SOC792 Social Stratification and Labour Market

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2019
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Beatrice Elena Chromková Manea, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. PhDr. Tomáš Katrňák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Tomáš Katrňák, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Supplier department: Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Thu 10:00–11:40 U34
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! SOC409 Stratification research &&! NOW ( SOC409 Stratification research )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 18 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/18, only registered: 0/18, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/18
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course examines contemporary processes of social stratification, social structure, social class, social mobility, well-being, gender, family and their impact on the labour market. The course will aim to describe the trends in sociological and economic theories in the field of labor market and socioeconomic inequalities as well as to evaluate the contributions made by various theoretical perspectives to our understanding of labor market and socioeconomic inequalities, and provide examples of their application in the field of labor market and socioeconomic inequalities.
Learning outcomes
- to demonstrate familiarity with the basic concepts in social stratification, labor market and socioeconomic inequalities.
- to describe the major changes related to the study of socioeconomic inequalities.
- to demonstrate familiarity with some of the most important trends in the field of labor market, social mobility, educational and socioeconomic inequalities.
- to discuss how and why contemporary societal trends influence labor market and socioeconomic inequalities, and the consequences of such changes on it.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction, course organization
  • 2. Main concepts in social stratification research
  • 3. Inequality and society
  • 4. Socioeconomic inequality and its indicators in the labor market: concepts of social classes and ISEI
  • 5. Four generations of social stratification researchers
  • 6. Social mobility
  • 7. Reading week
  • 8. Midterm exam. The meaning of work - sociological and economic perspectives
  • 9. Diversity in the workplace: Unemployment and underemployment
  • 10. Non-standard paid work (spatial, temporal and contractual). Unpaid work – domestic and voluntary work. Globalization, flexibility and the transformation of paid and unpaid work
  • 11. Well-being and employment. Working and ageing
  • 12. Work roles and life roles - work-life preferences and work-life balance within the framework of social and family policies
  • 13. Research paper presentation. Final exam
Literature
    recommended literature
  • EHRENBERG, Ronald G. and Robert Stewart SMITH. Modern labor economics : theory and public policy. 11th ed. Boston: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2012, xxi, 650. ISBN 9780132727655. info
  • Social class in Europe : an introduction to the European socio-economic classification. Edited by David Rose - Eric Harrison. London: Routledge, 2010, 321 s. ISBN 9780415458016. info
  • STRANGLEMAN, Tim and Tracey WARREN. Work and society : sociological approaches, themes and methods. 1st pub. Abingdon: Routledge, 2008, x, 344. ISBN 9780415336482. info
  • Social mobility in Europe. Edited by Richard Breen. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004, xx, 445. ISBN 0199258457. info
Teaching methods
The course is designed as a lecture-seminar format with core readings (mostly available in pdf format in IS). Each class is based on a careful reading of compulsory texts that will be discussed in-depth during the class.
Assessment methods
Grading consists of three parts: 1) weekly questions and class participation (10 points), 2) research paper (10 points), 3) midterm written test (15 points) and 4) final written test (15 points). Both tests are based on compulsory readings. The familiarity with these texts is necessary to pass the course.
Points translate into the final grade according to this scheme: 45-50 points: A; 40-44 points: B; 35-39 points: C; 30-34 points: D; 25-29 points: E; 0-24 points: F
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
Doc. Tomáš Katrňák

katrnak@fss.muni.cz, Room 3.54

Office Hours: Wednesday 11:15-12:30

Dr. Beatrice Chromková Manea

manea@fss.muni.cz, Room 3.55

Office Hours: Mondays: 9.00 – 10:00

The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018.
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