sociologypress – förlag

First published in 2001. For Sociology is not the dogmatic stand of a single discipline against the tide of interdisciplinarity. Rather it is an attempt to explore the nature of sociological argument and the relationship of sociology both to the natural sciences and other social sciences, as well as assessing its role in understanding the complexities of the contemporary world.

The essays in the collection were all presented at the British Sociological Association''s annual conference in 1999, which sought to reassess sociology thirty years on from Alvin Gouldner''s famous challenge to the discipline. Through reflection on the continuities and discontinuities in the discipline, and an exploration of some of the key themes and issues of our time, the writers represented here pose new challenges to the sociological imagination.

First published in 2001. For Sociology is not the dogmatic stand of a single discipline against the tide of interdisciplinarity. Rather it is an attempt to explore the nature of sociological argument and the relationship of sociology both to the natural sciences and other social sciences, as well as assessing its role in understanding the complexities of the contemporary world.

The essays in the collection were all presented at the British Sociological Association''s annual conference in 1999, which sought to reassess sociology thirty years on from Alvin Gouldner''s famous challenge to the discipline. Through reflection on the continuities and discontinuities in the discipline, and an exploration of some of the key themes and issues of our time, the writers represented here pose new challenges to the sociological imagination.

Cottons and Casuals explores the connections between women''s work in different spheres since the 1930s: paid employment, at home, and in the community. Women''s own testimony and an array of other source materials are used to develop new ways of looking at their changing patterns of living and working.

The book examines changes in the organisation and commodification of domestic production and consumption, the use of technology, housing, family structures, gender relations and inter-generational mother-daughter relations. Differing temporalities of work are highlighted, as are their far-reaching effects for the organisation of peoples'' lives and life courses.

The significance of varying locations and spatial organisations of work for communities, streets, families and gender relations provides another important focus. In the process, Glucksmann addresses the nature of the research process, reflecting on her sources and her own work in the production of knowledge

Cottons and Casuals explores the connections between women''s work in different spheres since the 1930s: paid employment, at home, and in the community. Women''s own testimony and an array of other source materials are used to develop new ways of looking at their changing patterns of living and working.

The book examines changes in the organisation and commodification of domestic production and consumption, the use of technology, housing, family structures, gender relations and inter-generational mother-daughter relations. Differing temporalities of work are highlighted, as are their far-reaching effects for the organisation of peoples'' lives and life courses.

The significance of varying locations and spatial organisations of work for communities, streets, families and gender relations provides another important focus. In the process, Glucksmann addresses the nature of the research process, reflecting on her sources and her own work in the production of knowledge

The empirical study of individuals'' life-course is one of the most promising areas of research within sociology today. Increased availability of large-scale longitudinal data and improved statistical methods have made it possible to address theoretically relevant questions about events such as entrance into the labour market, job mobility, divorce and death.

This book consists of studies capturing the life-course from the cradle to the grave. The research questions include long-term consequences of childhood conditions; family formation and school-careers; work and parental leave; gender discrimination in job promotion; divorce and occupational career; persistence in poverty; and the intriguing question of why the highly educated tend to survive everyone else.

The studies shed light on the relation between family and work, on gender inequality, social class differences, welfare state redistribution, and labour market processes. They do this in a particular context, namely Sweden in the post-war period that is, during the decades that formed one of the most advanced welfare states in modern history. One chapter provides a descriptive account of institutional and life-course change in Sweden during that period.

Most authors use the Swedish level-of-living surveys, a unique data set providing ample opportunity to study social processes in a longitudinal perspective. The book will, therefore, be of relevance to those with interests in the Swedish welfare state as well as those with theoretical and reseacrh interests in the reproduction of inequality

The empirical study of individuals'' life-course is one of the most promising areas of research within sociology today. Increased availability of large-scale longitudinal data and improved statistical methods have made it possible to address theoretically relevant questions about events such as entrance into the labour market, job mobility, divorce and death.

This book consists of studies capturing the life-course from the cradle to the grave. The research questions include long-term consequences of childhood conditions; family formation and school-careers; work and parental leave; gender discrimination in job promotion; divorce and occupational career; persistence in poverty; and the intriguing question of why the highly educated tend to survive everyone else.

The studies shed light on the relation between family and work, on gender inequality, social class differences, welfare state redistribution, and labour market processes. They do this in a particular context, namely Sweden in the post-war period that is, during the decades that formed one of the most advanced welfare states in modern history. One chapter provides a descriptive account of institutional and life-course change in Sweden during that period.

