Panel 8

Drawing from your research experience and methodologies, discuss how social perceptions of, and public sentiment toward, certain groups are variously constructed and manipulated to either stymie or facilitate public policy initiatives? More broadly, discuss how public policy constructs and reinforces inequality in society, and how it may be a means to foster social justice and equality. What is the role of the academic in the latter effort? How might scholars collaborate with other sectors of society to pursue these goals?