Discourses of/on Social Inequalities Part 1
Monday, 7 July 2025: 09:00-10:45
Location: ASJE027 (Annex of the Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences)
RC25 Language and Society (host committee)
Language: English
This session synthesises key insights from seminal texts on social inequalities, emphasising the role of discourse in shaping and perpetuating these disparities. Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men" serves as a foundational critique, asserting that social inequality is not a natural phenomenon but a product of human civilization and social constructs. Rousseau contends that the development of private property and subsequent social institutions engendered disparities in power and wealth, diverging from a hypothetical state of nature characterized by equality and freedom. Rousseau's critique remains pertinent as it provides a theoretical framework for understanding the historical and philosophical underpinnings of modern social inequalities...
Contemporary discourse analysis, as explored in advanced English studies, extends Rousseau's critique by examining the linguistic and semiotic processes through which social inequalities are reproduced and challenged in various contexts. This approach highlights how language and communication practices reflect and reinforce power dynamics, contributing to the systemic marginalization of certain groups.
Further exploration in the field of social sciences elucidates the multifaceted nature of social inequality, encompassing economic, racial, gender, and educational dimensions. Studies in this domain underscore the interplay between structural factors and individual agency, suggesting that social policies and interventions must address both macro-level systemic issues and micro-level interactions to effect meaningful change
Session Organizers:
Anna ODROWAZ-COATES, Maria Grzegorzewska University, Poland and
Laura ODASSO, Cergy Paris Université, France
Oral Presentations
