Case Study (Diversity and Inclusion)
Instructors
Kentaro MAEDA
Credits / Language / Semester
2Credits / English / Winter
Objectives/Overview
We live in interesting times.
In the past, it was widely assumed that the members of the nation-state shared a common culture and history. Furthermore, in many countries, there was a sharp division of labor between male breadwinners and female housewives. Under these assumptions, the public sphere was populated by a relatively homogeneous body of citizens. Differences based on gender and ethnic identity were rarely at the center of policy debates.
Today, these assumptions can no longer be taken for granted. More and more women are entering the labor force each year, minority ethnic groups are demanding recognition, while immigrants are crossing national borders at an increasing rate. Whatever the long-term trends, this tendency towards diversity and heterogeneity is not likely to be reversed in the near future. As a result, policymakers everywhere are facing new challenges in coping with demands from groups that were hitherto excluded from the political arena.
In this course, we will examine various policy issues that involve the problem of identity and difference. In particular, we will pay close attention to how public policies have structured racial, ethnic, and gender relations in contemporary society.
Keywords
Ethnicity, gender, inclusion, minority rights, multiculturalism, categorical inequality, discrimination, diversity, STS, welfare state, gender quotas, education
Schedule
Week 1: Introduction
Weeks 2-8: We will cover the following topics (or others based on participant interest):
-Immigration and border control
-The national census and the construction of race and ethnicity
-Political representation of minorities
-Labor market discrimination and affirmative action
-The rise of women and the transformation of the welfare state
-Race and gender differences in medical research
Week 9: Planning session for case studies
(Winter Break)
Week 10 & 11: Student presentation
Week 12: Conclusion
Teaching Methods
In each class, the instructor will give a short lecture, followed by a classroom discussion of the reading materials. Each student will be asked to lead the discussion at least once during the semester.
After week 9, students will be divided into groups and work on their research projects. Each group will choose a specific reading material from the course, and make a thorough critique by applying its main ideas to a different country (or multiple countries). Students will then present their findings in class, and submit a final paper.
Grading
The grades for this course will be based on class participation (20%), presentation (30%), and the final paper (50%).
Required Textbooks
There are no textbooks for the course. The required reading materials (20-30 pages per week) will be distributed by the instructor. Below are some of the examples of books that we will cover in this course:
- Charles Tilly, Durable Inequality (California, 1998).
- Diane Sainsbury (ed.), Gender and Welfare State Regimes (Oxford, 1999)
- Melissa Nobles, Shades of Citizenship (Stanford, 2001).
- David Epstein, Inclusion (Chicago, 2007).
Notes on Taking the Course
There are no formal requirements for taking this course, but fluency in both spoken and written English is preferred.
Miscellaneous Information
ディスカッションを中心とした授業であり、グループワークも取り入れる。英語で話す経験を積むのに向いた授業だと思われる。