Transcript Conflict Theory & Social Problems

There is Audio! It will be turned on at 7:00p.m ET
“When solving problems, dig at the roots
instead of just hacking at the leaves.”
(Anthony J. D’Angelo)
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Amy Richie
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 641.750.0908
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Master of Science, Human Services, Counseling Studies
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
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Art Therapy and Small Group Counseling
Pregnancy Prevention Programming
Executive Director – Big Brothers Big Sisters
District Youth Leader for my Church. Worked with 13 congregational youth
leaders in developing outreach programs for K-12 youth.
Best Decision Ever – Volunteer at the Iowa State Training School for Boys
Best Career Ever – Mom & Wife!
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Seminars
• Wednesday, 7:00p.m. ET
• Thursday, 7:00p.m. ET
 You can choose either one and it does not matter if one
week you attend on Wednesday and then the next week
you attend on Thursday.
 I am doing BOTH seminars. The information presented will
be EXACTLY the same on both nights.
 All PowerPoints will be posted in Doc Sharing.
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Unit 1 To-Do-List
 Introduce Yourself
 Complete the assigned Readings
• Read the Syllabus and pp. 26-51 in Henslin, and review the Web Resources
related to social issues.
 Participate in Discussion
• The Discussion for this week will focus on social problems, and three
different perspectives used to view social problems. Please respond to the
following questions/statements:
– Which of the three sociological perspectives (Functionalism, Conflict
Theory, or Symbolic Interactionism) best explains the social problems
that exist in society? Why do you think the perspective that you chose
best explains social problems?
– Using a reputable website or your local paper, find and describe
something you would consider to be a social problem. After you have
identified a social problem, discuss the impact that the problem has on
individuals as well as society.
 Attend Seminar (Option 1) or Submit Seminar Option 2
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Grading Criteria for Discussion Board: 45 Points
 Makes one primary post for each discussion thread (there may be more than one thread)
answering each of the questions correctly, and fully with substance meeting length
requirements (100 word minimum for each primary post). 0-20
 Makes two or more thoughtful responses to other students on each thread contributing to the
quality of the discussion and meets length requirements (50-100 words for each peer
response). 0-10
 Primary responses make at least 1 reference to the unit material, text, or other academic
source. 0-5
 Responses are clearly written and are original ideas rather than a recap of what others
contribute 0-10
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Grading Criteria for Seminar Option 1: 20 Points
 Frequent and thoughtful interaction on concepts being discussed by students and instructor.
0-10
 Posts are on topic and contribute to the quality of the seminar. 0-5
 Student arrives on time and stays the entire seminar. 0-5
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Grading Criteria for Seminar Option 2 20 Points
 Response is on topic answering each question correctly and fully making informed reference
to the unit material. 0 - 15
 Response is clear with correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, free of typographical errors, and
meets 200 – 250 word length requirement. 0 – 5
Sociological Theories &
Social Problems
In our society we devise our own ways of “covering
up” when the elderly have outlived their social
usefulness.
Theory:
• Explains how two or more concepts (or facts) are related,
such as age and suicide.
• A theory provides a framework for organizing facts, and in
so doing, provides a way of interpreting reality.
Sociological Theory:
• Provides a framework for thinking about a social issue from
a perspective that we might otherwise neglect.
Three Theories
FUNCTIONALISM
• A social system composed of parts that work
together to benefit the whole
CONFLICT THEORY
• Groups competing with one another within the
same social system
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
• People’s patterns of behavior always changing
Functionalism & Social Problems
• First major theory that sociologists use to interpret
social problems
• To see application of functionalist perspective to social
problems, think of society as single machine with
many parts.
– When each part does its job, the machine runs
smoothly. If some part fails, however, the whole
machine can suffer (dysfunctions).
• From the functionalist perspective, a social problem is
the failure of some part of society that interferes with
the society’s smooth functioning.
Applying Functionalism
to Social Problems
• Major source of social problems is the inevitable
consequence of change.
– Institutional change in one area of society disrupts the
equilibrium of society’s parts, forcing those parts to
make new adjustments.
• Society needs to pass its positions of
responsibility (jobs) from one group (the elderly)
to another group (younger people).
