ISBN:
1-4426-0210-4
Language:
English
Pages:
1 online resource (359 p.)
DDC:
303.3/85
Keywords:
Prejudices.
;
Culture.
Abstract:
Contesting the putative 'even-handedness' of many introductory social science texts, this innovative book presents strong and provocative arguments on contemporary social issues that will stimulate readers to think critically. The principal theme of the book is that social science is at its best, and most exciting, when it confronts and refutes 'cultures of prejudice'--intricate systems of beliefs and attitudes that sustain many forms of social oppression and that are, themselves, sustained by ignorance and fear of the unknown and the unfamiliar. Such a critical social science, it is argued, can make an important contribution to promoting human freedom and extending human capacities. Discussions range from the personal to the political, the national to the global, encompassing social policy analysis (law, health, and welfare), the status of women, and animal liberation, as well as nationalism, racism, political ideology, the global economy, and terrorism. This passionately argued book is an excellent supplementary text for undergraduate social science students, as well as a stimulating read for all those open to hard-hitting confrontations with conventional wisdom.
Note:
Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph
,
Introduction to the book & its authors --
,
Nationalism, racism, fundamentalism, & terrorism ;
,
"My country, right or wrong" --
,
"Everybody is a racist; it's part of human nature" --
,
"I'm not a racist, and nobody I know is either" --
,
"Immigrants are threatening our way of life" --
,
"God is on our side" --
,
"Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists" --
,
Colonialism & globalization ;
,
"Third World poverty is the result of traditional values" --
,
"The USA promotes freedom throughout the world" --
,
"Free markets pave the way for social development" --
,
Poverty & social dispossession ;
,
"The welfare state rewards laziness" --
,
"Idle hands are the Devil's workshop" --
,
"Indians shouldn't have any special rights" --
,
"If unemployed people can't find jobs, they should start their own businesses" --
,
"Recent trends toward falling living standards show that there are 'natural limits' to the expansion of human prosperity" --
,
"The real culprit for the poverty gap (between rich and poor countries) is not uneven trade, but excessive population growth" --
,
Social class ;
,
"Class inequality is an inevitable feature of the human condition" --
,
"As a rule, the rich deserve their wealth" --
,
"A classless society in a complex and economically developed society is impossible; it is an unrealistic utopia" --
,
"Most people belong to the middle class" --
,
Feminism & the women's movement ;
,
"Feminists are just 'male bashers'" --
,
"Feminism is no longer relevant" --
,
Health, sexuality, & reproduction ;
,
"Doctor knows best" --
,
"Modesty and virtue are the essence of femininity" --
,
"Homosexuality is unnatural" --
,
"Abortion is murder" --
,
"The family is a haven in a heartless world" --
,
Policing the culture of prejudice ;
,
"Lock 'em up and throw away the key!" --
,
"Just say 'no' to drugs" --
,
"Support your local police" --
,
"In America, justice is blind" --
,
Ecology & animal liberation ;
,
"People come first" --
,
"Eating meat is natural" --
,
"Hunting is part of human nature" --
,
The economy ;
,
"When corporations win, everyone wins" --
,
"Unions are too powerful; they are detrimental to the economy" --
,
Politics & ideology ;
,
"He who says organization says oligarchy" --
,
"Radicalism of the left and right are equally deplorable" --
,
"Vote for the candidate of your choice, but vote" --
,
"Black September" and the culture of prejudice.
,
English
DOI:
10.3138/9781442602106
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