Social Problems Finding Solutions, Taking Action

by McNamara, Robert

• ISBN13: 9780190056353
• ISBN10: 0190056355
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2021-09-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Author Biography

Robert McNamara is professor of criminal justice and former Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate College at The Citadel.

Table of Contents

Preface
CHAPTER 1
What Is Sociology and Why Should I Care?
What is Sociology?
Stories as Tools
The Sociological Perspective
The Sociological Imagination
What's Theory Got to Do with It?
Structural Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
Other Important Sociological Theories
Feminist Theory
Critical Theory
Critical Race Theory
Queer Theory
Postmodern Theory
How Sociologists Do Their Thing: Research Methods
Surveys
Experimental Methods
Qualitative Research
Ethnography/Participant Observation
Interviews
Using Research Methods in the Real World: Does This Program Really Work?
What Is a Social Problem?
The Evolution of a Social Problem
Conclusion
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
CHAPTER 2
Why Is Crime Always in the News? Crime and Interpersonal Violence
The Extent of Crime in the United States
Crime Trends
Are People Afraid of Crime?
Why Is Crime Bad?
Harm
Costs
The Public's Role in the Crime Problem
Types of Crime
Violent Crimes
Property Crimes
Public Order Crime
Juvenile Crime
Occupational (White Collar) and Corporate Crime
Cybercrime
What Roles Does Sociological Theory Play In Understanding Crime?
Anomie and Strain Theory
Conflict Theory and Crime
Symbolic Interactionism and Crime
The Criminal Justice System and its Impact on Crime
The Police
Courts
Corrections
What Works? Effective Solutions to Crime
Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program
Perry Preschool Project
Hot Spots Policing
Popular But Less Effective Programs
D.A.R.E.
Juvenile Boot Camps
Weed and Seed
So What Can I Do?
Conclusion
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
BOXES
YOU MAKE THE CALL: School Shootings
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES: Why is Crime in Japan so Low Compared to the United States?
CHAPTER 3
Are More People Getting High? Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Why Alcohol and Drug Abuse are Social Problems
Tobacco Use and Abuse
Lawsuits and the Tobacco Industry
E-cigarettes/Vaping
Smokeless Tobacco
Alcohol Use and Abuse
Extent of Use
Driving Under the Influence
Treatment of Alcohol Abuse
Behavioral Treatments
Drug Use and Abuse
The Opioid Epidemic
Marijuana Use and Abuse
Society's Response to Drug Abuse: The War on Drugs
Sociological Theory and Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Functionalism and Drug Abuse
Conflict Theory and Drug Abuse
Symbolic Interactionism and Drug Abuse
Critical Race Theory and Drug Abuse
What Works? Effective Solutions To Address Alcoholism And Drug Addiction
Tobacco Use: Breaking The Habit
Opioid Addiction: Combining Approaches
Alcohol Abuse: Limiting Access
So What Can I Do?
Conclusion
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
BOXES
YOU MAKE THE CALL: Marijuana and Enforcement Disparity
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES: Marijuana Use in Other Countries
CHAPTER 4
Why Are There So Many Poor People? Poverty and Inequality
The Extent of Poverty in the United States
The American Way and the American Dream: Middle Class Perceptions of Poverty and the Poor
Social Class/Social Inequality in the United States
Personal Attribution
Systemic Attribution
Defining Poverty
The Poverty Line
Profiling the Poor
Children and the Poor
Homelessness: The Other Side of Poverty
A Profile of the Homeless
Sociological Theory and Poverty
Functionalism and Poverty
Conflict Theory and Poverty
Cultural Explanations
Postmodernism and Poverty
How We Help the Poor: Welfare and Social Policy
How Did We Get Here?
What Works? Effective Solutions to Poverty
So What Can I Do?
Conclusion
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
BOXES
YOU MAKE THE CALL: Law Enforcement and the Homeless
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES: Finland's Universal Basic Income
CHAPTER 5
Do You Want Fries with That? Work and the Economy
The Nature of Economic Systems
Traditional Economy
Command Economy
Socialism
Market Economy
Mixed Economy
Comparing Capitalism and Socialism
The Best of Both Worlds? Democratic Socialism
Work and Employment in the United States
The Impact of Globalization
Deindustrialization
The Impact of Economic Changes on Workers
