Social Problems in a Diverse Society (Book Alone)

by Kendall, Diana

• ISBN13: 9780205482641
• ISBN10: 0205482643
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

This text focuses on the significance of race, class, and gender; uses personal narratives to convey how problems are experienced by individuals and groups; and applies sociological perspectives throughout to examine social issues.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
Studying Social Problems in the Twenty-First Century	2	(24)
Using Sociological Insights to Study Social Problems	4	(5)
What Is a Social Problem?	4	(2)
The Sociological Imagination: Bringing Together the Personal and the Social	6	(1)
Box 1.1 Social Problems and Social Policy A Standoff on Gun Control Policy?	7	(2)
Do We Have a Problem? Subjective Awareness and Objective Reality	9	(1)
Box 1.2 Critical Thinking and You Determining What Constitutes a Social Problem	10	(1)
Using Social Theory to Analyze Social Problem	10	(7)
The Functionalist Perspective	11	(2)
The Conflict Perspective	13	(3)
The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective	16	(1)
Using Social Research Methods to Study Social Problems	17	(5)
Box 1.3 Social Problems in the Media ``If It Bleeds, It Leads''? News Reporting on Violence	18	(2)
Field Research	20	(1)
Survey Research	20	(1)
Secondary Analysis of Existing Data	21	(1)
In Sum	22	(4)
Summary	23	(1)
Key Terms	24	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	25	(1)
Wealth and Poverty: U.S. and Global Economic Inequalities	26	(22)
Wealth and Poverty in Global Perspective	28	(1)
Analyzing U.S. Class Inequality	29	(6)
Box 2.1 Social Problems in Global Perspective ``Cheap Labor'' and the Global Economy	30	(2)
Wealth versus Income Inequality	32	(2)
Divisions in the U.S. Class Structure	34	(1)
Poverty in the United States	35	(6)
Box 2.2 Social Problems and Statistics Poverty in the United States	36	(1)
The Poverty Line	36	(3)
Who Are the Poor?	39	(1)
Consequences of Poverty	40	(1)
Social Welfare in the United States	41	(7)
Box 2.3 Social Problems and Social Policy Following Up on Welfare Reform: Does One Size Fit All?	42	(1)
Explanations for Poverty	43	(2)
Can Class-Based Inequality Be Reduced?	45	(1)
Summary	46	(1)
Key Terms	47	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	47	(1)
Racial and Ethnic Inequality	48	(26)
Racial and Ethnic Inequality as a Social Problem	50	(2)
What Are Race and Ethnicity?	50	(1)
``Official'' Racial and Ethnic Classifications	50	(1)
Dominant and Subordinate Groups	51	(1)
Racism, Prejudice, and Discrimination	52	(2)
Box 3.1 Social Problems in Global Perspective The Polish Plumber in France: Negative Stereotypes about ``Cheap Labor''	53	(1)
Perspectives on Racial and Ethnic Inequality	54	(5)
Social-Psychological Perspectives	54	(1)
Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives	54	(1)
Functionalist Perspectives	55	(1)
Box 3.2 Social Problems in the Media The Color of Mayhem: Racial Stereotyping, Sexism, and Violence in Video Games	56	(1)
Conflict Perspectives	56	(3)
Inequalities Among Racial and Ethnic Groups	59	(10)
Native Americans (American Indians)	59	(1)
African Americans	60	(2)
Latinos/as (Hispanic Americans)	62	(2)
Asian and Pacific Americans	64	(1)
Box 3.3 Social Problems and Statistics Accurate and Inaccurate Comparisons	65	(3)
Box 3.4 Social Problems and Social Policy Social Justice: Beyond Black and White	68	(1)
Summary	69	(1)
Can Racial and Ethnic Inequalities Be Reduced?	69	(5)
Summary	71	(1)
Key Terms	72	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	72	(2)
Gender Inequality	74	(26)
Gender Inequality as a Social Problem	76	(1)
Defining Sex and Gender	76	(1)
Biological and Social Bases for Gender Roles	76	(1)
Gender Inequality and Socialization	77	(7)
Gender Socialization by Parents	77	(1)
Peers and Gender Socialization	78	(1)
Box 4.1 Critical Thinking and You Does Class Position Influence How We Think About Gender?	79	(1)
Education and Gender Socialization	80	(1)
Sports and Gender Socialization	81	(1)
The Media and Gender Socialization	81	(1)
Box 4.2 Social Problems and Social Policy Title IX and Gender Quotas in College Sports?	82	(2)
Contemporary Gender Inequality	84	(7)
The Gendered Division of Paid Work	85	(2)
