Transcript Social Problems: - Welcome to QVCC

Social Problems:
• From a Sociological Perspective
– How we define problems will shape
how we try to “solve” them…
– How we define problems might be a
reflection of where we are in society
• Sociologists aim to study “objectively,
without bias or prejudgment…
– Is this possible?
Objective Social Science?
• Toward a “value-free” social science?
– Sociologists’ historical ideal, to be “value
free”
– Why have this ideal?
– Has this ideal ever been realized?
– Who has been behind this?
• Durkheim
• Weber
• And Beyond….
Our Aims In This Course:
• To compare a number of theoretical
approaches to “social problems”
– Social Pathology approach
– Social Disorganization approach
– A Critical approach
• To understand from this why and how
the authors have adopted a Critical
approach...
Our Aims: Cont.
• In the process… to understand the
distinction between
– Macro Problems (p. 11)
– Micro Problems (p. 12)
• …to understand the idea of the
• lifecycle of social problems (p. 15)
• …to understand the role of power in
defining and addressing social problems
Social Problems….
• Are not simply obvious things to be seen
and solved
• But are subject to definition and
interpretation, depending on
– who is doing the definition and
interpretation
– factors that bring the problem(s) to- or keep
them from public awareness….
Then…..
• The rest of the text (Neubeck and
Neubeck) is a series of discussions of a
variety of social problems, looked at from
a Critical perspective….
• ….each chapter starting with one of the
authors’ stated ideals….
• ….and then analyzing the status quo to
see whether it matches the ideal...
Chpt. 1: The Global Context,
Population and Underdevelopment
• The stated ideal :
– “Our relationship with poor, underdeveloped
nations should be non-exploitative and
supportive of movements to secure basic
human rights…” (p. 31)
Chapter 1 continued:
• Growth in Developed vs. Underdeveloped
Nations…
• Life Chances and Underdevelopment
• …Poverty and Population Growth
– Three “Myths of World Hunger”
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Economic Security and Family Size
…The Colonial Legacy
The US and the Underdeveloped World
Where is it all going?
Chpt. 2: Concentration of
Political and Economic Power
• The stated ideal…
“Members of society should be able to
actively participate in or directly influence
those political and economic decisions that
affect them.” (p.61)
Chapter 2 continued...
• Power in the US: Who rules?
– the Pluralist Perspective…
– people’s beliefs about political power
• The Power Elite Perspective
– The Attack on Pluralism
– Identifying the Power Elite
– The Erosion of Public Involvement
Chapter 2 continued...
• The Instrumentalist Perspective
– The social and economic upper class
– Does the U.S. have a governing class?
– Pluralism below
• The Structuralist Perspective
– From “free enterprise” to “corporate
capitalism”
– Corporate capitalism and politics
Chapter 2 continued...
• Political Alienation
– Political non-participation
– The Influence of the “New Right”
– Political Extremism
• Toward the Democratic Ideal
Chapter 3: Militarism and War
• The stated ideal…
– “To an irrational degree, the U.S. devotes
resources to military aggression and violence
against other peoples of the world. Instead,
our nation and others must move toward
disarmament and the peaceful settlement of
differences.”
Chapter 3 continued...
• The Military Industrial Complex
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The rise of the Mil. Indust. Complex
The Uniformed Military
The Aerospace-Defense Industry
The National Security Managers
The Militarized Congress...
Chapter 3 continued...
• Protecting U.S. Economic Interests
Abroad
– The Corporate-Governmental Partnership
– Defending the World against Socialism
– Military Readiness in the Post-Cold War Era
Chapter 3 continued...