Automation and Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace
A Living Wage
The Gig Economy and Part-time Workers
Unemployment and Underemployment
Unions and the Protection of Workers
The Underground Economy
Sociological Theory, Work, and the Economy
Functionalism and Work
Conflict Theory and Work
Symbolic Interactionism and Work
What Works? Effective Solutions to Workplace Problems
Flextime and Telecommuting
So What Can I Do?
Conclusion
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
BOXES
YOU MAKE THE CALL: Fair Pay
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES: Social Democracy in Action
CHAPTER 6
Can't We All Just Get Along? Racial and Ethnic Inequalities
Definitional Matters
Race and Ethnicity
The Social Construction of Race
Minority Groups
Prejudice, Discrimination, and Racism
White Privilege and White Fragility
Is the Problem about Race or Social Class?
Institutional Discrimination and Systemic Racism
Housing
Education
Employment and Income
Criminal Justice
Health Care and Illness
Sociological Theory and Race
Functionalism and Race
Conflict Theory and Race
Critical Race Theory
Symbolic Interactionism and Race
What Works? Effective Solutions to Prejudice, Discrimination, and Racism
Affirmative Action
Education
Workplace Diversity Training
Media Campaigns
So What Can I Do?
Conclusion
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
BOXES
YOU MAKE THE CALL: Policing While White
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES: Racial Tolerance
CHAPTER 7
Can I Stay A Little Longer? Immigration and Refugees
An Overview of Immigration in the United States
History of Immigration in the United States
The Extent of Immigration in the United States Today
Immigrants: A Profile
Immigration and Politics
Public Opinion and Immigration
Refugees
Immigrants and the Criminal Justice System
Deportations
Detentions
Federal, State, and Local Policies and Immigration
Sociological Theory and Immigration
Functionalism and Immigration
Conflict Theory and Immigration
Symbolic Interactionism and Immigration
Critical Race Theory and Immigration
What Works? Effective Solutions to Address Problems of Immigration
So What Can I Do?
Conclusion
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
BOXES
YOU MAKE THE CALL: Families at the Border
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES: The Refugee Crisis in Yemen
CHAPTER 8
Does Education Really Lead to a Better Life? Educational Inequalities
An Overview of Education in the United States
History of Public Education in the United States
The Impact of Educational Inequalities in the United States
Race and Educational Inequality
Challenges to Public Education
No Child Left Behind Act
School Violence and School Shootings
Zero-Tolerance Policies and Academic Achievement
How Do Us and International Schools Compare?
Why Do Some Public Schools Fail?
Structural Factors
Cultural and Individual Factors
Responses to Challenges in Public Education
Charter Schools
School Vouchers
Home Schooling
English First Movement
The Problem Does Not End in High School: Higher Education Issues
Is a College Education Really Worth It?
The High Cost of Dropping Out of College
For-Profit Colleges and Online Education
Sociological Theory and Education
Functionalism and Education
Conflict Theory and Education
Symbolic Interactionism and Education
What Works? Effective Solutions to Address Problems Of Education
K-12 Programs
Higher Education Programs
So What Can I Do?
Conclusion
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
BOXES
YOU MAKE THE CALL: Principal or Police?
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES: How US Students Are Falling Behind
CHAPTER 9
Why Can't a Woman Do That? Gender Inequalities
DEFINING GENDER
Differences Between Boys and Girls
The Women's Movement in the United States
Gender Socialization and Social Institutions
Parents and Caretakers
Peers
Media
Schools
Gender, Life Chances, and Inequalities
Work and Income
Family and Career
Military
Crime and Victimization
Female criminality
CONTENTS
Sexual Harassment
Sociological Theory and Gender
Functionalism and Gender
Conflict Theory and Gender
Symbolic Interactionism and Gender
Feminist Theory and Gender
What Works? Effective Solutions to Gender Inequality
So What Can I Do?
Conclusion
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
BOXES
YOU MAKE THE CALL: Gender Stereotypes and Children
CHAPTER 10
Love Is Love: Sexuality and Sexual Behavior
Defining Sexual Orientation
The History of LGBTQ People in the United States
Challenges Facing LGTBQ People
