Contemporary society

About: Contemporary society is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3991 publications have been published within this topic receiving 91755 citations.

Childhood and Public Life: Reaffirming Biographical Divisions

Abstract: This article examines contemporary Americans' collective conceptions of childhood and children by focusing attention on the young's participation in public life. Children's behavior and treatment in public places were observed and recorded in fieldnotes over a two year period. These observations, related findings from previously published studies, contemporary urban legends, newspaper stories and advice columns are analyzed in light of the history of childhood in Western societies. That analysis indicates that the young's access to public places in contemporary American society is quite limited and that they are commonly treated as less than complete persons. At least in public places, there is little evidence that the distinction between childhood and adulthood is eroding in contemporary American society, as many have claimed.

Beyond Scopes: Why creationism is here to stay.

Abstract: Despite more than a century of scientific support, the theory of evolution has not been fully assimilated and embraced in contemporary society. Creationist beliefs continue to be endorsed by many adults (Numbers, 1992) and adherents of creation science now enjoy considerable success at the school district level in the United States, advocating that “intelligent design” theory and evolutionary theory be given equal time (Scott, 1994). Why are creationist beliefs so persistent? In this chapter I shall argue that this persistence is not simply the result of fundamentalist politics and socialization. Rather, these social forces themselves depend on certain propensities of the human mind. On this account, the persistence of creationist beliefs in a population attests to their cognitive affinity as well as their public availability (cf. Evans, 1994/1995; Shore, 1996; Sperber, 1996). This chapter offers a broad look at the nature and genesis of beliefs about the origins of species. Recent evidence on the development of children's thinking on this subject is presented in the larger context of an examination of the nature and distribution of creationist and evolutionary beliefs in contemporary society. The chapter begins with a look at the current ideological debate between proponents of evolution versus creation “science.” The case is made that their differences are better understood in terms of dissimilarity in ontological commitment rather than in the capacity to reason scientifically. The next section reviews what is known about the distribution of beliefs about origins among ordinary adults in the population at large.

Anti-Discriminatory Practice: Equality, Diversity and Social Justice

Abstract: Contemporary society is characterised by its ever-increasing diversity. Having sold over 70,000 copies across its four editions, Neil Thompson's classic text remains a trusted introduction to the challenges of promoting social justice and equality. Addressing the ways in which social workers can effectively challenge inequality within society, the book explores the many forms of discrimination that can lead to disadvantage, disempowerment and oppression. Written with Thompson's inimitable clarity, this edition features: • Three all-new chapters, including a contextual introduction and chapters on sexuality and religious discrimination; • An explicit theory base, through extended discussion of the widely used PCS model; • A range of questions for reflection and comprehensive guidance on further reading, incorporating books, articles and websites

Theorizing Irregular Migration: The Control of Spatial Mobility in Differentiated Societies

Abstract: This article claims that the study of irregular migration may be a strategic research material for the development of an adequate understanding of contemporary society. The field, however, suffers not only from a lack of reliable empirical data, but also from endemic undertheorizing. The article shows how the attempt to develop an understanding of irregular migration from within a general theory of modern society has positive consequences both for the clarification of the problems and for the design of research programs able to deal adequately with the phenomena. Particularly, it is argued that a theory of modern society centered on its form of differentiation may help to clarify both the political dimension of contemporary international mobility, the variety of irregular statuses existing in the foreign population of receiving countries, and the condition of inclusion and exclusion of irregular migrants.

Renewed Methodologies for Social Research: Ethno-Mimesis as Performative Praxis:

Abstract: This paper focuses upon renewed methodologies for social research in order to explore and re-present the complexity of lived relations in contemporary society. Renewed methodologies can transgress conventional or traditional ways of analysing and representing research data. This paper combines socio-cultural theory; experience (life stories); and practice (exhibition/performance) defined as ethno-mimesis to explore and better understand key themes and issues evolving from ethnographic work with female prostitutes. By focusing upon life history work with women working as prostitutes and by experiencing women’s stories represented through live art we can further our understanding of the complexity of sex, sexualities, desire, violence, masculinities and the relevance of the body ‐ the gendered body, the imaginary body, the performative body, the social body ‐ within the context of post modern times, de-traditionalization, and what Stejpan