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Locating difference: class, 'race’ and gender and the shaping of social inequalities

Locating difference: class, 'race’ and gender and the shaping of social inequalities
Locating difference: class, 'race’ and gender and the shaping of social inequalities
The current interest in difference has arisen in part because of its importance in recent recognition claims, and in part because of a belief that as a concept it can illuminate social diversity. Debates here have stressed the importance of the symbolic in the construction of social relations and social diversity, and have highlighted the relational underpinnings of diversity. In this paper we seek to take forward aspects of such an analysis by examining some issues in the shaping of difference and inequalities in the domains of gender, class and 'race'. It is our argument that we can gain insights in these domains by better describing and theorising the mutuality of value and material social relations. The paper argues that issues of identity and difference need to be more firmly located within relational accounts of social practice, and in the nature of claims (to recognition and resources) which emerge out of different social locations. By exploring issues of difference in debates on class, gender and 'race', we argue that relational accounts must be placed within a perspective that also emphasises the content and patterned nature of (highly differentiated) social relations.
0038-0261
463-483
Bottero, Wendy
2da4e792-ecef-4406-bba1-913f03dedecd
Irwin, Sarah
59af2f6f-14b8-46a5-bc0e-465a4bb72064
Bottero, Wendy
2da4e792-ecef-4406-bba1-913f03dedecd
Irwin, Sarah
59af2f6f-14b8-46a5-bc0e-465a4bb72064

Bottero, Wendy and Irwin, Sarah (2003) Locating difference: class, 'race’ and gender and the shaping of social inequalities. The Sociological Review, 51 (4), 463-483. (doi:10.1111/j.1467-954X.2003.00431.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The current interest in difference has arisen in part because of its importance in recent recognition claims, and in part because of a belief that as a concept it can illuminate social diversity. Debates here have stressed the importance of the symbolic in the construction of social relations and social diversity, and have highlighted the relational underpinnings of diversity. In this paper we seek to take forward aspects of such an analysis by examining some issues in the shaping of difference and inequalities in the domains of gender, class and 'race'. It is our argument that we can gain insights in these domains by better describing and theorising the mutuality of value and material social relations. The paper argues that issues of identity and difference need to be more firmly located within relational accounts of social practice, and in the nature of claims (to recognition and resources) which emerge out of different social locations. By exploring issues of difference in debates on class, gender and 'race', we argue that relational accounts must be placed within a perspective that also emphasises the content and patterned nature of (highly differentiated) social relations.

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Published date: 2003

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 33809
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/33809
ISSN: 0038-0261
PURE UUID: 0d6443d3-4b78-452f-ac1e-39b6ac85c8d1

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Date deposited: 16 May 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 07:45

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Contributors

Author: Wendy Bottero
Author: Sarah Irwin

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