Is Equality Feasible by Lane - Annotated Bibliography Example

Sociology Sociology Article I Citation Lane, K. (August 01, 2007). Is Equality Feasible?. Contexts, 6, 3, 28-32. Topic In this article the author focuses on the topic of equality and especially on the subject of income inequality (Lane, 2007, p.28). The purpose of the article was to identify whether it is feasible to attain income equality or certain level of inequality is good for the society or not. Theory The theories that have been focused on in this article include the assumption that equality is positive for the society as it leads to fair distribution of resources and opportunities. The author uses another theory to counter this assumption and the theory used to counter the assumption is that equality does not make economic sense. Research Methods The author of the article has not performed any primary research for the article. The author has taken assistance from secondary research to talk about income based inequality and equality. The author states that in order to perform a content analysis it is necessary to consider those studies or that secondary data that is empirical in nature. Discussion And Interpretation The article is very though provoking as it talks against common knowledge that equality is beneficial for the society. The article provokes new questions such as whether governments should strive for equality or not. The author has incorporated previous research but the research seems to be outdated as information which is more than eight years old has been incorporated (Lane, 2007, p.32s). Reflection The article has added further to what I had learned about equality in the text that is being used in the class. The article has helped providing support to theories of inequality and equality. One of the key learning outcomes of the article was that government intervention can make it possible for a nation to attain full employment and low pay inequality. This is contrary to the belief that if income levels are raised unemployment will increase. Article II Citation Wright, E. (January 01, 2011). Real Utopias. Contexts, 10, 2, 36-42. Topic The author of this article focuses on the existence of utopia in the real world. The purpose of this article was to argue that utopia is a state that is not just a dream state and actually can exist if different alternatives to the current system are envisioned and implemented (Wright, 2011, p.37). Theory The article focuses on the sociological theory of utopian state that has been focused on in the text. The text states that the utopian state is one in which there is no coercion and everyone lives happily and have equal opportunities and rights. The text states that such a state is only a dream and can never become a reality, but the author contradicts the text and state that utopian state system can actually exist. Research Methods The research method employed by the author is analysis of content that already exists. For this purpose the author has taken into consideration various other research articles that are both quantitative and qualitative in nature. The author states that quantitative researches need to be considered in conducting research on the subject of real utopia in order to identify cases or events are similar to the notions of utopia and how these events have impacted human beings (Wright, 2011, p.38). Discussion And Interpretation The questions that the author of the article wants the audience of the article to think about is whether the state of utopia is achievable or not and what alternatives to present institutions can be implemented to attain the state of utopia. The articles used for the content analysis are only 3 to 4 years old as compared to the date when this article was authored and therefore the articles used are reliable (Wright, 2011, p.42). Reflection The article has expanded on the knowledge of the text related to the subject of utopian state. The key learning outcome of the article was that it is not necessary that the entire states adopt the practices of utopian states, but if institutions are altered on the basis and concepts of utopian state then human wellbeing and a better society can be developed. Article III Citation Mark, R. R. (May 01, 2011). Rethinking American Poverty. Contexts, 10, 2, 16-21. Topic In this article the author focuses on the issue of poverty in the United States of America. The author promotes and argues that poverty exists in the nation of United States because policy makers have failed to understand that poverty is a structural issue and not a cultural one (Mark, 2011, p.17). Theory This article is based on the theories of poverty which help in identifying the causes and existence of poverty. The author contradicts the theory that cultural factors are causes of poverty and supports the theory that structural factors are the real causes of poverty (Mark, 2011, p.17). Research Methods The research method used for this article is content analysis in which the author analyzes different researches in the structural and cultural factors of poverty. In order to perform the content analysis the author has used various empirical or quantitative studies such as a study that quantified the cost of poverty experienced by America (Mark, 2011, p.17). Discussion And