: Assessments of the Structure of Inequality.

U.S. Attitudes About the Distribution of Income and Wealth.

What Is a Just Distribution?

Bases for the Legitimization of Structured Inequality.

15. Social Inequality and Social Movements.

The Early Labor Movement.

The Civil Rights Movement.

The Women's Movement.

Inequality, Context, and Social Movements: A Synthesis.

16. Addressing Inequality and Poverty: Programs and Reform.

Addressing the Problem of Inequality.

The Conundrum of Defining Poverty.

Levels of and Trends in Poverty.

Perceptions of the Poor.

Poverty Programs.

Flaws in Pre-1996 Assistance Programs.

Reform in Public Welfare Reform.

Suggestions for Reducing Inequality.

Glossary of Basic Terms.

References.

Index.

Social Stratification (Sociology)
Sociology of Poverty (Sociology)
Social Theory - Combined (Sociology)

Social Inequality : Forms, Causes, and Consequences, 7/E
Hurst
©2010 | Allyn & Bacon | Paper; 464 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205698298 | ISBN-13: 9780205698295
Brief Description | Buy from myPearsonStore

This text is intended as a broad introduction to the many types of inequality— economics, status, political power, sex and gender, sexual orientation, race, and ethnicity— in U.S. society and in a global setting.

The author provides a wide range of explanations on inequality and, using the latest research on the multiple impacts of inequality, surveys in detail the personal and social consequences of social inequality.

The text concludes with in-depth analyses of the assumptions, characteristics, and effectiveness of policy attempts to address issues related to poverty and inequality.
Social Inequality: Forms, Causes and Consequences, 6/E
Hurst
©2007 | Allyn & Bacon | Paper; 464 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205484360 | ISBN-13: 9780205484362
Brief Description

This text explores the pervasiveness of inequality in American society. Using both classical and contemporary explanations for inequality, it examines the effect of inequality on us individually and collectively and efforts to change the structure of inequality.

Backcover Copy

This text explores how social inequality in the United States can be explained, how it affects us, and what can be done about it. The book is based on the assumptions that social inequality is multidimensional and that in order to deal with inequality and its consequences we need to understand the theories behind it. Taking a historical and social structural approach, the author simply but compellingly gives a sense of the pervasiveness of social inequality and how it affects us all.

For the fifth edition:

An examination of the pros and cons of globalization has been added to the chapter on globalization.
A powerful, in-depth discussion of socioeconomic status of homosexuals and legal discrimination demonstrates how sex, sexual orientation, and gender lead to discrimination in the legal system.
Added coverage of environmental racism reminds students that economic “resources” are not limited to income, but also to land.
The addition of discussion on Herbert Spencer's theories of social inequality complements the discussions of the poor and welfare reform.

Instructor Resources
Discipline & Course Resources

Instructor's Manual and Test Bank (Download only), 5/E
Hurst
©2004 | Allyn & Bacon | On-line Supplement; 0 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205397042 | ISBN-13: 9780205397044
View Downloadable Files

Allyn & Bacon Digital Media Archive CD-ROM for Sociology, 2006 edition
Allyn & Bacon
©2006 | Allyn & Bacon | CD-ROM Only | Instock
ISBN-10: 020546727X | ISBN-13: 9780205467273

Breaking the Ice: A Guide to Understanding People from Other Cultures, 3/E
Kabagarama
©2004 | Allyn & Bacon | Paper; 112 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205417957 | ISBN-13: 9780205417957
Buy from myPearsonStore

Building Bridges: The Allyn & Bacon Student Guide to Service-Learning
Hamner
©2002 | Allyn & Bacon | Paper; 128 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205319742 | ISBN-13: 9780205319749
Buy from myPearsonStore

Careers in Sociology, 3/E
Stephens
©2004 | Allyn & Bacon | Paper; 192 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205379222 | ISBN-13: 9780205379224
Buy from myPearsonStore

InterWrite PRS RF (Personal Response System)
InterWrite PRS & Allyn & Bacon/Longman
©2005 | Allyn & Bacon | Electronic Supplement | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205436951 | ISBN-13: 9780205436958

Pearson Guide to Research Navigator
Prentice Hall
©2009 | Allyn & Bacon | Paper; 48 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205633404 | ISBN-13: 9780205633401

RELATE and READY User's Guide, 2/E
Loyer-Carlson, Busby & BYU
©2005 | Allyn & Bacon | Paper Bound with PIN; 32 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205452469 | ISBN-13: 9780205452460
Buy from myPearsonStore

ResearchNavigator.com Guide: Sociology (Valuepack item only)
Jacoby & Barr
©2007 | Allyn & Bacon | Paper; 96 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205517242 | ISBN-13: 9780205517244

Sociology Active Learning Library
Allyn & Bacon
©2010 | Allyn & Bacon | Website | Estimated Availability : 10/15/2009
ISBN-10: 0205594581 | ISBN-13: 9780205594580
URL: http://www.activelearninglibrary.com

Thinking Sociologically: A Critical Thinking Activities Manual (Valuepack item only), 2/E
Ruggiero
©1999 | Allyn & Bacon | Paper; 89 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205278183 | ISBN-13: 9780205278183

iClicker Classroom Response System
iClicker & Allyn & Bacon/Longman
©2008 | Allyn & Bacon | Electronic Supplement | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205594506 | ISBN-13: 9780205594504

For Social Stratification

Allyn & Bacon Diversity and Inequality Website (Open access)
Allyn & Bacon
©2004 | Allyn & Bacon | On-line Supplement; 0 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205405878 | ISBN-13: 9780205405879
URL: http://www.ablongman.com/diversityandinequality

MySearchLab (access code required)
Pearson
©2010 | Allyn & Bacon | Website | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205699391 | ISBN-13: 9780205699391
URL: http://www.mysearchlab.com

For Sociology of Poverty

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