The Wage Gap	87	(1)
Sexual Harassment	87	(2)
The Glass Ceiling and the Glass Escalator	89	(1)
The Double Shift	90	(1)
Perspectives on Gender Inequality	91	(4)
The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective	91	(1)
The Functionalist Perspective	92	(1)
Conflict and Feminist Perspectives	93	(1)
Box 4.3 Social Problems in Global Perspective Missing Girls: Facing Up to the Problem in China	94	(1)
Global Gender Inequality	95	(2)
Can Gender Inequality in the United States Be Reduced?	97	(3)
Summary	97	(1)
Key Terms	98	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	98	(2)
Inequality Based on Age	100	(20)
Ageism as a Social Problem	102	(8)
Age-Based Stereotypes	102	(1)
Social Inequality and the Life Course	102	(3)
Box 5.1 Social Problems in the Media Middle-aged Women: Over the Hill and in Need of Repair?	105	(3)
Death and Dying	108	(1)
Box 5.2 Social Problems and Statistics Drawing the Wrong Conclusion	109	(1)
Problems Associated with Aging	110	(5)
Workplace Discrimination	110	(1)
Retirement and Changing Roles	111	(1)
Health, Illness, and Health Care	111	(1)
Box 5.3 Social Problems and Social Policy Government-Funded Health Care for Older People: Medicare	112	(1)
Victimization	113	(1)
Family Problems and Social Isolation	113	(1)
Housing Patterns and Long-Term Care Facilities	114	(1)
Perspectives on Aging and Social Inequality	115	(1)
The Functionalist Perspective	115	(1)
The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective	115	(1)
The Conflict Perspective	116	(1)
Can Age-Based Inequality Be Reduced?	116	(4)
Summary	118	(1)
Key Terms	119	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	119	(1)
Inequality Based on Sexual Orientations	120	(20)
Nature and Extent of Inequality Based on Sexual Orientation	122	(1)
Box 6.1 Social Problems and Statistics How Many Gays and Lesbians?	122	(1)
Ideological Bases of Inequality Based on Sexual Orientation	123	(3)
Religion and Sexual Orientation	124	(1)
Box 6.2 Social Problems in the Media Depictions of Gay Men and Lesbians: Accurate Portrayals in Television Programming?	124	(2)
Law and Sexual Orientation	126	(1)
Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation	126	(6)
Lack of Marital Rights	127	(1)
Parental Rights	127	(1)
Box 6.3 Social Problems and Social Policy Should We Amend the U.S. Constitution to Define ``Marriage''?	128	(1)
Housing Discrimination	129	(1)
Discrimination in Medical Care	129	(1)
Occupational Discrimination	130	(1)
Discrimination in the Military	131	(1)
Victimization and Hate Crimes	132	(1)
Perspectives on Sexual Orientation and Social Inequality	132	(4)
Biological and Psychological Perspectives	133	(1)
Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives	134	(1)
Functionalist and Conflict Perspectives	135	(1)
Can Inequalities Based on Sexual Orientation Be Reduced?	136	(4)
Summary	138	(1)
Key Terms	139	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	139	(1)
Prostitution Pornography, and the Sex Industry	140	(20)
Deviance, the Sex Industry, and Social Problems	141	(1)
Prostitution in Global Perspective	142	(4)
The World's Oldest Profession?	143	(1)
The Global Sex Industry	143	(1)
Box 7.1 Social Problems in Global Perspective Economic Development or Childhood Sexual Slavery?	144	(1)
Health Aspects of Prostitution for Women	145	(1)
Prostitution in the United States	146	(4)
The Nature of Prostitution	146	(1)
The Extent of Prostitution	147	(1)
Box 7.2 Social Problems and Statistics What We Know and Don't Know about Prostitution	148	(1)
Prostitution and Age, Class, and Race	148	(2)
Sociological Perspectives on Prostitution	150	(2)
The Functionalist Perspective	150	(1)
The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective	150	(1)
The Conflict Perspective	151	(1)
Pornography	152	(4)
The Social Construction of Pornography as a Social Problem	152	(1)
The Nature and Extent of Pornography	153	(1)
Research on Pornography	154	(1)
Box 7.3 Social Problems and Social Policy The Issue of Real versus Virtual Actors in Internet Child Pornography	154	(1)
Pornography and Age, Gender, Class, and Race	155	(1)
The Future of Pornography and the Sex Industry	156	(4)
Summary	158	(1)
Key Terms	159	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	159	(1)
Alcohol and Other Drugs	160	(28)
