Power and Everyday Practices, Second Edition

This insightful text encourages readers to critically examine how power and privilege manifest in daily life, as explored in Power and Everyday Practices, Second Edition.

Rather than viewing social inequality solely as an issue affecting marginalized groups, Power and Everyday Practices, Second Edition shifts the focus to the ways in which power and privilege are created and maintained in our daily lives. This innovative text equips undergraduate students with essential tools to analyze sociological concepts through the lens of their everyday experiences. By exposing normative social organization and commonly accepted beliefs and actions as critical mechanisms of power and social inequality, it encourages students to examine the structures that shape their social environments.

The book is structured into three distinct parts. In Part One, students learn to effectively integrate theory and methodology, showcasing how to position influential thinkers like Michel Foucault alongside Karl Marx and Stuart Hall. This section also emphasizes the significance of non-western and Indigenous perspectives, experiences, and rights. Part Two invites students to explore and question the concept of normativity, addressing issues such as the normal body, heterosexuality, whiteness, the binary gender system, aging, and the complexities of citizenship. Finally, Part Three consists of shorter chapters that critique everyday practices, including scientific thinking, self-help culture, consumer habits, financial management, tourism, and the marginalization of Indigenous voices.

Each chapter is designed with engaging exercises, study questions, and key terms that connect to a comprehensive glossary, enhancing the learning experience. Instructors are provided with supplementary resources, including PowerPoint slides and test banks, making Power and Everyday Practices, Second Edition adaptable for both blended and online learning environments. Additional essay-style lectures are also available to support the textbook's content.