1 / 68

Social Problems:

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?.

maine
Download Presentation

Social Problems:

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. 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?

  2. 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….

  3. 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...

  4. 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

  5. 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….

  6. 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...

  7. 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)

  8. Chapter 1 continued: • Growth in Developed vs. Underdeveloped Nations… • Life Chances and Underdevelopment • …Poverty and Population Growth • Three “Myths of World Hunger” • Economic Security and Family Size • …The Colonial Legacy • The US and the Underdeveloped World • Where is it all going?

  9. Chpt. 2: Concentration ofPolitical 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)

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. Chapter 2 continued... • Political Alienation • Political non-participation • The Influence of the “New Right” • Political Extremism • Toward the Democratic Ideal

  13. 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.”

  14. Chapter 3 continued... • The Military Industrial Complex • The rise of the Mil. Indust. Complex • The Uniformed Military • The Aerospace-Defense Industry • The National Security Managers • The Militarized Congress...

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. Nature and Extent: 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

  18. Searching for Causes: Human Nature Population and Affluence Science and Technology Economic Organization Online Links Chapter 4: Environmental Abuse

  19. Searching for Solutions: Problems in Combating Environmental Abuse Changing Institutions and Activities Online Links Chapter 4: Environmental Abuse

  20. 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

  21. The Changing World of Work: Unemployment Job Satisfaction Controlling People/Controlling Work Chapter 5: WORK

  22. The Changing World of Work: The De-Industrialized Society Decline of Self-Employment Bureaucratization of Workplace Rise of Contingency Work Chapter 5: WORK

  23. Unemployment: Extent of Unemployment Causes of Unemployment The Impact of Unemployment Under-employment (1999)? Chapter 5: WORK

  24. Job Satisfaction: The Blue-collar Worker The White-collar Worker (The Pink-collar Worker?) Job Dissatisfaction and the Consumer Society Chapter 5: WORK

  25. Controlling People/Controlling Work: Work and Other Macro Problems Improving the Nature of Work Chapter 5: WORK

  26. 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

  27. The Reality of Economic Inequality concentration of wealth and ownership unequal distribution of income growing economic disparities minorities and economic inequality Chapter 6: Economic Inequality and Poverty

  28. Perpetuation of Economic Inequality wealth begets wealth unequal burden of taxation ideological supports for inequality Chapter 6: Economic Inequality and Poverty

  29. Poverty amidst Affluence What is poverty? Who are the poor? Why are they poor? Chapter 6: Economic Inequality and Poverty

  30. The Effects of EconomicInequality Inequality and Life Chances Homelessness Hunger and Malnutrition The Need for Government Intervention Chapter 6: Economic Inequality and Poverty

  31. 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

  32. The “Great School Legend” Beliefs about U.S. Education A Revisionist Critique Chapter 7: Schooling and Unequal Educational Opportunity

  33. 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

  34. Schooling and Inequality 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 7: Schooling and Unequal Educational Opportunity

  35. 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

  36. The Meaning of Racism Personal Racism Institutional Racism The Myth of Innate Racial Inferiority Chapter 8: Racism

  37. Economic Deprivation and Exploitation Employment and Income Business Ownership Chapter 8: Racism

  38. Political Powerlessness Government Employment Voter Participation Minorities and the Law Chapter 8: Racism

  39. Educational Deprivation The Battle against Segregation Obstacles to Equal Education Chapter 8: Racism

  40. Racism and Society The Costs of Racism The Inspiration of Minority Responses The Civil Rights Movement Toward a More Equal Society Chapter 8: Racism

  41. The Stated Ideal “There should be no personal and institutional discrimination against individuals on the basis of sex.” Chapter 9: Sexism

  42. The Meaning of Sexism The Economic Effects of Sexism The Political Effects of Sexism The Feminist Movement Chapter 9: Sexism

  43. The Meaning of Sexism Male Chauvinism versus Institutional Sexism Is Biology Destiny Socialization and Self-Concept Chapter 9: Sexism

  44. The Economic Effects of Sexism Earnings and Job Opportunities Forces Favoring Economic Subordination The Issue of Comparable Worth Laboring in the Home The Consumer Role Chapter 9: Sexism

  45. The Political Effects of Sexism Women’s Rights and the Law Political Participation Chapter 9: Sexism

  46. The Stated Ideal “There should be no personal and institutional discrimination against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation.” Chapter 10: Heterosexism

  47. The Meaning of Heterosexism 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

  48. The Meaning of Heterosexism Chapter 10: Heterosexism

  49. Sexual Orientation Chapter 10: Heterosexism

  50. Theories as to Why Homosexuality Exists Psychological Theories Social Contagion Theories Biological Theories Political Implications of Discovery of a “Gay Gene” Chapter 10: Heterosexism

More Related