Drug Use and Abuse	161	(2)
Defining Drug Abuse	162	(1)
Drug Addiction	162	(1)
Alcohol Use and Abuse	163	(6)
Alcohol Consumption and Class, Gender, Age, and Race	163	(1)
Box 8.1 Social Problems in the Media The Two Faces of Alcohol: Framing Social Drinking and Alcoholism on TV Shows	164	(2)
Alcohol-Related Social Problems	166	(3)
Tobacco (Nicotine) Use as a Social Problem	169	(1)
Prescription Drugs, Over-the-Counter Drugs, and Caffeine	170	(2)
Prescription Drugs	170	(1)
Over-the-Counter Drugs	171	(1)
Caffeine	172	(1)
Illegal Drug Use and Abuse	172	(6)
Marijuana	173	(1)
Stimulants	173	(1)
Box 8.2 Social Problems and Social Policy The Battle over Marijuana: Medicalization or Legalization?	174	(2)
Depressants	176	(1)
Narcotics	177	(1)
Hallucinogens	177	(1)
Explanation of Drug Abuse	178	(3)
Biological Explanations	178	(1)
Psychological Explanations	179	(1)
Sociological Explanations	179	(2)
The Future of Alcohol and Drug Abuse	181	(7)
Prevention Programs	181	(2)
Treatment Programs	183	(1)
Box 8.3 Critical Thinking and You Calling on a Higher Power or Using Self-Reliance? Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs	184	(2)
Summary	186	(1)
Key Terms	187	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	187	(1)
Crime and Criminal Justice	188	(30)
Crime as a Social Problem	190	(2)
Problems with Official Statistics	190	(2)
Defining Crime and Delinquency	192	(1)
Types of Crimes	192	(11)
Violent Crime	192	(3)
Box 9.1 Social Problems in the Media Murder in the Media: Framing News Stories to Get Attention	195	(3)
Property Crime	198	(2)
Occupational (White-Collar) Crime	200	(1)
Corporate Crime	200	(1)
Box 9.2. Social Problems in Global Perspective Who Am I? Identity Theft in the Global Village	201	(1)
Organized Crime	202	(1)
Juvenile Delinquency	202	(1)
Who Commits Crimes?	203	(1)
Biological and Psychological Explanations of Crime	204	(2)
Biological Explanations	204	(1)
Psychological Explanations	205	(1)
Sociological Explanations of Crime	206	(4)
The Functionalist Perspective	206	(2)
The Conflict Perspective	208	(1)
The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective	208	(2)
The Criminal Justice System	210	(8)
The Police	210	(1)
The Courts	211	(1)
Punishment and the Prisons	212	(1)
The Death Penalty	213	(1)
Box 9.3 Social Problems and Social Policy Crime Prevention or the Prison-Industrial Complex?	214	(1)
Summary	215	(2)
Key Terms	217	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	217	(1)
Health Care Problems of Physical and Mental Illness	218	(24)
Health Care as a Social Problem	219	(6)
Acute and Chronic Diseases and Disability	222	(1)
Box 10.1 Social Problems in Global Perspective Global Enemies of Health: The Double Burden of Low-Income Nations	222	(2)
The AIDS Crisis	224	(1)
Mental Illness as a Social Problem	225	(4)
Treatment of Mental Illness	225	(3)
Race, Class, Gender, and Mental Disorders	228	(1)
The Crisis in U.S. Health Care	229	(8)
Health-Care Organization, Rising Costs, and Unequal Access	230	(1)
Box 10.2 Social Problems and Social Policy Who Pays for Health Care? A Brief Look at Canada, the United Kingdom, and Sweden	230	(4)
The Uninsured and the Underinsured	234	(1)
Race, Class, Gender, and Health Care	234	(1)
Box 10.3 Social Problems and Statistics Families without Health Insurance	235	(2)
Sociological Explanations for Health-Care Problems	237	(5)
The Functionalist Perspective	237	(1)
The Conflict Perspective	238	(1)
The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective	239	(1)
Summary	240	(1)
Key Terms	241	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	241	(1)
The Changing Family	242	(24)
The Nature of Families	243	(5)
Changing Family Structure and Patterns	244	(1)
Are U.S. Families in Decline?	244	(1)
Changing Views on Marriage and Families	245	(2)
Box 11.1 Social Problems in Global Perspective The Changing Family around the World	247	(1)
Sociological Perspectives on Family-Related Problems	248	(2)
Functionalist Perspectives	248	(1)
Conflict and Feminist Perspectives	249	(1)
Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives	249	(1)
Diversity in Intimate Relationships and Families	250	(4)
Singlehood	250	(1)
Postponing Marriage	251	(1)
Cohabitation and Domestic Partnerships	251	(1)
Dual-Earner Marriages	252	(1)
Comparing Two-Parent and One-Parent Households	253	(1)
Child-Related Family Issues	254	(4)
Reproductive Freedom, Contraception, and Abortion	254	(1)
Infertility and New Reproductive Technologies	255	(1)
Adoption	256	(1)
Teen Pregnancies and Unmarried Motherhood	257	(1)
Divorce and Remarriage	258	(2)
Box 11.2 Social Problems and Statistics The Odds of Getting Divorced	259	(1)
Domestic Violence	260	(2)
Child Abuse	260	(1)
Spouse Abuse	261	(1)
Social Responses to Domestic Violence	262	(1)
Family-Related Problems in the Twenty-First Century	262	(4)
Box 11.3 Social Problems and Social Policy Paying for Child Care? ``It Takes a Village. . . .''	263	(1)
Summary	264	(1)
Key Terms	265	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	265	(1)
Problems in Education	266	(22)
Sociological Perspectives on Education	268	(5)
Functionalist Perspectives	268	(1)
Conflict Perspectives	269	(1)
Box 12.1 Social Problems in Global Perspective Education in Japan: Cramming for Success and Corporate Profits	269	(2)
Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives	271	(2)
Problems in U.S. Education	273	(5)
What Can Be Done about Illiteracy?	273	(1)
Immigration and Increasing Diversity in Schools	273	(2)
Educational Opportunities and Race, Class, and Gender	275	(2)
School Violence	277	(1)
Problems in School Financing	278	(3)
Box 12.2 Social Problems in the Media Ads and Obesity in the Classroom: Channel One	279	(2)
Problems in Higher Education	281	(2)
The Soaring Cost of a College Education	281	(1)
The Continuing Debate over Affirmative Action	282	(1)
Educational Problems in the Twenty-First Century	283	(5)
Box 12.3 Social Problems and Statistics Does Spending More Money Guarantee a Better Education?	284	(1)
Summary	284	(2)
Key Terms	286	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	287	(1)
Problems in Politics and the Global Economy	288	(22)
Three Major Modern Economic Systems	288	(3)
Capitalism	290	(1)
Socialism	290	(1)
Mixed Economies	291	(1)
Problems in the Global Economy	291	(2)
Inequality Based on Uneven Economic Development	291	(1)
Transnational Corporations and the Lack of Accountability	292	(1)
Problems in the U.S. Economy	293	(1)
Concentration of Wealth	293	(6)
Box 13.1 Social Problems in Global Perspective The Malling of China: Transnational Corporations and Global Consumerism	294	(2)
The National Debt and Consumer Debt	296	(1)
Corporate Welfare	297	(1)
Box 13.2 Critical Thinking and You Are You a Conservative or a Liberal? The Language of the Political Economy	298	(1)
Problems in Political Participation Around the World	299	(1)
Problems in U.S. Politics	300	(5)
Voter Apathy and the Gender Gap	300	(1)
Politics and Money in Political Campaigns	301	(1)
Government by Special-Interest Groups	302	(1)
Box 13.3 Social Problems and Social Policy ``He Who Pays the Piper, Calls the Piper's Tune?'' Passing Campaign Finance Reform	303	(1)
Government by Bureaucracy	303	(1)
The Military-Industrial Complex	304	(1)
Sociological Perspectives on the Political Economy	305	(2)
The Functionalist Perspective	306	(1)
The Conflict Perspective	306	(1)
Problems in Politics and the Economy in the Twenty-First Century	307	(3)
Summary	308	(1)
Key Terms	309	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	309	(1)
Problems in the Media	310	(20)
The Importance of the Media in Contemporary Life	311	(1)
The Political Economy of Media Industries	312	(4)
Media Ownership and Control	313	(2)
Problems Associated with Convergence	315	(1)
Global Media Issues	316	(4)
Box 14.1 Critical Thinking and You Where Does Your News Come From? Should You Care?	317	(2)
Box 14.2 Social Problems in Global Perspective Skewed Depictions of Africa in the Media	319	(1)
Potential Media Effects	320	(3)
Aggression, Violence, and the Media	320	(1)
Perpetuation of Race and Gender Stereotypes in the Media	321	(2)
Sociological Perspectives on Media-Related Problems	323	(4)
The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective	324	(1)
The Functionalist Perspective	325	(1)
The Conflict Perspective	326	(1)
The Media in the Twenty-First Century	327	(3)
Summary	327	(2)
Key Terms	329	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	329	(1)
Population, Global Inequality, and the Environmental Crisis	330	(26)