Most authors use the Swedish level-of-living surveys, a unique data set providing ample opportunity to study social processes in a longitudinal perspective. The book will, therefore, be of relevance to those with interests in the Swedish welfare state as well as those with theoretical and reseacrh interests in the reproduction of inequality

Olive Schreiner (1855-1920) was the best-known feminist theorist and writer of her time. Her writings spanned a number of conventionally separate genres (including the novel, short story, allegory, political essay, polemic and theoretical treatise), which she crafted to produce a highly distinctive feminist and analytical ''voice''. A feminist who was contemporaneously an internationally-renowned social commentator, Schreiner''s developing political analysis was - and still is - highly original. She developed a materially-based socialist and feminist analysis of ''labour'' which led her to theorise social and economic change, divisions of labour in society and between women and men, capitalism and imperialism, around innovative ideas about how -- and by whom -- economic and social value was produced. She combined with this a keen attention to inter-personal relations, between women as literally or politically sisters, between ''respectable'' and sexually outcast women, between feminist women and the ''New Men'', and within the family. Distinctively, Schreiner''s writings on economic and political life in South Africa criticised the policies and practice of Rhodes in the Cape Colony and British imperialism in southern Africa more widely. She opposed the South African War of 1899-1902, promoted federation rather than union as the form the South African state should take and insisted on equal political rights for all. Schreiner steadfastly opposed the development of apartheid segregationist policies and provided a radical analysis of the relationship between ''race'' and capital.

Imperialism, Labour and the New Woman is based on primary archive research, making particular use of Schreiner''s unpublished letters and other major manuscript sources to provide a major reconceptualisation of the scope and importance of her writings and innovative and experimental ideas about genre and form. It offers a major rethinking of Schreiner''s political writings on South Africa, and it emphasises the distinctiveness of Schreiner''s contribution as the major feminist theorist of her age and that which followed. The book will appeal particularly to readers interested in the development of social theory, in influential feminist ideas and writing of the fin de sicle period, in the contemporary critique of capitalism and imperialism, and in ''the age of imperialism'' in Southern Africa, as well as to Women''s Studies scholars across the academic disciplines.

Olive Schreiner (1855-1920) was the best-known feminist theorist and writer of her time. Her writings spanned a number of conventionally separate genres (including the novel, short story, allegory, political essay, polemic and theoretical treatise), which she crafted to produce a highly distinctive feminist and analytical ''voice''. A feminist who was contemporaneously an internationally-renowned social commentator, Schreiner''s developing political analysis was - and still is - highly original. She developed a materially-based socialist and feminist analysis of ''labour'' which led her to theorise social and economic change, divisions of labour in society and between women and men, capitalism and imperialism, around innovative ideas about how -- and by whom -- economic and social value was produced. She combined with this a keen attention to inter-personal relations, between women as literally or politically sisters, between ''respectable'' and sexually outcast women, between feminist women and the ''New Men'', and within the family. Distinctively, Schreiner''s writings on economic and political life in South Africa criticised the policies and practice of Rhodes in the Cape Colony and British imperialism in southern Africa more widely. She opposed the South African War of 1899-1902, promoted federation rather than union as the form the South African state should take and insisted on equal political rights for all. Schreiner steadfastly opposed the development of apartheid segregationist policies and provided a radical analysis of the relationship between ''race'' and capital.

Imperialism, Labour and the New Woman is based on primary archive research, making particular use of Schreiner''s unpublished letters and other major manuscript sources to provide a major reconceptualisation of the scope and importance of her writings and innovative and experimental ideas about genre and form. It offers a major rethinking of Schreiner''s political writings on South Africa, and it emphasises the distinctiveness of Schreiner''s contribution as the major feminist theorist of her age and that which followed. The book will appeal particularly to readers interested in the development of social theory, in influential feminist ideas and writing of the fin de sicle period, in the contemporary critique of capitalism and imperialism, and in ''the age of imperialism'' in Southern Africa, as well as to Women''s Studies scholars across the academic disciplines.

This book goes to the heart of academic, political and popular debates, as well as professional concerns, about the nature of contemporary family life and parenting. Families are widely discussed in western societies as breaking down or as radically changing, with step-families in particular seen as evidence of such trends. In one of the first British in-depth sociological research studies for over two decades, this book provide evidence of parents'' and step-parents'' own understandings and experiences of their parenting in step-families.

