The course offers some basic conceptual and analytical tools for the detection and study of social problems . After recalling some fundamentals of sociological theory, the course will consider changes occurred on beneficiaries of social services and their problems . These will be the subject of discussions made considering both research contributions and social policies
Texts to attend the exam:
Two chosen from the following list:
U. Beck, La società del rischio, Carocci, Roma, 2000 (nlp the second part pp. 111-213)
R. Castel, L'insicurezza sociale, Einaudi, Torino, 2004
E. Goffman, Stigma. L'identità negata, Ombre Corte, 2003
and one chosen from the following list:
G. Simmel, Il povero, Armando, Roma, 2001
Z. Bauman, Lavoro, consumismo e nuove povertà, Città Aperta, 2004
Z. Bauman, Vite di scarto, Laterza, 2005
P. Rosanvallon, La nuova questione sociale, Edizioni Lavoro, 1997
C. Wright Mills, Il mito della patologia sociale, Armando, 2001
A. Ehrenberg, La fatica di essere se stessi, Einaudi, 1999
R. Sennet, Rispetto. La dignità umana in un mondo di diseguali, Il Mulino, 2004
For attending students the bibliography remains indicative as other texts and will be indicated during the course and dispenses will be distributed in Italian and English.
Learning Objectives
KNOWLEDGE: The course aims to present some fundamental conceptual and analytical tools useful for the identification and study of social problems in the context of a social intervention perspective. In particular, after having recalled some of the foundations of the sociological theory, the transformations introduced in the users that are addressed daily to social services will be considered as the bearer of multiple and difficult problems. Some of these problems will be the object of in-depth analysis, taking into account both the most recent research contributions and the intervention policies tested at both local, national and European levels.
SKILLS: Valuing the previously acquired sociological knowledge, the course aims to stimulate critical, analytical and design skills in the various social fields.
Skills acquired at the end of the course: students will acquire the ability to read and interpret social phenomena in a key problem and to formulate congruent intervention proposals identifying resources (individual, family, network, local community) that can support intervention paths
Prerequisites
None
Teaching Methods
Teaching methodology: lectures
Laboratory activities: oral and written presentations and group discussion
Further information
Students are invited to active participation.
Current issues that affect the field of social work will be taken into consideration
Type of Assessment
For attending students:
oral and written presentations on topics covered in the course
For non-attending students:
oral examination
Course program
Detailed program
The premises: A. For a "sociology of social problems": problems versus theoretical perspectives
The constituent elements of the "problem": how a question becomes a social problem
The theoretical perspectives
The Functionalist paradigm
The Conflittualist paradigm
The Interactionist paradigm
Beyond the idea of paradigm: feminism and postmodernism
B. Individual and society in post-modernity
Risk (U. Beck)
Disaffiliation (M. Castells)
Disqualification (S. Paugam)
Problems:
1. Identity and discrimination: gender and sexuality
Gender and sexuality
Research on gender discrimination
The protection of vulnerability: gender violence as a social problem
2. Family: changes in the structure of primary relationships
On the family concept
Research on family change
Family and social work: family problems as a social problem
3. Work: changes in the occupational structure
On the concept of employment
Research on the employment insertion of fragile individuals
Work and social integration: socio-therapeutic insertion as a social problem
4. Poverty: inequalities and deprivations
On the concept of poverty
Research on poverty
Poverty and social work: over-indebtedness as a social problem
5. Deviance and justice: identification of guilt and execution of the sentence
On the concept of deviance
Research on deviance
Deviance and social work: prison as a social problem
6. The foreigner: nationality and citizenship
On the concept of an alien
Research on the theme of immigration
Migration and social work: welcoming as a social problem