Global Overpopulation	331	(8)
Population Growth	332	(2)
The Impact of Population Growth	334	(1)
Box 15.1 Social Problems in Global Perspective International Migration: Problem or Solution?	334	(2)
World Hunger	336	(3)
Controlling Fertility	339	(1)
Family Planning	339	(1)
Zero Population Growth	340	(1)
Immigration and Its Consequences	340	(2)
Population and the Environment	342	(8)
Box 15.2 Social Problems in the Media Children in the Trunk? Framing Ads to Discourage Illegal Border Crossings	342	(1)
Economic Growth and Environmental Degradation	343	(1)
Air Pollution	344	(3)
Problems with Water, Soil, and Forests	347	(1)
Solid, Toxic, and Nuclear Wastes	348	(2)
Sociological Perspectives on Population and the Environment	350	(3)
The Functionalist Perspective	350	(1)
Box 15.3 Critical Thinking and You Do We Have a Problem or Not? Learning from Environmental Sociology	351	(1)
The Conflict Perspective	352	(1)
The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective	352	(1)
Population and the Environment in the Twenty-First Century	353	(3)
Summary	354	(1)
Key Terms	355	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	355	(1)
Urban Problems	356	(22)
Changes in U.S. Cities	358	(2)
Early Urban Growth and Social Problems	358	(1)
Contemporary Urban Growth	358	(2)
Urban Problems in the United States	360	(10)
Fiscal Crisis in the Cities	360	(2)
The Crisis in Health Care	362	(1)
Housing Problems	362	(2)
Box 16.1 Social Problems in the Media Media Framing of Stories about Homelessness and the Holidays	364	(3)
Box 16.2 Social Problems and Social Policy Persons Living with HIV/AIDS and Homelessness: What Should the Government Do?	367	(1)
Racial and Ethnic Segregation	368	(2)
Problems in Global Cities	370	(3)
Sociological Perspectives on Urban Problems	373	(2)
The Functionalist Perspective	373	(1)
The Conflict Perspective	373	(1)
The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective	374	(1)
Urban Problems in the Twenty-First Century	375	(3)
Summary	376	(1)
Key Terms	377	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	377	(1)
Global Social Problems: War and Terrorism	378	(20)
War as a Social Problem	380	(5)
The Nature of War	380	(1)
The Consequences of War	381	(1)
Box 17.1 Social Problems in the Media ``Weapons of Mass Destruction'': Political Spin and Media Framing of a War	382	(3)
Military Technology and War	385	(2)
Global Terrorism	387	(1)
Terrorism in the United States	388	(1)
Explanations of War and Terrorism	389	(4)
Biological Perspectives	389	(1)
Psychological Perspectives	390	(1)
Sociological Explanations	391	(1)
The Conflict and Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives	392	(1)
War and Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century	393	(5)
Box 17.2 Social Problems and Social Policy Does the USA Patriot Act Protect Us or Threaten Our Liberties? Ask Your Librarian	394	(1)
Summary	394	(3)
Key Terms	397	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	397	(1)
Can, Social Problems Be Solved?	398	(23)
Box 18.1 Social Problems in the Media Covering the Hurricane Katrina Disaster: Journalists as Advocates in New Orleans	400	(2)
The Problem with Tackling Social Problems	402	(1)
Social Change and Reducing Social Problems	403	(1)
Microlevel Attempts to Solve Social Problems	403	(2)
Seeking Individual Solutions to Personal Problems	404	(1)
Limitations on the Microlevel Solutions Approach	405	(1)
Midrange Attempts to Solve Social Problems	405	(4)
Groups That Help People Cope with Their Problems	405	(1)
Grassroots Groups That Work for Community-Based Change	406	(2)
Limitations on the Midlevel Solutions Approach	408	(1)
Macrolevel Attempts to Solve Social Problems	409	(4)
Working through Special-Interest Groups for Political Change	409	(1)
Working through National and International Social Movements to Reduce Problems	410	(2)
Limitations of the Macrolevel Solution Approach	412	(1)
Final Review of Social Theories and Social Problems	413	(8)
Box 18.2 Critical Thinking and You Applying Sociology to the Ordinary and the Extraordinary in Everyday Life	414	(3)
Summary	417	(2)
Key Terms	419	(1)
Questions for Critical Thinking	419	(2)
Glossary	421	(8)
References	429	(24)
Name Index	453	(8)
Subject Index	461	(12)
Credits	473