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Chapter 1: Taking a New Look at a Familiar World Chapter 1: Taking a New Look at a Familiar World 1. Professional Resources The American Sociological Association (ASA), founded in 1905, is a nonprofit membership association dedicated to advancing sociology as a scientific discipline and profession serving the public good. With approximately 13,000 members, ASA encompasses sociologists who are faculty members at colleges and universities, researchers, practitioners, and students. About 20% of the members work in government, business, or nonprofit organizations [self-characterization]. http://www.asanet.org Sections are constituent parts of the American Sociological Association. The purpose of Sections is to promote the common interest of association members in specified areas of sociology. In addition to promoting networking among sociologists with common interests, they can also be a useful point of entry into a specific area of sociology for an "outsider" ( http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=Sections&name=Overview ). Those sociologists who work outside of university settings or do "applied" work are often members of the American Sociological Association's Section on Sociological Practice ( http://www.techsociety.com/asa/ ). The International Sociological Association (ISA) was founded in 1949 under the auspices of UNESCO. The association characterizes itself as representing sociologists everywhere, regardless of their school of thought, scientific approaches or ideological opinion, and to advance sociological knowledge throughout the world [self-characterization]. http://www.ucm.es/info/isa/ The Society for Applied Sociology (SAS) was founded in 1985 and provides a forum for sociologists and others interested in applying sociological knowledge to social problems, policy, or organizational needs. The organization also houses the accreditation body for training programs in applied sociology. http://www.appliedsoc.org Much of the published work of sociologists appears in professional journals. The two most prestigious of these journals are the American Sociological Review and the American Journal of Sociology. The American Sociological Review is the flagship journal of the American Sociological Association. Founded in 1936, the Review's mission is to publish original works of interest to the discipline in general, new theoretical developments, results of research that advance our understanding of fundamental social processes, and important methodological innovations [self-description]. http://www2.asanet.org/journals/asr/ Established in 1895 as the first U.S. scholarly journal in its field, the American Journal of Sociology is a leading voice for analysis and research in the social sciences, presenting work on the theory, methods, practice, and history of sociology [self-description]. http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/AJS/home.html Contexts is a journal published by the ASA that is intended for a broader audience, and it may be especially interesting to undergraduates. Selected articles may be accessed online. http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=Contexts&name=Homepage The Electronic Journal of Sociology was established in 1994 as an alternative to commercial publications. It is a peer-reviewed research journal, available for free via the Internet. http://www.sociology.org 2. Data Resources 3. Other Resources What can I do with a degree in sociology? According to Careers in Sociology, a publication of the American Sociological Association, this question can be answered in a multitude of ways. The booklet says it includes a fresh definition of sociology as a discipline and profession and profiles of students who talk about how sociology led to their current employment. It also outlines possible career paths and offers tips for how to apply to graduate school. http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=Careers+and+Jobs&name=Careers+in+Sociology See also the ASA's online publications "Majoring in Sociology: A Guide for Students" ( http://www.asanet.org/galleries/default-file/majoring.pdf ) and "The Sociology Major: As Preparation for Careers in Business and Organizations" ( http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=Careers+and+Jobs&name=Sociology+Major+-++Preparation+for+Careers ). Chapter 2: Seeing and Thinking Sociologically 1. Professional Resources The American Sociological Association (ASA) has a number of sections organized that bring together sociologists who have interests in theoretical issues, including: Theory Section: http://www.asatheory.org/ Section on Marxist Sociology: http://www.colorado.edu/Sociology/gimenez/section/ Section on Rationality and Society: http://www.uni-leipzig.de/~agsoz/rationality&society/pages/asa_r&s_section.html Sociologists who work from the symbolic interactionist perspective have long had their own professional association, the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction (SSSI). http://sun.soci.niu.edu/~sssi/ Theoretical work in sociology is advanced, in part, through the publication of an official journal of the ASA, Sociological Theory. The journal publishes work in all areas of social thought, including new substantive theories, history of theory, metatheory, formal theory construction, and syntheses of existing bodies of theory. 2. Other Resources The Stanford Prison Experiment Web site features an extensive slide show and information about this classic psychology experiment. What happens when you put good people in an evil place? Does humanity win over evil, or does evil triumph? These are some of the questions the researchers posed in a dramatic simulation of prison life conducted in the summer of 1971 at Stanford University [self-characterization]. http://www.prisonexp.org/ There is no shortage of sites on the World Wide Web that provide more general information about the sociological enterprise. The following are meta-sites that attempt to organize sociology on the Web: "Julian Dierkes' SocioLog" ( http://www.sociolog.com/) . Open Directory Project: Sociology. The Open Directory Project is the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web, constructed and maintained by a vast, global army of volunteer editors [self-characterization]. http://dmoz.org/Science/Social_Sciences/Sociology/ The SocioSite was designed to provide access to information and resources which are relevant for sociologists and other social scientists. It was designed from a global point of view, as it offers access to the worldwide scene of social sciences. The intention is to provide a comprehensive listing of all sociology resources on the Internet. The SocioSite is a project based at the faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Amsterdam [self-characterization]. http://www.pscw.uva.nl/sociosite/ Social Science Information Gateway ( http://www.sosig.ac.uk ). WWW Virtual Library: Sociology ( http://socserv2.mcmaster.ca/w3virtsoclib/ ). Chapter 3: Building Reality: The Social Construction of Knowledge 1. Professional Resources The American Sociological Association's (ASA's) Code of Ethics sets forth the principles and ethical standards that underlie sociologists' professional responsibilities and conduct. These principles and standards should be used as guidelines when examining everyday professional activities. They constitute normative statements for sociologists and provide guidance on issues that sociologists may encounter in their professional work [self-characterization]. http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=Ethics&name=Ethics One of the distinguishing characteristics of sociology as a discipline is the rigorous and self-conscious application and development of empirical methods of data collection and analysis. Several ASA Sections are dedicated to advancing the discipline's methods, including the Section on Comparative and Historical Sociology ( http://www2.asanet.org/sectionchs/ ); the Section on Mathematical Sociology ( http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/soc/groups/mathsoc/mathsoc.htm ); and the Methodology Section ( http://www.qmp.isr.umich.edu/asam/ ). Sociologists also apply sociological theories and methods to the study of science and knowledge themselves as a social process. These sociologists are organized in the ASA Section on Science, Knowledge, and Technology ( http://www2.asanet.org/sectionskat/ ). 2. Data Resources The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) is a repository for many of the most important data sets used by sociologists in their research. The ICPSR Web site has a search utility that can help you locate a data set that meets your needs. http://www.icpsr.umich.edu Perhaps the single most used source of data for sociological analysis is the General Social Survey (GSS), an annual survey of a representative sample of Americans conducted by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago. http://www.norc.uchicago.edu/ An example of a data archive on a particular topic is the American Religion Data Archive, a repository for data collections on American religion. The site allows users to search for topics of interest, download data files for analysis, and conduct basic statistical analyses on the site itself. http://www.thearda.com 3. Other Resources Accuracy In Media is a nonprofit, grassroots citizens watchdog of the news media that critiques botched and bungled news stories and sets the record straight on important issues that have received slanted coverage [self-characterization]. It is typically characterized as politically "conservative." http://www.aim.org Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), the national media watch group, has been offering well-documented criticism of media bias and censorship since 1986. The group works to invigorate the First Amendment by advocating for greater diversity in the press and by scrutinizing media practices that marginalize public interest, minority and dissenting viewpoints [self-characterization]. http://www.fair.org The Primary Objective of Project Censored is to explore and publicize the extent of censorship in our society by locating stories about significant issues of which the public should be aware but is not, for one reason or another [self-characterization]. http://www.projectcensored.org/ Chapter 4: Building Order: Culture and History 1. Professional Resources The American Sociological Association Section on the Sociology of Culture exists to encourage development of this perspective through the organized interchange of ideas and research. The Section on Culture considers material products, ideas, and symbolic means and their relation to social behavior [self-characterization]. http://www.ibiblio.org/culture/ 2. Data Resources There are a number of major surveys and survey organizations that regularly collect data on individual's knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and practices. Among the better known of these are: The General Social Survey (GSS): The GSS is a regular, ongoing omnibus personal interview survey of U.S. households conducted by the National Opinion Research Center. . . . The first survey took place in 1972, and since then more than 40,000 respondents have answered more than 3,500 different questions. From Americans' racial attitudes to the number of guns owned by women to musical preferences over a lifetime, the General Social Survey measures the trends in American attitudes, experiences, practices, and concerns [self-characterization]. http://www.norc.uchicago.edu/ Gallup Polls: The Gallup Organization is one of the world's largest management consulting firms. Gallup's core expertise is in measuring and understanding human attitudes and behavior. . . . Gallup . . . conducts The Gallup Poll, the world's leading source of public opinion since 1935 [self-characterization]. http://www.gallup.com Roper Polls: Founded in 1947, the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research is the leading educational facility in the field of public opinion. The center exists to promote the intelligent, responsible, and imaginative use of public opinion in addressing the problems faced by Americans and citizens of other nations [self-characterization]. http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/ 3. Other Resources Is a cross-culturally universal language possible? Supporters of Esperanto believe so. According to the Esperanto League for North America ( ELNA ), a nonprofit organization of Esperantists and supporters of Esperanto in the United States, " Esperanto is a language introduced in 1887 by Dr. L.L. Zamenhof after years of development. He proposed Esperanto as a second language that would allow people who speak different native languages to communicate, yet at the same time retain their own languages and cultural identities. Esperanto is four times easier to learn than other languages." http://www.esperanto-usa.org/ Stimulate cross-cultural study and understanding through Horace Miner's classic 1956 analysis, "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema." http://www.msu.edu/~jdowell/miner.html Chapter 5: Building Identity: Socialization 1. Professional Resources The study of socialization is often engaged in by social psychologists, such as those belonging to the American Sociological Association (ASA) Section on Social Psychology ( http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~towens/socialpsych/ ). Although they are interested in the health and well-being of children generally, some member of the ASA Section on the Sociology of Children and Youth also study the process of socialization ( http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=Section+Pages&name=Section+on+Children+and+Youth ). The Society for Personality and Social Psychology, with over 3,000 members, is the largest organization of social and personality psychologists in the world [self-description]. http://www.spsp.org/ These scholars often publish their research in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology ( http://www.apa.org/journals/psp.html ). 2. Data Resources 3. Other Resources The Social Psychology Network is the largest social psychology database on the Internet [self-description]. http://www.socialpsychology.org/ Michael Kearl's Sociological Tour Through Cyberspace: Social Psychology ( http://www.trinity.edu/~mkearl/socpsy.html ). The question of the relative importance of "nature" and "nurture" in individual development is an enduring one. The effort sponsored by the United States government to map the entire human genome sequence in the Human Genome Project raises both scientific and ethical issues about human personhood ( http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/ ). How many sexes are there and why? The reality of anatomical hermaphrodites or "intersex" persons force us to confront this question ( http://www.isna.org/ ). Much stereotypical gender role socialization takes place through the medium of popular culture. Consider how boys and girls are differentially socialized at the following Web sites: The toymaker Mattel: http://www.mattel.com/ The clothing company Baby Gap: http://www.gap.com/asp/home.html?wdid=2 Walt Disney movies and videos: http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/ and http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/ Chapter 6: Supporting Identity: The Presentation of Self 1. Professional Resources Although it is not their exclusive interest, members of the American Sociological Association (ASA) Section on the Sociology of Emotions often study self-presentation issues ( http://www.csun.edu/~hbsoc126/emotions/ ). Symbolic interactionists are disproportionately likely to study self-presentation and impression management. See Symbolic Interaction , the official journal of the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction (SSSI): http://www.ucpress.edu/journals/si/ 2. Data Resources 3. Other Resources Much commercial advertising (print and broadcast) is aimed at selling "images" as much as selling "products." Consumption of the product being advertised ties the consumer to a particular image being sold. Advertising Age is a trade magazine for those working in the advertising industry and is considered a preeminent source of marketing, advertising and media news, information and analysis ( http://www.adage.com/ ). One major way in which people manage other's impressions is through body modification, notably but not exclusively cosmetic ("plastic") surgery. The following groups promote this practice. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), founded in 1967, is the leading professional organization of plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who specialize in cosmetic plastic surgery [self-characterization]. http://www.surgery.org Statistics on trends in plastic surgery—by type, by gender—are available from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons' National Clearinghouse of Plastic Surgery Statistics at the ASPS Web site. ( http://www.cosmeticplasticsurgerystatistics.com/statistics.html ). Not all body altering rituals and practices take place under the "official" rubric of plastic surgery. Piercing (other than ears) and tattooing are becoming increasingly popular among "mainstream" Americans. See Body Modification Ezine: http://BME.FreeQ.com/ Body modification and what it means is personal and cultural. What does it mean to you? People around the world have been piercing, tattooing, and painting their bodies for ages. There's excellent evidence of this, some of it dating as far back as the 9th-century B.C., in the galleries of the University of Pennsylvania Museum [self-description]. ( http://www.upenn.edu/museum/Exhibits/bodmodintro.html ) What about those whose body size does not meet cultural standards? Two organizations exist that advocate on behalf of these individuals. The mission of the International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA) is to promote size acceptance and fight size discrimination throughout the world by means of advocacy and visible, lawful actions [self-characterization]. http://www.size-acceptance.org/ The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is a nonprofit human rights organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA has been working since 1969 to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through public education, advocacy, and member support [self-characterization]. http://www.naafa.org/ Chapter 7: Building Social Relationships: Intimacy and Families 1. Professional Resources Sociologists who study family issues affiliate with the American Sociological Association (ASA) Family Section ( http://www2.asanet.org/sectionfamily/ ). The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) provides a forum for family researchers, educators, and practitioners to share in the development and dissemination of knowledge about families and family relationships, establishes professional standards, and works to promote family well-being. The NCFR publishes two scholarly journals - Journal of Marriage and Family and Family Relations [self-description]. 2. Data Resources Official government statistics on these issues is available through the Department of Health and Human Service (DHSS) Administration for Children and Families ( http://www.a c f.dhhs.gov ). One of the most comprehensive and important sociological studies of the family is the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) ( http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/nsfh/home.htm ). 3. Other Resources There are many opinions about the definition of "family" and "family values," including those of the following groups. Alternative Family Matters was created to assist lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBTs) through the complex process of having children and to help medical practices and community institutions better understand and serve LGBT-headed families [self-characterization]. http://www.alternativefamilies.org/ Family Research Council's primary reason for existence is to reaffirm and promote nationally, and particularly in Washington, D.C., the traditional family and the Judeo-Christian principles upon which it is built [self-characterization]. http://www.frc.org Father's Rights Foundation: A Page Dedicated to the Fight for Fathers Rights, That Kids Need Dads Too [self-characterization]. http://www.fathers-rights.com/ Focus on the Family's mission is to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in disseminating the Gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible, and, specifically, to accomplish that objective by helping to preserve traditional values and the institution of the family [self-characterization]. http://www.family.org/ The National Organization for Women: We organize, organize, organize to fight the right wing—whether it's over attempts to scuttle affirmative action, cut the safety net out from under poor women and their children, or outlaw basic civil rights for lesbians and gay men [self-characterization]. http://www.now.org Chapter 8: Constructing Difference: Social Deviance 1. Professional Resources The study of deviant behavior has long been central to sociology, and it is the focus of affiliates of the American Sociological Association (ASA) Section on Crime, Law, and Deviance. http://www2.asanet.org/sectioncld/ Other relevant sections are Sociology of Law ( http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/soc_anthro/soclaw/ ), Medical Sociology ( http://dept.kent.edu/sociology/asamedsoc/ ), and Sociology of Mental Health ( http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?name=Section+on+Mental+Health§ion=Section+Pages ). Although their interests extend beyond crime and deviance, members of the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP) frequently study these issues ( http://www.it.utk.edu/sssp ). The official journal of the SSSP is Social Problems 2. Data Resources The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) collects, analyzes, publishes, and disseminates statistics on crime, victims of crime, criminal offenders, and operations of justice systems at all levels of government throughout the United States. http://www.ojp.usdoj.g o v/bjs/welcome.html The National Institute of Justice's Data Resources Program was established to ensure the preservation and availability of research and evaluation data collected through NIJ-funded research. http://www.i c psr.umich.edu/NACJD The National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) is a federally sponsored information clearinghouse for people around the country and the world involved with research, policy, and practice related to criminal and juvenile justice and drug control. http://www.ncjrs.org/ 3. Other Resources The Crime and Deviance page at the Hewett School in England ( http://www.hew e tt.norfolk.sch.uk/curric/soc/crime/crim.htm ) contains a very good map of theories in the area ( http://www.hewett.norfolk.sch.uk/curric/soc/crime/devmap.htm ). Chapter 9: The Structure of Society: Organizations, Social Institutions, and Globalization 1. Professional Resources The two major American Sociological Association (ASA) Sections on these issues are the Section on Economic Sociology ( http://www2.asanet.org/sectionecon/ ) and the Section on Organizations, Occupations, and Work ( http://www.northpark.edu/sociology/oow/ ). We would also find some members of the Section on Political Sociology ( http://www2.asanet.org/sectionpolitic/ ), Environment and Technology ( http://www.linfield.edu/soan/et/index.html ), and Political Economy of the World System ( http://www2.asanet.org/sectionpews/index.html ) working on these issues. Journals include: Administrative Science Quarterly ( http://www.johnson.cornell.edu/publications/asq/ ) and Work and Occupations ( http://wox.sagepub.com/ ). 2. Data Resources The Bureau of Labor Statistics is the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. http://stats.bls.gov The National Congregations Study used the model of the NOS to generate a nationally representative sample of religious congregations. Congregations—the relatively small-scale, local collectivities and organizations in and through which people engage in religious activity—are a basic unit of American religious life. http://s6.library.arizona.edu/natcong/ 3. Other Resources McDonaldization.com—Exposing the Iron Cage! is a Web site whose purpose is to help spread the word about McDonaldization and explore the wide-ranging impact this process has on our society [self-characterization]. http://www.mcdonaldization.com/main.shtml To gain an appreciation of the scale and scope of major multinational corporations, visit the Web sites of some of the biggest: McDonald's ( http://www.mcdonalds.com/ ), Coca-Cola ( http://www.coca-cola.com/ ), and Microsoft ( http://www.microsoft.com/ ). The financial infrastructure of global capitalism is promoted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) ( http://www.imf.org ) and World Bank ( http://www.worldbank.org ), and the rules of trade between nations facilitated by the World Trade Organization (WTO) ( http://www.wto.org ). For a criticism of the IMF, World Bank, and WTO—the "Three Stooges of Corporate Folly"—and transnational corporations and world trade generally, see The Third World Traveler. ( http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Transnational_corps/TransnationalCorps.html ). A religious perspective on the need for international debt relief and reform of international financial institutions can be found at the Web site of Catholic Relief Services ( http://capwiz.com/catholicrelief/home/ ). Chapter 10: The Architecture of Stratification: Social Class and Inequality 1. Professional Resources The study of economic inequality is so fundamental to sociology that there is no American Sociological Association (ASA) Section on economic inequality per se. Many members of the ASA Section on Sociology of Education are fundamentally interested in poverty and economic inequality as it is mediated, ameliorated, or reproduced by educational institutions ( http://www2.asanet.org/soe/ ). Also, sociologists interested in the inherent connections among race, gender, and class inequality have their own ASA Section ( http://www.uno.edu/rgc/ ). Marxist sociologists ( http://www.colorado.edu/Sociology/gimenez/section/ ) and those who study organizations, occupations, and work ( http://www.northpark.edu/sociology/oow/ ) are, of course, greatly concerned with these issues. Research on economic inequality regularly appears in all general sociology journals. A journal devoted entirely to the issue of poverty is the Journal of Poverty ( http://www.journalofpoverty.org/ ). 2. Data Resources The National Longitudinal Surveys of the U.S. Department of Labor' s Bureau of Labor Statistics gather detailed information about labor market experiences and other aspects of the lives of American men and women. http://stats.bls.gov/ The Department of Health and Human Services has a Web page on poverty guidelines, research, and measurement ( http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/poverty/index.shtml ), which includes information about how Mollie Orshansky developed the poverty thresholds during the 1960s. The Panel Study of Income Dynamics is a longitudinal survey of a representative sample of U.S. men, women, and children and the families in which they reside. Data on employment, income, wealth, health, housing, food expenditures, transfer income, and marital and fertility behavior have been collected annually since 1968. http://www.umich.edu/~psid/ The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study is a study of the social and economic life course of 10,000 men and women who graduated from Wisconsin high schools in 1957, and who have been followed up at ages 25, 36, and 53–54. http://dpls.dacc.wisc.edu/wls/index.html 3. Other Resources Michael Kearl's Sociological Tour Through Cyberspace: Social Inequality. This contains more information and links on social inequality than you will be able to handle. Something for everyone. Happy Surfing! http://www.trinity.edu/~mkearl/strat.html. Chapter 11: The Architecture of Inequality: Race and Ethnicity 1. Professional Resources The purpose of the American Sociological Association (ASA) Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities is to encourage research, theory, and teaching concerning the relation between socially defined racial and ethnic groups. The encouragement of scholarship contributing to the welfare of all, rather than the promotion of any particular group's social or political interests, is a paramount goal of the Section ( http://www2.asanet.org/sectionrem/ ) The American Sociological Association (ASA) also includes two other Sections dedicated to the study of racial issues: the Section on Asia and Asian Americans ( http://www2.asanet.org/sectionasia/ ) and the Section on Latino/a Sociology ( http://ceci.uprm.edu/~asa-latino/ ). Race, ethnicity, and nationalism are at the very heart of many of the major social and political issues in the present global environment. New antagonisms have emerged which require a rethinking of traditional theoretical and empirical perspectives. According to the publisher, Routledge, Ethnic and Racial Studies is the leading international journal for the analysis of these issues throughout the world ( http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/routledge/01419870.html ) 2. Data Resources Data on race are also available from the U.S. Census Bureau ( http://www.census.gov/ftp/pub/population/www/socdemo/race.html ). 3. Other Resources Michael Kearl's Sociological Tour Through Cyberspace: Race & Ethnicity ( http://www.trinity.edu/~mkearl/race.html ). The Affirmative Action and Diversity Project: A Web Page for Research : This site presents diverse opinions regarding affirmative action topics; rather than taking a singular pro or con position, it is designed to help lend many different voices to the debates surrounding the issues of affirmative action. This site is an academic resource and it provides scholars, students, and the interested public with on-site articles and theoretical analyses, policy documents, current legislative updates, and an annotated bibliography of research and teaching materials. http://aad.english.ucsb.edu/ During World War II the U.S. Government forcibly removed over 120,000 Japanese Americans from the Pacific Coast. These individuals, two thirds of them U.S. citizens, were sent to ten concentration camps built throughout the western interior of the United States. The Hirasaki National Resource Center of the Japanese-American National Museum contains information about this event and the successful movement for reparations from the U.S. Government by Japanese Americans ( http://www.janm.org/ ). The American Civil Liberties Union actively opposes "Racial Profiling" in policing ( http://www.aclu.org/profiling/ ). Chapter 12: The Architecture of Inequality: Sex and Gender 1. Professional Resources This area is covered by the American Sociological Association (ASA) Section on Sex and Gender ( http://www2.asanet.org/sectionsexgend/ ) and to some extent by the Section on the Sociology of Sexualities ( http://www2.asanet.org/sectionsex/ ). Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS) is an international organization of social scientists—students, faculty, practitioners, and researchers—working together to improve the position of women within sociology and within society in general ( http://newmedia.colorado.edu/~socwomen/ ). SWS publishes the journal Gender and Society ( http://www.sagepub.com/journal.aspx?pid=50 ). Another prominent journal for research on gender is Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society ( http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/Signs/home.html ). 2. Data Resources The Institute for Women's Policy Research includes a variety of topics such as work, health, poverty, and welfare. The institute has great publications on women, employment, earnings, and economic change. You can get added to an e-mail list that announces press releases and Capitol Hill briefings. http://www.iwrp.org The United States Department of Labor's Women's Bureau has its own Web site. http://www.dol.gov/wb/ The labor union organization American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) has a Web site which includes a calculator that allows women to calculate how much income they will lose because of the wage gap. http://www.aflcio.org/issues/jobseconomy/women/equalpay/index.cfm The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission maintains a Web site on sexual harassment. http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-sex.html The U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office Web site provides information about this issue. http://www.usdoj.gov/ovw/ 3. Other Resources Michael Kearl's Sociological Tour Through Cyberspace: Gender and Society ( http://www.trinity.edu/~mkearl/g e nder.html ). Humanities-oriented (though not exclusively humanities-oriented) women's studies, gender studies, and queer theory sources are available from The Voice of the Shuttle ( http://vos.ucsb.edu/shuttle/gender.html ). The Women of Color Web is dedicated to providing access to writings by and about women of color in the U.S. We focus specifically on issues related to feminisms, sexualities, and health and rights [self-characterization]. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/grhf/WoC/ For an alternative perspective on gender and reproductive rights—"Pro Woman, Pro Life"—see Feminists for Life ( http://www.feministsforlife.org/ ). Chapter 13: The Global Dynamics of Population: Demographic Trends 1. Professional Resources Sociologists who study population dynamics are organized in the American Sociological Association Sociology of Population Section ( http://www.ph.ucla.edu/bixbypop/Sociology_of_Population_Section/ ). Within the group that studies populations in general, there are sociologists who study aging ( http://www2.asanet.org/sectionaging/ ), and migration ( http://www2.asanet.org/sectionintermig/ ). Demographers also have their own separate professional organization, the Population Association of America (PAA) ( http://www.popassoc.org/ ), which sponsors the leading professional journal in this field, Demography ( http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/dem/ ). 2. Data Resources Demographers specialize in the analysis of large-scale data sets, including population censuses like that which the United States government undertakes every 10 years. Consequently, there are far more important sources of demographic data than can be listed here. Some of the more popular sources of data, however, include the following: The Population Division of the U.S. Bureau of the Census offers socioeconomic and demographic data in nationally representative surveys. http://www.census.gov The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Data Dissemination Branch makes available its latest data in published form and electronically. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus.htm The Behavioral and Social Research (BSR) Program of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) supports basic social and behavioral research and research training on aging processes and the place of older people in society. It focuses on how people change with aging, on the interrelationships between older people and social institutions (e.g., the family, health care systems), and on the societal impact of the changing age composition of the population. http://www.nih.gov/nia/research/extramural/behavior/ The Demographic and Behavioral Sciences Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) supports large-scale data collection activities that contribute to research on the determinants and consequences of demographic change. http://www.nichd.nih.gov/cpr/dbs/dbs.htm The Health Retirement Study is a nationally representative, longitudinal study that provides insights into why people retire and how they cope with declining health in later life. http://www.umich.edu/~hrswww 3. Other Resources A degraded rendition of the demographic trade—demography as marketing research--can be found in the magazine American Demographics ( http://www.demographics.com/ ). Chapter 14: Architects of Change: Reconstructing Society 1. Professional Resources Students of social change and social movements congregate in the American Sociological Association (ASA) Section on Collective Behavior and Social Movements ( http://www2.asanet.org/sectioncbsm/ ), though they also are disproportionately drawn to the Sections on Peace, War, and Social Conflict ( http://www.peacewarconflict.org/ ) and Political Sociology ( http://www2.asanet.org/sectionpolitic/ ). Sociologists interested in Labor and Labor Movements recently formed an ASA Section of their own ( http://www.laborstudies.wayne.edu/ASA/ ). Mobilization is a new international journal of research and theory specializing in social movements, protests and collective behavior. http://www.mobilization.sdsu.edu/ 2. Data Resources 3. Other Resources The following Web sites are run by social movements and other organizations to advance their social change efforts and should not be taken as objective sources of information on the topics in question. a. Abortion The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the professional association of abortion providers in the United States and Canada [self-characterization]. http://www.prochoice.org/ The National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League: Our goal at NARAL is to help find sane, workable answers that will ultimately reduce the need for abortions. . . .Until we achieve our goal, it is critical that those who value the freedom and independence we enjoy in this country work hard now to protect a woman' s right to choose [self-characterization]. http://www.naral.com/ The National Right-to-Life is the largest and most influential organization dedicated to fighting "the culture of death" through public policy. http://www.nrlc.org/ The Pro-Life Action League is dedicated to saving the lives of the unborn through the use of nonviolent direct action [self-characterization]. http://www.prolifeaction.org/index.html b. Civil and Human Rights Amnesty International is a worldwide campaigning movement that works to promote all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international standards. http://www.amnesty.org/ or http://www.amnesty-usa.org/ Civilrights.org is a joint project of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and the Leadership Conference Education Fund. The goal of civilrights.org is to recruit, educate and mobilize individuals of good conscience in the ongoing struggle for equal opportunity. http://www.civilrights.org/ NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, educates, lobbies, and organizes to influence the formation of federal legislation to promote economic and social justice. http://www.networklobby.org/ SojoNet is the online presence of Sojourners, a Christian ministry whose mission is to proclaim and practice the biblical call to integrate spiritual renewal and social justice. http://www.sojo.net/
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