• The Effects of Militarism
– Military Expenditures and the Civilian
Economy
– The Quality of Life
– The Nuclear Threat
• Choosing Human Survival
• Online Resources
Chapter 4: Environmental Abuse
• Nature and Extent:
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Air Pollution
The “Greenhouse Effect”
Ozone Layer Depletion
Acid Rain
Water Pollution
Toxic Substances
Nuclear Radiation
– Radon: Indoors
– Solid Wastes
– Noise and Visual
Pollution
– Land Misuse
– Resource Depletion
• Online Links
Chapter 4: Environmental Abuse
• Searching for Causes:
– Human Nature
– Population and Affluence
– Science and Technology
– Economic Organization
• Online Links
Chapter 4: Environmental Abuse
• Searching for Solutions:
– Problems in Combating
Environmental Abuse
– Changing Institutions and
Activities
• Online Links
Chapter 5: WORK
• The Stated Ideal:
“Work must be freely available to all. It should be organized
cooperatively, with special attention to providing meaning,
dignity, satisfaction and security.”
(p. 161)
Chapter 5: WORK
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The Changing World of Work:
Unemployment
Job Satisfaction
Controlling People/Controlling Work
Chapter 5: WORK
• The Changing World of Work:
– The De-Industrialized Society
– Decline of Self-Employment
– Bureaucratization of Workplace
– Rise of Contingency Work
Chapter 5: WORK
• Unemployment:
– Extent of Unemployment
– Causes of Unemployment
– The Impact of Unemployment
– Under-employment (1999)?
Chapter 5: WORK
• Job Satisfaction:
– The Blue-collar Worker
– The White-collar Worker
– (The Pink-collar Worker?)
– Job Dissatisfaction and the
Consumer Society
Chapter 5: WORK
• Controlling People/Controlling Work:
– Work and Other Macro Problems
– Improving the Nature of Work
Chapter 6: Economic Inequality and
Poverty
• The Stated Ideal:
“Gross differences in personal wealth and income
should be greatly reduced, so that the life
chances of all U.S. citizens are relatively equal
and so that all share more equitably in the
goods and services being produced.”(p.197)
Chapter 6: Economic Inequality and
Poverty
• The Reality of Economic Inequality
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concentration of wealth and ownership
unequal distribution of income
growing economic disparities
minorities and economic inequality
Chapter 6: Economic Inequality and
Poverty
• Perpetuation of Economic Inequality
– wealth begets wealth
– unequal burden of taxation
– ideological supports for inequality
Chapter 6: Economic Inequality and
Poverty
• Poverty amidst Affluence
– What is poverty?
– Who are the poor?
– Why are they poor?
Chapter 6: Economic Inequality and
Poverty
• The Effects of EconomicInequality
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Inequality and Life Chances
Homelessness
Hunger and Malnutrition
The Need for Government Intervention
Chapter 7: Schooling and Unequal
Educational Opportunity
• The Stated Ideal:
“Each individual must have ready and continuing
access to the education and training needed to
develop his or her interests and capabilities to
the fullest extent.”(p.231)
Chapter 7: Schooling and Unequal
Educational Opportunity
• The “Great School Legend”
– Beliefs about U.S. Education
– A Revisionist Critique
Chapter 7: Schooling and Unequal
Educational Opportunity
• Schooling as an Agent of Socialization
– The “Organization Child”
– Learning to Participate in the Economy
– The Political Impact of Schooling
Chapter 7: Schooling and Unequal
Educational Opportunity
• Schooling and Inequality
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Tracking and Testing: an Overview
An Elementary School Case Study
The High School Level
Higher Education
The Special Role of the Community College
Literacy and Inequality
• Altering the Educational System
Chapter 8: Racism
• The Stated Ideal:
“There should be no personal and institutional
discrimination against individuals on the basis
of race and ethnicity.”(p.265)
Chapter 8: Racism
• The Meaning of Racism
– Personal Racism
– Institutional Racism
– The Myth of Innate Racial Inferiority
Chapter 8: Racism
• Economic Deprivation and Exploitation
– Employment and Income
– Business Ownership
Chapter 8: Racism
• Political Powerlessness
– Government Employment
– Voter Participation
– Minorities and the Law
Chapter 8: Racism
• Educational Deprivation
– The Battle against Segregation
– Obstacles to Equal Education
Chapter 8: Racism
• Racism and Society
– The Costs of Racism
– The Inspiration of Minority Responses
– The Civil Rights Movement
– Toward a More Equal Society
Chapter 9: Sexism
• The Stated Ideal
“There should be no personal and
institutional discrimination against
individuals on the basis of sex.”