Interpretation The author has not performed any new research and has authored the article while depending on prior research. The article is quite thought provoking and the author is raising the question that what policies can be implemented by the government while keeping in mind that poverty face by Americans is due to structural factors. Reflection The article contains various researches that further help in understanding the two causes of poverty which are structural and cultural causes of poverty and these causes were discussed in the text. The key takeaway was that majority of the Americans face poverty at a particular point in their life. Article IV Citation Myra, M. F., William, A. G., Jurgen, G., & Dieter, R. (May 01, 2002). Abortion Talk in Germany and the United States: Why Rights Explanations are Wrong. Contexts, 1, 2, 27-33. Topic The author of this article focuses on the issue of abortion in the region of America. The author specifically tries to answer the question that why abortion is considered controversial in the United States when other nations of the Western world such as the European nations do not consider it as a pressing issue (Myra, 2002, p.27). Theory In this article the author uses two theories that are connected with the debate of abortion. One theory focuses on the subject of abortion based on the context of rights and this theory is applied to debates of abortion that takes place in United States. The second theory focuses on the subject of abortion in the context of welfare state and this theory is applied to debates of abortion that arise in the Germany (Myra, 2002, p.33). Research Methods This is a content analysis which is based on qualitative data. The data that was used to perform the analysis includes various articles including newspaper articles that debate the issue of abortion in United States and Germany (Myra, 2002, p.27). Discussion And Interpretation The question that has been raised by the author in the article is that whether United States should consider the debate of abortion in the context of welfare state in which both the rights of the pregnant female and the fetus are protected. The author has used articles that date back to 1970s and hence the articles included in the research are quite old (Myra, 2002, p.27). Reflection The article expanded on the text’s topic of abortion and rights of the members of the society. The main takeaway from the article was that the issue of abortion is more of a issue because of different perspectives of the citizens of United States and can be solved or a consensus can be reached if the United States considers the issue in the context of a welfare state. Article V Citation Gøsta, E.-A. (August 01, 2007). Equal Opportunities and the Welfare State. Contexts, 6, 3, 23-27. Topic This article focuses on the issue of inequality in the region of United States and this article specifically focuses on the link between inequality and the access to different opportunities for different members of the American society (Gøsta, 2007, p.23). Theory The article focuses on the theory of egalitarianism in the context of equality and inequality. The article compares the two notions of egalitarianism which includes the belief that opportunities in United States are equally distributed but are dependent on the amount of effort invested by individuals. The second egalitarian notion that the author supports in the article is that if all Americans are provided with equal opportunities then inequality can be reduced (Gøsta, 2007, p.23). Research Methods This is a content analysis and in this content analysis the author has included various researches that have been conducted on the subject of equality in United States. The studies that the authors have used for analysis are empirical and quantitative in nature. Such as the study which helped in identifying the there is a positive and strong correlation between unequal access to opportunities experienced by children and the financial conditions of their parents (Gøsta, 2007, p.23). Discussion And Interpretation The most thought provoking question that the article raises is whether inequality in America is due to the unwillingness of individuals to work hard or because they and the generations before them had access to unequal opportunities. Most of the articles used in the study are quite recent in comparison to the time period this article was authored (Gøsta, 2007, p.23). Reflection This article further expanded on the topic of inequality that was studied in the class. The article expanded the theories of causes of inequality in America and has provided insight to students and policy makers regarding different perspectives that need to be taken into consideration while dealing with the issue of inequality in United States. References Wright, E. (January 01, 2011). Real Utopias. Contexts, 10, 2, 36-42. Gøsta, E.-A. (August 01, 2007). Equal Opportunities and the Welfare State. Contexts, 6, 3, 23-27. Lane, K. (August 01, 2007). Is Equality Feasible?. Contexts, 6, 3, 28-32. Mark, R. R. (May 01, 2011). Rethinking American Poverty. Contexts, 10, 2, 16-21. Myra, M. F., William, A. G., Jurgen, G., & Dieter, R. (May 01, 2002). Abortion Talk in Germany and the United States: Why Rights Explanations are Wrong. Contexts, 1, 2, 27-33. Read More