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UCL Explore is the best place to find books, journals and other materials, either in print or in electronic format.
Print books on Sociology can be found in the IOE Library and SSEES Library.
In the IOE Library, most books on Sociology can be found in the Non-Education collection on Level 5. Books on the Sociology of Childhood and Education can be found in the Main Education collection on Level 3.
At SSEES Library, general books for SSEES Politics and Sociology courses are located in the Miscellaneous section on the First Floor. The Library does not have one section designated to Politics and Sociology collection. Books are arranged by country and then within that by topic. As a result, there are separate Politics and Sociology sections for each country.
On UCL Explore, you can look at the results of your search to quickly discover if a book is available in print or/and online: View Online means that the book is available electronically, while Available means that the book is available in print. In some cases a book is available both in print and online.
George Ritzer's seminal work of critical sociology, The McDonaldization of Society, continues to stand as one of the pillars of modern sociological thought. Building on the argument that the fast food restaurant has become the model for the rationalization process today, this book links theory to contemporary life in a globalized world and resonates with students in a way that few other books do.
Focusing on Ghana, the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence from European colonial rule and the first in the world to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, this book explores how dominant children's rights principles interact with the lived realities of a range of children's lives. The author considers the changeability and inconsistencies of childhoods within this context and the factors that underpin these varied intersections, including cultural norms, British colonial legacy, the influence of Christianity, urbanization, and social, economic and political transformations.
Symbolic Interaction and Inequality explores further the concept of Radical Interactionism, a perspective of researching domination and subordination introduced by scholar Lonnie Athens. Demonstrating advancements made in Radical Interactionism over the past decade, chapters examine the omnipresent and insidious nature of inequality as well as its social construction among family members, cisgender and gender-diverse people, as well as university students and personnel. Highlighting fruitful accomplishments achieved by a range of symbolic interactionists, this volume exhibits the significance of studying inequality, a venture that not only enriches symbolic interactionism but human life as a whole.
Hegemonic Masculinity, Caste, and the Body investigates the intricate interplay between masculinities, space, and identity within Indian Punjab's Jat Sikh community. Navjotpal Kaur delves into the dynamic landscape of Jat masculinity, examining its historical roots, contemporary expressions, and global dimensions. Kaur traces the influences of colonial-era valorization of Jat Sikh soldiers to present-day transnational forces, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-historical factors shaping Jat masculinities. With a unique focus on the embodiment of caste among Jat men, her analysis also unveils deeper societal shifts impacting the formation of Jat identity by examining how spaces like agricultural fields symbolize masculinity. From investigating gang-related activities to navigating intraethnic othering, Kaur also sheds light on the complex journeys of migrant youth in shaping their identities abroad. Offering a nuanced exploration of the Jat Sikh identity, Hegemonic Masculinity, Caste, and the Bodyhighlights its resilience, complexities, and vulnerabilities amidst changing socio-economic landscapes, thoughtfully invoking wider conversations around gender, culture, and self-perception.
Despite focused efforts to stop the perpetration of campus sexual violence, the statistic that one in four college women will experience such violence has remained steady over the last sixty years. The number of higher education institutions under federal Title IX investigation for mishandling sexual violence cases also continues to grow. In Hear Our Stories, Jessica Harris demonstrates how preventive efforts often fall short because they lack intersectional perspectives, and often obscure how sexual violence is imbued with racial significance. Drawing on interviews with Women of Color student survivors, staff, and documents from three different universities, this book analyzes sexual violence on the college campus from an intersectional lens, centering the stories of Women of Color. Harris explores the intersectional realities of campus sexual violence, including survivors' racialized and gendered experiences with campus rape culture, institutional betrayal, prevention programming, reporting and disclosing, and feminist and anti-racist movements.
How a new "woke" elite uses the language of social justice to gain more power and status--without helping the marginalized and disadvantaged. Musa al-Gharbi explores the rise of a new elite--the symbolic capitalists. In education, media, nonprofits, and beyond, members of this elite work primarily with words, ideas, images, and data, and are very likely to identify as allies of antiracist, feminist, LGBTQ, and other progressive causes. Their dominant ideology is "wokeness" and they actively benefit from and perpetuate the inequalities they decry. Indeed, their egalitarian credentials help them gain more power and status, often at the expense of the marginalized and disadvantaged. This book details how the language of social justice is increasingly used to justify this elite--and to portray the losers in the knowledge economy as deserving their lot because they think or say the "wrong" things about race, gender, and sexuality.
The importance of play for healthy development is undeniable. Aspects of play have been linked to the development of social skills, health and fitness, motivation, curiosity, innovation, imagination, and problem solving. However, opportunities to play and quality of play facilities in schools, after-school programs, childcare centers, community parks, and museums are not equitable by race, socio-economic status, and ability. And racial profiling, immigrant status, illness, and incarceration interfere with child's play. The book describes disparities in play opportunities in childcare, schools, and communities; describes pre-school, elementary, high school, and university programs that use play to liberate, teach, and build community; and discusses ways to ameliorate inequities through research and advocacy.
In Against Inequality, the authors offer a theoretical and political proposal for social emancipation, seen as an opportunity to build conditions of equality in contexts of freedom, not only for ethical but essentially political foundations. To achieve this, the authors confront inequality in two ways: as a social phenomenon (and, therefore, historically situated and structured) and through critical reflection on the concepts, categories, indicators and frameworks of its understanding. In this sense, they propose a critical reflection of the ways in which it has been thought theoretically and politically at various times, with special reference to the way in which it has been conceived in modern, capitalist society.
How do we define patriotism in a diverse society? What divides us and what brings us together? Why do we feel uncomfortable celebrating our country's history? How to be a Patriot offers a new way of understanding our collective identity in a country wracked by division and brimming with markers of selfhood - faith, race, gender, age, sexuality. Sunder Katwala's timely and clear-eyed analysis seeks to navigate the many crises of this increasingly disunited kingdom: extremism and integration after 7/7; fear of immigration and the deep divides of Brexit; the resurgence of online racism; and the debate over our cultural heritage. Equipped with a nuanced understanding of the subject and a wealth of supporting data, he sets out to foster a more open and tolerant society: one that welcomes alternative ideas and cultures rather than shutting them out.
In this accessible guide for activists, scholar Lisa Mueller translates cutting-edge empirical research on effective protest to show how to make movements really matter We are in the middle of a historic swell of activism taking place throughout the world. From Occupy Wall Street and the Arab Spring, to pro-democracy uprisings in China, Black Lives Matter, the Women's March on Washington, and more recent pro-choice protests; folks everywhere are gathering to demand a more just world. Yet despite social engagement being at record highs, there is a divide between the activist community and the scientists who study it. In The New Science of Social Change, Mueller highlights what really works when it comes to group advocacy, to place proven tools in the hands of activists on the ground--in the U.S. and abroad.
UCL Bartlett Library hold material on urban studies, the environment, and related social policies.
Check out our Explore guide to find out more about how to use Explore for your research.
ReadingLists @UCL is an online service that gives students easy access to materials on their reading lists wherever they are, and allows academic staff to create and update their own reading lists.
Take a self-guided tour of the SSEES Library to find the collections and services relevant to your course.
