Dear SOCIAL-CLASS Member,

 

To subscribe send the following to listserv@uic.edu:

SUB SOCIAL-CLASS firstname surname, school

Example: SUB SOCIAL-CLASS Carlen Rader, U of Chicago

 

SOCIAL-CLASS is an electronic discussion group focusing on the role of social class in contemporary societies.

I. THE MISSION OF SOCIAL-CLASS

SOCIAL-CLASS provides a forum for scholars to discuss ideas and research on the role of social class in contemporary societies. We foster discussions of both class structure and the effects of social class, for instance on politics, lifestyle, or identity. Topics may include: conceptualizing class divisions, stratification, the labor movement or other class-based organizations, class voting, links between class and cultural or consumer habits, class in economically developing countries, and modern class divisions in historical perspective. Also, SOCIAL-CLASS aims to stimulate exchanges on the interactions between class and other major social divisions, like race, gender, or educational attainment. Falling under our umbrella as well is how non class-based movements (e.g., women's rights, ecological, consumer) contrast with class-based ones. Sharing insights on the teaching of these topics is further encouraged. Finally, we welcome dialogue on any news developments which bear on our interests.

 

SOCIAL-CLASS aims to be inclusive of multiple theoretical and methodological approaches. We seek to promote discussion concerning the uses and merits of both traditional and alternative perspectives (Marxist, Weberian, race/class/gender, postmodern, other), and we welcome insights based on statistical research, ethnography, content analysis, historical research or other methodologies. Graduate students are encouraged to subscribe and participate. To stimulate and advance discussion, the editors of SOCIAL-CLASS may periodically solicit book or article reviews. Members are also encouraged to solicit full length book reviews or reviews of recently published major articles, and to post abstracts, syllabi, handouts, bibliographies, fellowship announcements, and requests for papers. If members have questions of either a research or substantive nature, members may post those as well. Occasionally, the editor may pose questions or discussion topics, deemed to be of potential interest.

II. A MODERATED LIST

SOCIAL-CLASS is a moderated list. This means that all posts are initially routed to the editor, who then forwards them to the list, approximately once daily. Before forwarding, the editor may -- but usually will not -- lightly edit, for instance to improve clarity, indicate connections with previous posts, or modify the subject line. Should the editor consider substantial revisions to be warranted, the post will be returned to the sender with a request for a rewrite. Should the post be deemed either excessively inflammatory or clearly irrelevant to the list's concerns, it may be filtered out, and again, the sender will receive a note explaining the decision.

The Editors of SOCIAL-CLASS are Terry Nichols Clark, professor of sociology at the University of Chicago, and Michael Rempel, an advanced graduate student at the University of Chicago. As this list grows, other co-editors will probably be added. Members with suggestions, questions, or comments on running the list should feel free to contact Rempel directly at stdmire@icarus.spc.uchicago.edu.

 

III. COMMUNICATING WITH SOCIAL-CLASS

Depending on the nature of your post, there are two possible addresses. Send posts intended for everyone to social-class@uic.edu (see section IIIA below). Send requests for changes in your subscription to listserv@uic.edu (see section IIIB below).

  1. Writing to the List: Address: social-class@uic.edu
Posts may be either long or short. For especially long ones (e.g., more than 3 pages), please try to clarify in the first paragraph what you will be addressing. If you are quoting a previous post, do indicate to what you are responding, but try not to reiterate extended sections from that post. If you have just read the previous post, you may use the "reply" command to address and initiate your response. Please be sure to include your name and e-mail address at the end of all posts (if not included, the editor will add them).

B) Requests for Subscription Changes:

Address: listserv@uic.edu

1. To subscribe:

SUB SOCIAL-CLASS firstname surname, school

Example: SUB SOCIAL-CLASS Carlen Rader, U of Chicago

2. To unsubscribe:

 UNSUB SOCIAL-CLASS

3. To receive one daily post including all individual H-SocClass posts,

instead of receiving each post separately: SET SOCIAL-CLASS DIGEST

4. To resume receiving each individual post separately, after having

previously requested the digest: SET SOCIAL-CLASS NODIGEST

5. To put a "hold" on your H-SocClass e-mail (e.g., if you will not

check e-mail for an extended period and do not want mail to continue

arriving in your in-box): SET SOCIAL-CLASS NOMAIL

6. To resume receiving e-mail, after having initiated a "hold":

SET SOCIAL-CLASS MAIL

 

V. BOOK AND ARTICLE REVIEWS

SOCIAL-CLASS would like on occasion to post reviews of both books and articles. The latter may prove especially informative, as so much of the latest research on social class appears in article form. If you would be interested in writing reviews of articles, or if you should come across a book or journal article which seems worthy of review by this list, please contact Michael Rempel at stdmire@icarus.uchicago.edu.

V. WORLD WIDE WEB PAGE

At some point during 1997, SOCIAL-CLASS will begin to place select documents on a World Wide Web site. On this web site will appear the following kinds of materials: this "welcome" message, book and article reviews, bibliographies, syllabi, paper abstracts, full length papers, conference or fellowship announcements, and select e-mails on topics that generated significant interest among group members. If any members have other ideas for items they would like to see on the web site, they should feel free to contact the editor. When the site is up and running, members will receive an update, along with helpful commands for navigating it.

VI. EDITORIAL BOARD

Social-Class is advised by an Editorial Board of scholars. The board currently consists of:

Ulises Beltran, Independent Policy Consultant

Clem Brooks, Indiana University

Anthony Heath, Oxford University (U.K.)

Jeff Manza, Pennsylvania State University

Seymour Martin Lipset, George Mason University

Jan Pakulski, University of Tasmania (Australia)

David Weakliem, University of Connecticut

Michael Rempel, Department of Sociology,

University of Chicago, 1126 East 59th Street, Chicago, IL 60637

e-mail: stdmire@icarus.spc.uchicago.edu

phone #: 773-227-8634