Chapter 13: Confronting class and inequality

Throughout this book, we have shown how Australia has been a white racist society, how men and women are not equal, and how work is being distributed unequally. In this chapter, we look at the general idea that Australia is an unequal society. Social inequality and class are longstanding conceptual themes in sociology. We begin by considering the idea of inequality before discussing some of the ways in which the concept of class has been used to make sense of and explain certain patterns of inequality. We also introduce and critically analyse the idea of an underclass.'

Further reading

Affluenza
Clive Hamilton & Richard Denniss
(Click on the title for more information)
Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 2005, pp3-18
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Social Change, Suburban Lives: An Australian Newtown 1960s to 1990s
Lois Bryson & Ian Winter
(Click on the title for more information)
Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1999, pp. 11-45.
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Time of Our Lives: Labour and Love in the Working Class
by Mike Donaldson
(Click on the title for more information)
Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1991, pp. 1-30.
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Useful links

Australian Council of Social Service
http://www.coss.net.au/