96315 - DISUGUAGLIANZE E MARGINALITA'

Learning outcomes

The course aims to analyze and deepen the processes of marginalization and reproduction of social inequalities. At the end of the course, students will acquire theoretical and empirical knowledge (through case studies and examples) to understand and analyze, even in a critical perspective, the processes of production and reproduction of inequalities in various areas of the social sphere (the labor market, social policies, social and political participation, education, etc.).

Course contents

In this course we will analyze poverty and the consequent marginality as a structural phenomenon within the capitalist system (Morlicchio, 2019). At the same time, we will observe how contingent phenomena (including recurring and long-term ones) such as economic, social, health or environmental crises can have a role in the reproduction and worsening of the material and symbolic conditions of different populations and territories. From a social and political point of view, we will analyze how the discourse on marginalization has changed, especially since the 1990s, with the increasingly dominant affirmation of the neoliberal ideology; a de-responsibility of the States in public policies with consequent increasing burdens on individuals, both in the social and work spheres and in the repression and security system, in particular with regard to the most socially and economically vulnerable populations (Wacquant, 2012, 2014) .

The course is divided into 5 blocks:

Block 1

Introduction to the theories and concepts of marginality, poverty, social exclusion and inequalities.

Block 2

The relationship between class fragmentation, ethnic division and transformation of the State.

Block 3

Social marginality in a spatial / territorial perspective. The marginality of people and the marginality of places. The concepts of ghetto, suburbs, sensitive neighborhoods, etc.

Block 4
Thematic insights on specific social phenomena. For example, a) the social issue of the NEET youth in Italy, Europe and North America 2) prostitution between social problem and self-determination etc.

Block 5

Leaving the margins: between individual agency, collective resilience and public policies. Presentation of some case studies of interventions and social innovations to fight marginalization and social exclusion.

 

At the end of the course, students will be able to possess a general framework of the phenomena of exclusion and marginality and of the main interpretative models of this phenomenon and of the themes connected to it – they will be able to possess the main conceptual tools for the study of the phenomena of marginality and exclusion that sociology has elaborated, not limiting itself to the classic ones of criminological derivation, but extending the focus to the most recent interpretative frames of sociology, such as those of Loic Wacquant.

Readings/Bibliography

M. ALBERIO (2014) Growing up and living in a poor neighbourhood: A comparative perspective on the neighbourhood effects In Paris and Milan in Sociologia urbana e rurale (103), p. 74-98. SITO INTERNET BIBLIOTECA. RIVISTA ACCESSIBILE AGLI STUDENTI.

V. PELLEGRINO Coltivare la capacità di rappresentare il futuro. Un’indagine su nuove pratiche di confronto pubblico di Vincenza Pellegrino. (digitare su google per scaricare il PDF gratuito).

E.MORLICCHIO, La povertà. Eredità del passato, certezza del presente, incognita del futuro (2019), Milano, Feltrinelli, e-book (pp.37). INTERO. (digitare su google per scaricare il PDF gratuito)

L. WAQUANT (2016). I reietti della città. Acura di S. Paone e A. Petrillo. Edizioni ETS, 372. Introduzione e prologo (fino p. 67), Parte III (da 255 a 314). DISPOSIBILE ANCHE IN BIBLIOTECA.

Teaching methods

The classes of this course are organized according to thematic blocks. However, it should be noted that some themes, as well as their order, may be subject to changes by the teacher, in order to adapt the course as much as possible to the profile of the class, the pedagogical needs and the evolving context (COVID-19).

Although the lessons have a traditional format, student participation remains key. They will be able to intervene with questions for clarification but also with examples and pertinent comments that can facilitate individual and collective learning.

The debate and discussion must always be carried out with the most respect for everyone (students, teacher, external guests).

The presentations (PPT) of the papers of the attending students (those who will follow at least the 70% of the course) will take place during the course and will be an integral part of the course itself. The idea behind this pedagogical choice is that learning is not done only in a vertical perspective, from the teacher to the students but also horizontally between the students themselves.

Assessment methods

2500 characters essay in which students will have to choose a social phenomenon linked to the topics of the course, present it from a sociological / demographic point of view, propose an analysis based on the concepts studied during the course and identify paths for intervention through a bibliographic and website research.

The phenomena under study, without limiting themselves to these, can for example be: the link between school dropout and crime, violence against women, violence against the elderlies, crime in working class neighbourhoods, the relationship between unemployment and crime, etc. The topics must be agreed with the teacher, through an email.

This test is compulsory for everyone, with the only difference that the attending students who have completed the intermediate test will carry out the work in groups (max 4) and will have a public presentation of about 15 minutes per group without having to take the oral exam (please see below).

Attention, the essay must be an analytical and explanatory elaboration and not a simple list of statistics and tables.

Further explanations can be provided by the teacher at the request of the students.

FINAL PRODUCT: in-depth and discursive essay (not simple answers to questions) of about 2500 words, explaining the chosen phenomenon.

The essay must not only report a description of the social phenomenon but must present an in-depth analysis.

Work structure:

Cover page with date, course title, name (s), surname (s) and matriculation (s).

Index.

Bibliography.

Attention: respect the rules of university work regarding citations!

PRESENTATION OF GROUP WORKS DURING THE COURSE

These presentations will take place during the course and will be an integral part of the course itself. The idea behind this pedagogical choice is that learning is not done only in a vertical perspective, from the teacher to the students but also horizontally between the students themselves.

During the presentations of each group the teacher will be able to intervene with comments, insights, examples, etc. All students will be invited to a constructive dialogue.

Presentations will last on average 15 minutes per group but possible adjustments will be made once the number of attending members is known.

SUMMARY OF THE TESTS REQUIRED FROM ATTENDING STUDENTS:

INTERMEDIATE TEST.

WRITTEN EXAM: in-depth answers to two open questions (at least one page each). The questions will be based on the theories, concepts and definitions presented in class and or in the texts in the bibliography. This exam counts for 50% of the final grade.

GROUP work(2500 words) + GROUP PRESENTATION (15 min max).

Each attending student will be assigned a single grade which includes the sum of the grade of the mid-term exam and the thesis (80% for the written thesis and 20% for its presentation (the grade for the presentation may vary between group members)).

The essay counts for 50% of the final grade.

This mode may change based on the number of students and the progress of the pandemic.

Delivery times of the thesis by attending students:

Attending students must deliver the essay no later than 2 weeks after the end of the last lesson (so that the results of the tests taken up to that moment are still considered valid). In this way, students will be able to integrate the teacher's comments made during their presentation into the essay, in order to improve the work of their group.

TESTS REQUIRED FROM NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS:

INDIVIDUAL ESSAY (2500 words) TO BE DELIVERED AT LEAST 1 WEEK BEFORE THE ORAL EXAM.

At the end of the oral exam the teacher will indicate a single grade which will include both the evaluation of the written paper (50% of the grade) and the answer to the oral exam (50% of the grade). In the oral EXAM, the teacher may ask some clarification questions on the essay and some questions on the concepts and theories presented in the texts of the bibliography.

Delivery times of the thesis by non-attending students:

Non-attending students must deliver the essay at least 1 week before the exam (via an email to the teacher).

Attention! In case of non-reception of the essay on time (one week before the exam), the teacher will not be able to read the essay and the exam cannot therefore be taken.

Teaching tools

PPT of the course that will be made available to students.

PPT of guests (if provided).

Possible further information with audiovisual supports presented during the course and reported in the PPT.

Compulsory bibliography.

Office hours

See the website of Marco Alberio