It addresses questions such as: What does it mean to be a family? Do people in step-families see themselves as making a different kind of family? Is individual happiness in a couple relationship prioritised at the expense of responsibilities towards children? Can a step-parent ever be regarded as the same as a biological mother or father? What do people in step-families do to try to make step-family life work?

The book looks at how people create, understand and experience their parenting and family lives. It reveals how these understandings are rooted in a strong sense of moral responsibility, but that what such responsibility constitutes varies according to gender and social class. In particular, it draws out key theoretical implications for understanding the nature of morality, fairness and justice, and questions ideas about individualisation and the democratisation of family life.

This book will be essential reading for those concerned with the study of contemporary family lives, including sociologists, social policy analysts, family therapists, professionals and practitioners. It is also relevant to those interested in contemporary morality and everyday experiences.

This book goes to the heart of academic, political and popular debates, as well as professional concerns, about the nature of contemporary family life and parenting. Families are widely discussed in western societies as breaking down or as radically changing, with step-families in particular seen as evidence of such trends. In one of the first British in-depth sociological research studies for over two decades, this book provide evidence of parents'' and step-parents'' own understandings and experiences of their parenting in step-families.

It addresses questions such as: What does it mean to be a family? Do people in step-families see themselves as making a different kind of family? Is individual happiness in a couple relationship prioritised at the expense of responsibilities towards children? Can a step-parent ever be regarded as the same as a biological mother or father? What do people in step-families do to try to make step-family life work?

The book looks at how people create, understand and experience their parenting and family lives. It reveals how these understandings are rooted in a strong sense of moral responsibility, but that what such responsibility constitutes varies according to gender and social class. In particular, it draws out key theoretical implications for understanding the nature of morality, fairness and justice, and questions ideas about individualisation and the democratisation of family life.

This book will be essential reading for those concerned with the study of contemporary family lives, including sociologists, social policy analysts, family therapists, professionals and practitioners. It is also relevant to those interested in contemporary morality and everyday experiences.

This book is about the development of sociology in Britain told through the story of its learned society, The British Sociological Association. Learned societies have been neglected in the history of the discipline, though they are a vital part of the social structure of academic life. The BSA has had its internal dynamics, but it has also been affected by external factors relevant to wider academic life, which range from government policies to the rise of feminism. These have had an important effect on all the social sciences, but their impact upon sociology has been particularly marked.

The first two chapters of the book give a general historical overview, starting with the range of predecessor organisations, and going on to how the BSA came to be founded, the major changes in educational policy and structures which have formed much of the context for its activities, and how it has, in response to both internal and external pressures, changed over time. Against that background, the remaining chapters look in more analytical detail at particular issues across the whole time-span. These include the role of the BSA in the intellectual life of the discipline, the nature of the membership and activists, the role of feminism, case studies of key issues of controversy and politics arising from individual cases, and consideration of how the association has been run and its relationship with other organisations such as the International Sociological Association and the ESRC (a key government funding body). The book concludes with an overview of the history of the BSA and its role as a professional association.

The book will be of interest to sociologists, and to others interested in the history and sociology of the social sciences and the professions.

This book is about the development of sociology in Britain told through the story of its learned society, The British Sociological Association. Learned societies have been neglected in the history of the discipline, though they are a vital part of the social structure of academic life. The BSA has had its internal dynamics, but it has also been affected by external factors relevant to wider academic life, which range from government policies to the rise of feminism. These have had an important effect on all the social sciences, but their impact upon sociology has been particularly marked.

The first two chapters of the book give a general historical overview, starting with the range of predecessor organisations, and going on to how the BSA came to be founded, the major changes in educational policy and structures which have formed much of the context for its activities, and how it has, in response to both internal and external pressures, changed over time. Against that background, the remaining chapters look in more analytical detail at particular issues across the whole time-span. These include the role of the BSA in the intellectual life of the discipline, the nature of the membership and activists, the role of feminism, case studies of key issues of controversy and politics arising from individual cases, and consideration of how the association has been run and its relationship with other organisations such as the International Sociological Association and the ESRC (a key government funding body). The book concludes with an overview of the history of the BSA and its role as a professional association.

The book will be of interest to sociologists, and to others interested in the history and sociology of the social sciences and the professions.