Time and date: 9.30 - 10.30 am, Friday, December 5, 2008
Place: Lower Theatre, Babel Building, University of Melbourne, Parkville
Chairs: Julie McMillan and James Rice, Australian National University
The TASA Social Stratification Thematic Group was established in 2005 for a period of three years. The establishment of the thematic group is thus coming up for renewal. At the thematic group's session at the TASA 2008 conference, we will need to discuss a range of issues related to future activities of the group, including whether or not the group should continue and what form the group might take in the future.
The Future of the Thematic Group
The most important issue we will need to discuss is whether or not the thematic group should continue, either in its present form or in some related but different form.
Just to refresh people's memories, the thematic group's initial aims and objectives were framed in the following terms:
'The TASA Thematic Group on Social Stratification aims to foster high quality theoretical and empirical research and teaching in the field of social stratification, broadly defined. Social stratification broadly defined is intended to incorporate sociological work on a range of topics, including classes, professions, occupations, work, employment, social mobility, and inequalities in welfare.'
Do these aims and objectives need to be revised?
A related question is what name would best convey the group's aims and objectives. 'Social Stratification' is one option, but only one among many. Other options could include 'Social Inequalities', 'Class, Stratification, and Mobility', or 'Class and Stratification'.
Future Activities
There are a range of activities the thematic group could pursue in the future. Possibilities include organising a special issue of the Journal of Sociology, convening workshops or mini-conferences during the year, and organising workshops, special sessions, or conference streams at the annual TASA conferences.
The TASA Executive also offers financial support (up to $5,000) to thematic groups through the Thematic Group Support Scheme. This is something we have not pursued in the past, but the Thematic Group Support Scheme does present opportunities for the future.
New Convenors
Julie McMillan and James Rice are happy to help in any way they can with future activities of the group. However, they recently received the following message from the TASA Executive: 'Please note also that The Executive expects that the position(s) of convenor will be rotated among group members. If your group has had the same convenor(s) for the three years since its inception then it is time for someone else to lead the group'.
Would you like to take over the reins that guide this thematic group?
Please give this a little thought and, if you are a little interested, or even possibly interested, please let Julie and James know.
Thematic groups should be a reflection of the interests of a group of people rather than the personal activity of a couple people on their own. Having new convenors for the thematic group would encourage the former situation (as well as being stipulated by the TASA Executive). As mentioned earlier, however, Julie and James are happy to help in any way they can in the future.
If you have any thoughts, views, or questions about these issues, please let Julie and James know either at the thematic group's session at the TASA 2008 conference or else by emailing them at the following addresses:
Time and date: 7.30 pm, Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Place: Il Gambero, 215 Lygon Street, Carlton
Members of the Social Stratification Thematic Group will be meeting for dinner at the time and place mentioned above. Judging from past experience the dinner should be easy-going and fun, as well as being a perfectly respectable way of meeting people with similar teaching and research interests.
Il Gambero is a very short walk from the University of Melbourne. More information about the restaurant itself can be found on its website.
If you would like to come along - even if you aren't able to make it to the TASA conference itself - please RSVP before 5.00 pm, Monday, December 1, by emailing James Rice at:
All welcome!