The study of social divisions has dominated research within the social sciences since the nineteenth century. Understanding Social Divisions addresses the full range of social divisions in one volume while also considering the nature of social division in itself, in a comprehensive and accessible overview.

Shaun Best is a Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Manchester, and author of Understanding Social Divisions, (2005) and A Beginner¿s Guide to Social Theory (2003, both SAGE).

Introduction
Placing Myself in the Social Divisions
Class Division
Disability and Mental Illness
Race, Racism and Ethnic Diversity
Gender and Sexuality
State Sponsored Social Divisions
Conclusions