Showing papers by "Michèle Lamont published in 2019"
TL;DR: One possible way forward is broadening cultural membership by promoting new narratives of hope centered on a plurality of criteria of worth, 'ordinary universalism' and destigmatizing stigmatized groups.
Abstract: With growing inequality, the American dream is becoming less effective as a collective myth. With its focus on material success, competition and self-reliance, the intensified diffusion of neoliberal scripts of the self is leading the upper-middle class toward a mental health crisis while the working class and low-income groups do not have the resources needed to live the dream. African Americans, Latinos and undocumented immigrants, who are presumed to lack self-reliance, face more rigid boundaries. One possible way forward is broadening cultural membership by promoting new narratives of hope centered on a plurality of criteria of worth, 'ordinary universalism' and destigmatizing stigmatized groups.
75 citations
TL;DR: The papers included in this issue are the result of sustained collaborations within the Successful Societies program, which has meet three times a year since 2003 as discussed by the authors, and each team of authors developed their contribution through extensive discussions at meetings of the entire group over two years.
Abstract: The papers included in this issue are the result of sustained collaborations within the Successful Societies program, which has meet three times a year since 2003. Each team of authors developed their contribution through extensive discussions at meetings of the entire group over two years. Program members (Bloemraad, Grusky, Hall, Jenson, Kymlicka, Lamont, Pierson, Polletta, Raibmon, Son Hing, and Wilson) and advisory committee members (Gourevitch, Le Gales, and Markus) have created teams to attack a question of mutual interest. In all cases, authors focus on the core set of questions and theoretical concerns outlined in this introductory essay, and their contributions draw on a continuing conversation among members of the group. This results in a productive yet all too rare conversation drawing on insights from sociology, political science, social psychology, and history.
56 citations
TL;DR: In the last decade, Western societies have experienced a broadening of inclusive membership, whether we consider legal, interpersonal, or cultural membership as discussed by the authors, and this broadening has led to increased tensions around...
Abstract: Western societies have experienced a broadening of inclusive membership, whether we consider legal, interpersonal, or cultural membership. Concurrently, we have witnessed increased tensions around ...
33 citations
01 Jan 2019
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss symbolischer Grenzen in einem ergiebigen Dialog with den von Boltanski and Thevenot initiierten Arbeiten, which sich with Themen auserhalb der soziologischen Welt Frankreichs auseinandersetzen.
Abstract: Seit etwa zehn Jahren steht die Analyse symbolischer Grenzen in einem ergiebigen Dialog mit den von Boltanski und Thevenot initiierten Arbeiten, die sich auch mit Themen auserhalb der soziologischen Welt Frankreichs auseinandersetzen. Klassische Fragestellungen wie die der Identitat, der vergleichenden Soziologie und der Ungleichheit eroffnen fruchtbare Grundlagen fur eine Diskussion der Konvergenzen und Divergenzen beider Forschungsprogramme. Die Soziologie symbolischer Grenzen mundet in eine allgemeine Soziologie der Prozesse der Klassifikation und der Hierarchisierung; in eine Soziologie, die sich gegen die Verdinglichung sozialer Gruppen wehrt, um stattdessen die Art und Weise zu analysieren, in der sich die gesellschaftliche Arbeit der Grenzziehungen vollzieht. Hierin deckt diese Perspektive sich mit den Arbeiten der GSPM.2 Gleichwohl gibt es zahlreiche Divergenzen, die sich in verschiedenartigen Ausgangspunkten und methodologischen Ansatzen widerspiegeln.
2 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Lamont as mentioned in this paper discusses her intellectual trajectory in relation to other sociologists and research fields, and the importance of cumulative work in sociology and the value of a plurality of criteria of worth across different domains.
Abstract: In this interview, Michele Lamont discusses her intellectual trajectory in relation to other sociologists and research fields. The starting point is her relationship to Bourdieu’s field theory in 1980s Paris. She describes how her empirically grounded work developed as a critique of Bourdieu’s oeuvre yet draws heavily on it. A common thread in her work is a focus on social and symbolic boundaries and their relation to evaluation and pluralism, which she has extended from her early studies of class boundaries to empirical and theoretical work, ranging from more general cultural processes of inequality and stigmatization, to knowledge production and evaluation in academia. The importance of cumulative work in sociology and the value of a plurality of criteria of worth across different domains emerge as two central themes in the interview. Finally, Lamont reflects on the current status of the sociology discipline and its role in the public sphere. The interview took place in Lund on 7 March 2018, where Lamont was invited keynote speaker at the Sociologidagarna 2018 conference. (Less)
1 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors respond to an invitation by the editors of Sociologica to write about publication strategy, and present a strategy for publication strategy for the Sociologia.
Abstract: This essay responds to an invitation by the editors of Sociologica to write about publication strategy.
1 citations
TL;DR: Seven generous colleagues from a range of backgrounds and standpoints for taking on the challenge of responding to the 2018 British Journal of Sociology Annual Lecture contribute de facto to the kind of ‘sociology as a team sport’ proposed by Giselinde Kuipers in her essay.
Abstract: The intellectual community of sociologists exists through engagement and debate. I am grateful to seven generous colleagues from a range of backgrounds and standpoints for taking on the challenge of responding to my 2018 British Journal of Sociology Annual Lecture – Andrew Cherlin, Claude Fischer, Margaret Frye, Eva Illouz, Giselinde Kuipers, Mike Savage and Adia Wingfield. Each of their commentaries contributes to laying out a more comprehensive and multidimensional blueprint for the study of, and solutions to, the current challenges American society faces than the one I proposed. In this sense, they all contribute de facto to the kind of ‘sociology as a team sport’ proposed by Giselinde Kuipers in her essay (in reference to ‘sociology as a combat sport’ proposed by Pierre Bourdieu). ‘Sociology as a team sport’ is one where our complementary strengths and areas of expertise define a vision for the path ahead – a programme which I wholeheartedly embrace.