Chapter 9: Sexism
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The Meaning of Sexism
The Economic Effects of Sexism
The Political Effects of Sexism
The Feminist Movement
Chapter 9: Sexism
• The Meaning of Sexism
– Male Chauvinism versus Institutional Sexism
– Is Biology Destiny
– Socialization and Self-Concept
Chapter 9: Sexism
• The Economic Effects of Sexism
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Earnings and Job Opportunities
Forces Favoring Economic Subordination
The Issue of Comparable Worth
Laboring in the Home
The Consumer Role
Chapter 9: Sexism
• The Political Effects of Sexism
– Women’s Rights and the Law
– Political Participation
Chapter 10: Heterosexism
• The Stated Ideal
“There should be no personal and institutional
discrimination against individuals on the basis
of sexual orientation.”
Chapter 10: Heterosexism
• The Meaning of Heterosexism
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Sexual Orientation
Theories as to Why Homosexuality Exists
How Many Homosexuals are There in the U.S.?
Myths and Stereotypes about People Who are Gay
Arenas of Struggle against Heterosexism
Consequences of Heterosexism
Supporting Gay Rights
Chapter 10: Heterosexism
• The Meaning of Heterosexism
Chapter 10: Heterosexism
• Sexual Orientation
Chapter 10: Heterosexism
• Theories as to Why Homosexuality Exists
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Psychological Theories
Social Contagion Theories
Biological Theories
Political Implications of Discovery of a “Gay Gene”
Chapter 10: Heterosexism
• How Many Homosexuals are There in the U.S.?
Chapter 10: Heterosexism
• Myths and Stereotypes about People Who are Gay
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“Homosexuals are Easy to Identify”
“Homosexuals Lead Unproductive, Dissolute Lives”
“There is a Gay Lifestyle”
“Homosexuals are Sexually Obsessed and Promiscuous”
“Homosexuals are Sexual Predators and Child
Molesters”
– “Homosexuals Give You AIDS”
Chapter 10: Heterosexism
• Arenas of Struggle against Heterosexism
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Religion
Government Policy and the Church/State Separation
Marriage and Family
The Workplace
Education
Chapter 10: Heterosexism
• Consequences of Heterosexism
Chapter 10: Heterosexism
• Supporting Gay Rights
Chapter 11: Ageism
• The Stated Ideal
“There should be no personal and
institutional discrimination against
individuals on the basis of age.”
(p.369)
Chapter 11: Ageism
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Biological and Social Definitions of Aging
The Graying of the U.S. Population
Myths and Stereotypes
Disengagement versus Activity Theory
Income and Poverty Status
Employment and Retirement
Health and Healthcare
Housing and Transportation
Criminal Victimization
Elder Abuse
Old Age and Political Power
Chapter 11: Ageism
• Biological and Social Definitions of Aging
Chapter 11: Ageism
• The Graying of the U.S. Population
– Population Trends and Projections
– Characteristics of the Elderly
Chapter 11: Ageism
• Myths and Stereotypes
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“Old People are All the Same.”
“Old People are Unproductive”
Old People are Senile
Old People Are in a State of Deterioration and
Decline”
Chapter 11: Ageism
• Disengagement versus Activity Theory
Chapter 11: Ageism
• Income and Poverty Status
Chapter 11: Ageism
• Employment and Retirement
Chapter 11: Ageism
• Health and Healthcare
Chapter 11: Ageism
• Housing and Transportation
Chapter 11: Ageism
• Criminal Victimization
Chapter 11: Ageism
• Elder Abuse
Chapter 11: Ageism
• Old Age and Political Power