Publisher's Synopsis
Why study sociology? Sociology gives us the tools we need to understand our lives and the lives of the people around us. It shows us that our commonsense understanding of the world isn't always right, and enables us to find out what actually shapes our lives.
In Sociology Australia Judith Bessant and Rob Watts show how to develop a sociological perspective on what is happening in Australia today. Far-reaching social changes are taking place in Australia which affect us all. Globalisation is impacting upon our economy and culture, many people worry about the decline of 'family values', and race has become a heated issue. Using a sociological perspective we can explain why these changes are experienced as exciting, unsettling or devastating by different groups of people.
The book is structured around six key questions:
* what is sociology?
* who are we and how do we come to be who we are?
* how do we know the world in which we live?
* can we make our lives as we want them?
* who makes the decisions that shape our society?
* what changes are taking place in Australia?
Sociology Australia is an ideal introduction to the discipline of sociology for students and anyone else interested in the dynamics of Australian society today.
