Michelle Stanworth – författare

Introductory Sociology is one of the most ambitious, scholarly and popular textbooks in its field. This welcome new edition builds on the strengths of its predecessor in its thematic coherence, clarity of exposition and analytical depth. It is carefully structured to cover all the main substantive topics studied at an introductory level within a framework that engages with exciting contemporary debates about modernity, globalisation and social identity.Key features of the new edition include:- A completely new chapter on the media- Extended coverage of social divisions to include disability, youth and old age as well as class, gender and race- Clearer and more compact treatment of social theory, incorporating discussion of work by such contemporary theorists as Habermas, Giddens and Beck- An even stronger blend of theoretical, empirical and illustrative material, consolidating the critical and applied approach that is one of the text's most well-liked defining featuresWith outstanding presentation and pedagogical support for the student and hard-pressed lecturer alike, the text includes:- An Instructor's Resource Pack, complete with powerpoint slides, available on the Palgrave website (or in hardcopy for adopters of the textbook, by written request)- A detailed and extensive glossary - practically a 'mini dictionary' of sociology in its own right and an ideal reference tool- chapter-specific further reading lists, annotated for further guidance and support- Questions to think about, which can be used as the basis for essays, class discussion and further study- Pictures, figures, graphs and tables

The creation of 'test-tube babies' acted as a spur to public debate about the implications of research on embryos, in vitro fertilization, surrogate motherhood, and the whole range of technologies concerned with human reproduction. The scope of reproductive technologies examined in this volume - from techniques for the medical 'management' of childbirth, to genetic engineering - is such that few women in the western world, and smaller and smaller numbers in the third world, escape their influence. What then is their impact: on the process of reproduction, on family life and particularly on women? 'Reproductive Technologies' is a remarkable collection of original essays which attempts to place the current controversy over reproductive technologies in a political, legal and economic context. Contributors - including Lesley Doyal, Ann Oakley, Ros Petchesky, Carol Smart, Hilary Rose, and Naomi Pfeffer - examine systematically the technologies that have sparked off these debates. They explore the problem of infertility which is used to validate reproductive technologies; the way assumptions about the family and about biological parenthood continue to structure the arguments for and against; the impact of the medicalization of childbirth; the way debates are embedded in changing conceptions of paternal rights, maternal rights and embryo rights; the problems of providing adequate health care for women; and, above all, the urgency with which these issues raise problems about the accountability of science.

First published in 1984, Women and the Public Sphere is a collection of essays which challenges the argument that a woman’s sphere is private with relation to politics, and shows it to be profoundly mistaken. The authors demonstrate how all the traditions of political analysis have failed to take into account women’s capacity for political action and thought, and argue for a reconstruction of political analysis which recognizes the importance of gender. The essays are written from different political perspectives, and at different points in time. They span critique and reconstruction, pinpointing problems within the traditional literature, as well as challenging its conceptual framework. This engaging volume will have strong appeal for courses in gender studies, political science and sociology.