Nice Is Not Enough

Inequality and the Limits of Kindness at American High
1. Auflage 2023
ISBN: 978-0-520-27643-7
Verlag: University of California Press

Buch, Englisch, 264 Seiten, Cloth Over Boards, Format (B × H): 159 mm x 232 mm, Gewicht: 528 g

This provocative story of contemporary high school argues that a shallow culture of kindness can do more lasting harm than good.

Based on two years of research, Nice Is Not Enough shares striking dispatches from one high school's "regime of kindness" to underline how the culture operates as a Band-Aid on persistent inequalities. Through incisive storytelling and thoughtful engagement with students, this brilliant study by C.J. Pascoe exposes uncomfortable truths about American politics and our reliance on individual solutions instead of profound systemic change.

Nice Is Not Enough brings readers into American High, a middle- and working-class high school characterized by acceptance, connection, and kindness—a place where, a prominent sign states, "there is no room for hate." Here, inequality is narrowly understood as a problem of individual merit, meanness, effort, or emotion rather than a structural issue requiring deeper intervention. Surface-level sensitivity allows American High to avoid "political" topics related to social inequality based on race, sex, gender, or class. Being nice to each other, Pascoe reveals, does not serve these students or solve the broader issues we face; however, a true politics of care just might.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Pascoe, C J

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Mentalitäts- und Sozialgeschichte
• Sozialwissenschaften Ethnologie | Volkskunde Volkskunde
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Gender Studies: Homosexualität, LGBTQ+
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziologie Allgemein
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft | Kulturwissenschaften Populärkultur
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Freizeitsoziologie, Konsumsoziologie, Alltagssoziologie, Populärkultur
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Gender Studies, Geschlechtersoziologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

1 No Room for Hate
2 The Politics of Protection

3 Love and Justice at American High

4 When Powder Puff Becomes Power Tough

5 The Philanthropic Class

6 The Politics of Care

Appendix

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Über Autor(innen)

C.J. Pascoe is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Oregon and author of the award-winning book Dude, You’re a Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in High School.