Prejudice and Discrimination
Same-Sex Marriages and Parenting
Housing Discrimination
Discrimination in The Military
Criminal Victimization and Hate Crime
Challenges for LGBTQ People in the Criminal Justice System
LGBTQ People and the Police
The Courts and LGBTQ People
LGBTQ People and Prison Life
Sociological Theory and Sexuality
Functionalism and Sexuality
Conflict Theory and Sexuality
Symbolic Interactionism and Sexuality
Feminist and Queer Theory and Sexuality
What Works? Effective Solutions to LGBTQ Inequality
So What Can I Do?
Conclusion
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
BOXES
YOU MAKE THE CALL: Adoption and the LGBTQ Community
CHAPTER 11
Is Our Understanding of Family Changing?
Defining Family
Changes To Families
The Decline of Marriage and the Birthrate
Cohabitation and Childbearing
Divorce
Women in the Workforce
Same-Sex Marriages
Single-Parent Families
Grandparent-led Families
Family Problems
Family Violence
Child Neglect and Abuse
Types of Neglect
Reasons for Neglect
Types of Child Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Intervention in Abuse Cases
Teachers
Medical Personnel
Law Enforcement
Foster Care
Sociological Theory and the Family
Functionalism and the Family
Conflict and Feminist Theories and the Family
Symbolic Interactionism and the Family
Queer Theory and the Family
What Works? Effective Solutions to Family Problems
Family Skills Education
Aging Out of Foster Care
So What Can I Do?
Conclusion
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
BOXES
YOU MAKE THE CALL: Fostering a troubled child
CHAPTER 12
Is 70 the New 40? Population and Aging
The Aging American Population
The Elderly as Baby Boomers and Generation X
Economics of Aging
Income
Older Americans in the Workforce
Retirement Savings
Crime And the Elderly
Elderly Victims
Elder Abuse
Elderly Offenders
Health Care and Aging
Long-Term Care
Dementia
Death and Dying
Family Relations and Aging
Widowhood
Social Isolation
Sociological Theory and Aging
Functionalism and Aging
Conflict Theory and Aging
Feminist Theory and Aging
Symbolic Interactionism and Aging
What Works? Effective Solutions to the Probloms of Aging
Meals on Wheels
Physical Activity Programs for the Elderly
So What Can I Do?
Conclusion
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
BOXES
YOU MAKE THE CALL: Fighting Poverty and Loneliness
CHAPTER 13
Are You Feeling Okay? Health and Health Care
The Costs of Health Care in the United States
The Specialization of Medicine
Longevity and the Aging of America
Inequalities and Health Care in America
Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Social Class
How To Address The Spiraling Costs of Health Care
The History of Health Insurance in America
Private Insurance
Public Insurance: Medicare and Medicaid
The Affordable Care Act/Obamacare
The GOP Alternative to Obamacare
Misinformation, Skepticism, and Denial
Sociological Theory and Health Care in The United States
Functionalism and Health Care
Conflict Theory and Health Care
Symbolic Interactionism and Health Care
What Works? Effective Solutions to Problems of Health Care
So What Can I Do?
Conclusion
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
BOXES
YOU MAKE THE CALL: Financing Medical Care
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES: Health Care in Singapore
CHAPTER 14
What's that Smell? The Environmental Crisis
Environmental Issues
Climate Change and Global Warming
Addressing Climate Change and Climate Skeptics
Air Pollution
Water Pollution
Land Pollution
Radioactive Waste
Environmental Racism
Sociological Theory and Environmental Problems
Functionalism and the Environment
Conflict Theory and the Environment
Symbolic Interactionism and the Environment
What Works? Addressing Environmental Problems
So What Can I Do?
Conclusion
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
BOXES
YOU MAKE THE CALL: Profit or People?
CHAPTER 15
Do We Need to Be Afraid? War and Terrorism
War as a Social Problem
Costs
Harm
Technology and Warfare
Terrorism
Costs of Terrorism
Types of Terrorism
Fear and Public Opinion about Terrorism in the United States
Sociological Theory on War and Terrorism
Functionalism, War, and Terrorism
Conflict Theory, War, and Terrorism
Symbolic Interactionism, War, and Terrorism
What Works? Effective Solutions to the Problems of War and Terrorism
So What Can I Do?
Conclusion
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
BOXES
YOU MAKE THE CALL
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES: Incidences of Terror Around the Globe
Glossary
References
Credits 485
Index