Exploring the Social Phenomenon of Labeling

A diverse group of contributors, from the fields of education, psychology, philosophy and cultural studies, explore the social phenomenon of labeling. The authors question the nature of labeling, its contexts and processes, looking in particular at its prescriptive and confining effects. The assumption that labels are neutral and applied neutrally is rejected as the political nature of labeling is revealed.

Topics discussed by the contributors include:

• the politics of labeling
• whiteness as a label for western cultural politics
• labeling in institutions
• popular culture and labeling
• school communities and classrooms and the politics of labeling
• labeling and race
• sexual labelings
• the impact of categorization on our children
• labeling in the special education system
• immigrants and limited English proficiency groups

Contributors include: Michael Apple, Peter McLaren, Cameron McCarthy and Maxine Greene.