SO312 Half Unit
Work, Inequality and Society
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Dr Pat Mcgovern
Availability
This course is available on the BSc in Language, Culture and Society, BSc in Sociology, Erasmus Reciprocal Programme of Study and Exchange Programme for Students from University of California, Berkeley. This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes. This course is available with permission to General Course students.
This course is not available as a first year option.
This course has a limited number of places (it is capped). Places are allocated on a first come first served basis.
Course content
Sociological perspectives on cross-national differences in employment and social inequality.
Theoretical perspectives on inequality; gender in the labour market; occupational segregation; the ‘glass ceiling’; immigrant employment; race, ethnicity and discrimination; social class at work; class reproduction in elite firms; the rise of wage inequality; and income inequality in the mass media.
Teaching
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.
This course is usually delivered through a combination of lectures and classes. There will be two hours or more of teaching each week in WT.
Formative assessment
Essay (1500 words)
1,500 word essay due in Week 8 of WT.
Indicative reading
W. Bottero , W. (2018) A Sense of Inequality;
Friedman, S. and Laurison, D. (2020) The Class Ceiling;
Tilly, C. & C. Tilly (1998) Work Under Capitalism;
Grusky, D. (2014) (4th ed) Social Stratification;
McGovern, P. et al. (2007) Market, Class, and Employment;
Padavic, I. & Reskin, B. (2002) Women and Men at Work;
Payne, G. (ed.) (2013) Social Divisions;
L. Platt, L. (2011) Understanding Inequalities;
D. Tomaskovic-Devy, D. and D. Avent-Holt (2018) Relational Inequalities.
Further reading will be detailed in the course syllabus.
Assessment
Course participation (15%)
Essay (85%, 3000 words) in May
Course participation during the WT.
Attendance at all classes and submission of all set coursework is required.
Key facts
Department: Sociology
Course Study Period: Winter Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 6
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: Unavailable
Average class size 2024/25: Unavailable
Capped 2024/25: NoCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills