UNEQUAL SOCIETIES
This research cluster focuses on empirical and analytical work in the field of equality studies, concentrating on documenting, measuring, explaining and analysing the key inequalities that structure Irish society, and the world more generally. In terms of a practical research agenda, it asks, (i) What are the central, significant, dominant patterns of inequality in our society, western capitalist society more generally, and, more generally still, the world at large? And, (ii) What are the best ways of explaining these inequalities, using which overall frameworks?
Researchers seeking to document or explain inequality across a variety of social fields or in relation to various social groups will be interested in this stream. Those fields include, but are not limited to, politics, health and health care, care work and care relations, education, the economy and employment. These social groups include, but are not limited to, those affected by inequalities of social class, gender, gender identity, ‘race’, ethnicity, sexuality, disability and religion.
Work carried out under this theme is foundational and complementary to the research carried out in the other four themes, as political economy, politics and power structures, conceptions of human flourishing, law, human rights, and efforts to achieve sustainable development all interact to potentially contribute to, or challenge, unequal societies.
This research theme is connected at UCD to our flagship postgraduate programme, the Masters in Equality Studies at the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice. The MSc in Equality Studies offers a unique opportunity to examine global equality issues from a range of analytical and normative perspectives, not only critiquing and explaining inequality but also engaging with the normative question of what a more equal society would look like (See research theme 2, ‘Equality and Flourishing). The programme also emphasises the relationship between theory and practice with a view to bringing about positive social change (This is connected to our research theme 5, ‘Politics and Change.’) Find out more about the programme in our informative video (opens in a new window)here.
This cluster is co-convened by Karen Smith ((opens in a new window)karen.m.smith@ucd.ie) with centre director Marie Moran ((opens in a new window)marie.moran@ucd.ie)
Associated members:
Sara Benedí Lahuerta
Michael Byrne
Trease de Loughry
Orla Doyle
Roland Erne
Graham Finlay
Ruben Flores
Maebh Harding
Judith Harford
Melanie Hoewer
Thilo Kroll
Deirdre McGillicuddy
Joe McGrath
Donna Marshall
Purity Mwendwa
Muireann Ni Raghaillaigh
Krisna Ruette-Orihuela
Eugenia Siapera
Ernesto Vasquez del Aguila
Activities:
The Equality Studies public lecture and seminar series is open to all members and friends of the Equality studies centre, and takes place on campus or online, depending on the speaker and context. In previous years, guest speakers have included Profs. Erik Olin Wright, Micheal Apple, Jim McGuigan, Wendy Luttrell and Diane Reay. For information on recent and upcoming lectures or seminars, please see the news and events section of the website
Featured projects: