Books in the Short Introductions series

Written by one of the very few top social work academics in the UK whose work is internationally renowned. Covers all user groups (from young offenders to the elderly and immigrant groups) as well as looking at important themes that shall become of ever greater relevance to social workers ,such as disaster management.

This engaging introduction explores the meaning of social deviance in contemporary society, from criminal activity to alternative lifestyle choices. Stuart Henry traces the path by which we create deviance: how we single out behavior and appearances that differ from the 'norm', label them as offensive or unacceptable, and condemn them.

"This text provides the roadmap to the vibrant area of Media Industry studies"--

Major short introduction to the field of television studies. Clearly lays out the birth of this discipline, shows its links with other fields of study and explains key concepts and theoretical debates. Includes interview material with scholars whose work has defined the field.

Health and illness underpin our everyday existence. Health allows us to live full lives and to function as social beings; illness disrupts our lives, sometimes seriously. But health not only affects individuals, it also impacts upon society as a whole.

Sociology is the intellectual discipline that seeks to provide answers to those questions by the deployment of argument and evidence. In doing so it will often question basic assumptions that we all make about our social world and therefore has the capacity to upset settled or conventional opinions.

* A high quality, authoritative introductory cultural studies textbook from a leading figure in the field. * Packed full of contemporary examples to bring cultural studies to life for beginning students at any level. * Clear and accessible for students but nuanced and novel enough to appeal to lecturers too.

* An original and illuminating analysis of current trends in contemporary politics. * A brilliantly written text which is likely to become a minor classic in the field. * Examines and explains current levels of disengagement and apathy towards politics and politicians. * Genuinely international and comparative in focus.

* a high quality, authoritative introduction to international development by a leading scholar in the field. * clear, accessible and concise, this is the ideal primer for students unfamiliar with the central themes and theoretical perspectives in the study of development.

What does it mean to think of children as social subjects and how should we go about studying childhood in society? Childhood is a key site where children come to understand themselves as particular kinds of people, not only as individuals but also as members of social and cultural groups.

How can we understand gender in the contemporary world? What psychological differences now exist between women and men? How are masculinities and femininities made? And what is the relationship between gender issues and globalizing concerns such as environmental change and economic restructuring? This book deals with these questions.