Date of Award

1999

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Social Work

Keywords

Sociology, Theory and Methods.

Supervisor

Hedley, M.

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

This study is based on the hypothesis that social structures of inequality are reproduced as individuals enact their daily lives. The discourse of investors is examined for the presence of an hegemonic economic ideology. The economy as represented in the print news-media is used as a model of ideology. Hegemony can be demonstrated for a number of economic representations including inflation and interest rates; increases in labour wages; the role and activities of government and its representatives; education; and the invisibility or inviolable nature of profit acquisition. Various means of control draw on these representations. The participants' discourse demonstrates that a primary means of control is accomplished through 'blaming the victims'. By deflecting accountability, critical examination of social inequality and power disparity issues is circumscribed at the everyday individual level. As well, participants' discourse demonstrates areas where the ideology has not achieved hegemony including privatization of specific government institutions and programs; government regulation; environmental issues; and the economy as a determiner or controller of society. That participants required a discursive 'space' in which to develop their opinions free from the ideology demonstrates the importance of qualitative methodologies when examining meanings that individuals give to social concepts. This study illustrates both the existence of other stocks of knowledge than an economistic ideology and processes of discourse which could be instrumental in effecting social change.Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1999 .L49. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 39-02, page: 0421. Adviser: Max Hedley. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1999.

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