The sociological imagination is a useful tool for teaching about plagiarism and academic integrity, and, in turn, academic integrity is a good case to help students learn about the sociological imagination. We present an exercise in which the class discusses reasons for and consequences of dishonest academic behavior and then examines a series of scenarios using the sociological imagination. Students and instructors consider whether each scenario is a violation of academic integrity norms and how it can be viewed as both personal and public. We demonstrate that this kind of discussion helps students learn about academic integrity and how to think of violations (including causes and a range of outcomes) sociologically. In other words, we encourage students to think of academic dishonesty (both causes and consequences) not just as “personal troubles” but also as “public issues.”
Reproductive rights movements throughout Latin America contend with the strong influence of the Catholic Church. In Argentina and Chile, two predominately Catholic countries where abortion is illegal yet common, reproductive rights activists see the church as their focal opponent. Analyzing data on the reproductive rights movement in each case, I argue that cultural opportunity is important for understanding the ways that activists address religion and the church in strategizing collective action frames. In Argentina, weak social support of the church foments more confrontational activism, despite the institutional power that the church still wields. In Chile, strong links between church and society obstruct reproductive rights challengers, leading to more cautious critiques of the church. Considering political and cultural opportunities is necessary when studying movements that make claims on both state and society, especially movements that challenge powerful cultural actors like the Catholic Church
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