Media, Intersectionality, and Social Change: An Introduction to Sociology Concepts through Contemporary Issues

Through the themes of intersectionality, technology and media, and social change, Media, Intersectionality, and Social Change: An Introduction to Sociology Concepts through Contemporary Issues familiarizes students with timely and applicable concepts and theories in sociology. This unique, hybrid text provides students with a classic textbook chapter, followed by carefully selected readings that complements the themes of the book and shows students sociological concepts applied in real-world instances.

The book is broken into four units. The first unit features material on nature and nurture, culture, media, and socialization to examine what makes us human. The second unit examines the concept of society and explores complex forms of organization, group identity, conformity, crime and deviance, and loyalty. The third unit shows the ways in which culture and social organization differ based on variables like class, gender, race, and age, and how those factors can manifest in inequality for specific populations. In the final unit, students learn how to work toward social change through behavioral, social, political, and digital movements.

Cross-disciplinary in nature, Media, Intersectionality, and Social Change is suitable for foundational courses in sociology, social science, public policy, social work, ethnic studies, gender studies, and social psychology.

Loreen Wolfer earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in sociology from Cornell University, and her B.A. in sociology from Franklin and Marshall College. She is a professor of sociology and criminal justice and the Chief Evaluator at the Center for the Analysis and Prevention of Crime at the University of Scranton. Her areas of academic expertise include marriage and family issues and social policy. She is the author of Real Research: Conducting and Evaluating Research in the Social Sciences, as well as numerous research articles on Facebook norms, protection from abuse orders, and drug courts.