Functionalist Theory: Aging
Functions:
• Social Security transfers jobs from older workers to younger
• Social Security not only benefits recipients but families,
businesses, and workers at Social Security Administration
– Nursing homes as positive environments
– Function of change in family/work patterns
Dysfunctions:
• Nursing home facilities can be inadequate or detrimental
• Barriers to receiving adequate care and treatment that the
elderly face
• Rules and regulations
Functionalist Theory: Aging
Functions of Nursing Homes
• Nursing homes provide a function where stay-at-home
wives and mothers used to provide role of caretaker for
the elderly
Dysfunctions of Nursing Homes
• Segregated from outside world
• Medications
• Lack of privacy
• Rigid control
• Less contact with family and friends
• Psychological and physical abuse is common
Conflict Theory & Social Problems
• Below the surface, society’s parts are competing with one
another for scarce resources.
• From the conflict perspective, social problems are the natural
and inevitable outcome of social struggle.
Conflict theory: views society as a system in competition and
conflict
• Each group in society attempts to further its own interests, even at
the expense of others.
• As these interests collide, the social order becomes unstable.
• Those in power exploit people and their resources for their own
benefit.
Applying Conflict Theory
to Social Problems
• At the root of each social problem lies conflict over
the distribution of power and privilege.
• Social problems are inevitable, for it is inevitable that
groups will come in conflict as they try to maintain or
to gain control over power and privilege.
• Understanding that power and privilege lie at the
root of social problems helps analysts to penetrate
the surface and pinpoint what any particular social
problem is all about.
Applying Conflict Theory
to Social Problems
Two types of social problems:
– Trouble experienced by people who are exploited by
the powerful
– Trouble experienced by the powerful when the
exploited resist, rebel, or even appeal to higher
values
Feminist Theory
• Inspired by the Marxist theory and aims to transform
society instead of just studying it
Patriarchy
• Rule by men is understood to be the root of all this
inequality.
• To maintain this power, men create boundaries and
obstacles for women, making it hard for them to gain
power.
Development of Feminist Theory
• In 1970s, feminist theory was an umbrella term that described
oppression of all women.
• In 1980s, feminists split into five different branches of feminist
theory.
– Radical feminism: dismantle society entirely to dissolve
patriarchy
– Liberal feminism: all people created equal and deserve
equal rights
– Socialist feminism: direct link between capitalist class
structure and oppression of women
– Cultural feminism: biological differences between men
and women should be appreciated
– Ecofeminism: patriarchy oppressive for women and
environment
Applying Feminist Theory
to Social Problems
• Social norms place the burden of care for elderly
parents disproportionately on daughters, not sons.
• In the U.S., men typically do not care for parent(s)
because it is often assumed his wages are more
vital than a woman’s.
• Over the next several decades, the population of
aged persons will continue to grow, while the
number of caregivers remain constant.
• Social problems are a result of the struggle over
resources between men and women.
Symbolic Interactionism
& Social Problems
• The significance of culture
– Sociological theory that focuses on the symbols that
people use to make sense out of life
Symbols: things to which we attach meaning and
that we use to communicate with one another
• Because symbols change, so do social problems
Symbolic Interactionism
& Social Problmes
• Earlier in our history, old age was a personal problem,
not a social problem.
– What was once a personal problem had become a
social problem
– From the perspective of symbolic interactionists, then,
social problems are whatever people in a society
define as social problems.
Applying Symbolic Interactionism
to Social Problems
• Social Construction of Reality: the attempt to make
sense of life by giving meaning to one’s experiences.
• The Social Construction of Social Problems:
– Labeling
• Simply means that people categorize things
• Put tags on other people or on events and then act
accordingly
The Future of the Problem:
The Pendulum Swings
• Some people think elderly are receiving more than their
fair share.
– Reflects fundamental shift in the subjective concerns
of this social problem
– Belief centers on costs of health care
• In about 20 years or so, one in five Americans will be
elderly.
– This continuous growth will strain Social Security and
health care programs.
The Emerging Struggle
• “Congress has caved in and has given too many benefits to old
people.”
– Some want to trim Social Security, Medicare, and other
programs available to the elderly.
– To protect their gains, older Americans have organized a
powerful political lobby.
• The AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons)
boasts 38 million members and a staff of 1,200.
– Difficult for politicians to ignore these numbers
The Emerging Struggle
• The interests of younger and older groups are on a
collision course.
• Two major problems:
– Contributions to Social Security are not put into a
worker’s own account.
– Proportion that collect Social Security is growing,
proportion who are working (those who pay) is
shrinking.
• Dependency ratio: number of workers compared
with number of Social Security recipients