Social Problems - Higher Education Pearson

ContentsBox 6.2: Social Problems in Global PerspectivePerspectives on Sexual Orientationand Social InequalityPsychological PerspectivesSymbolic Interactionist PerspectivesFunctionalist and Conflict PerspectivesIs There a Solution to Inequality Based on SexualOrientation?Functionalist/Conservative Solutions to theProblemConflict/Liberal Solutions to the ProblemSymbolic Interactionist Solutions to the Problem106Alcohol Consumption, Personal Health,and Family Problems106106107108PERSONAL HEALTH PROBLEMS 133 109109109109Summary 110 Key Terms 111 Questions forCritical Thinking 1127Prostitution, Pornography, andSex Trafficking113Deviance, the Sex Industry, and Social Problems114Prostitution in Global Perspective115The Global Sex Industry and Human TraffickingBox 7.1: Social Problems in Global Perspective116116Health and Safety Aspects of Prostitution117Prostitution in the United StatesThe Nature of ProstitutionThe Extent of ProstitutionBox 7.2: Social Media and Social Problems118118119119Prostitution and Age, Class, and Race120Sociological Perspectives on ProstitutionThe Functionalist PerspectiveThe Symbolic Interactionist PerspectiveThe Conflict Perspective121121121122PornographyThe Social Construction of Pornography as a SocialProblemThe Nature and Extent of PornographyResearch on PornographyPornography and Age, Gender, Class, and Race122123123124124Is There a Solution to Problems Associated withProstitution, Pornography, and the Sex Industry?Functionalist/Conservative SolutionsConflict/Liberal SolutionsSymbolic Interactionist Solutions125126126126Summary 127 Key Terms 129 Questions forCritical Thinking 1298Alcohol and Other Drugs130Drug Use and AbuseDefining Drug AbuseDrug Addiction131131131Alcohol Use and AbuseAlcohol Consumption and Class, Gender, Age,and Race132A01 KEND2848 07 SE FM.indd 7132FAMILY PROBLEMSvii133134Alcohol Consumption and Public Problems: Workand Driving SafetyProblems in the WorkplacePublic Safety: Driving and Drinking134134135Tobacco (Nicotine) Use as a Social ProblemWho Is Most Likely to Smoke?Effects of Smoking135135136Prescription Drugs, Over-the-Counter Drugs,and CaffeinePrescription DrugsOver-the-Counter DrugsCaffeine137137137138Illegal Drug Use and AbuseMarijuanaBox 8.1: Social Problems and Social Policy138139139Stimulants140COCAINE AND CRACK 140 AMPHETAMINES ANDMETHAMPHETAMINES141DepressantsNarcoticsBox 8.2: Social Media and Social ProblemsHallucinogens141142142143Explanations of Drug AbuseBiological ExplanationsPsychological ExplanationsSociological Explanations143143144144THE SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST PERSPECTIVE 144 THE FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE 144 THE CONFLICTPERSPECTIVE145Is There a Solution to Problems Associated withAlcohol and Drug Abuse?Prevention ProgramsTreatment ProgramsThe Medical Treatment ModelThe Therapeutic CommunityBox 8.3: Critical Thinking and You145146147147147148Summary 148 Key Terms 150 Questions forCritical Thinking 1509Crime and Criminal Justice151Crime as a Social ProblemProblems with Official StatisticsDefining Crime and DelinquencyJuvenile Delinquency152152153153Violent Crime154MURDER 154 RAPE 155 GANGVIOLENCE 156 AGGRAVATED ASSAULTAND ROBBERY 156Property Crime157Workplace and Occupational (White-Collar) Crime15811/27/17 9:48 PM

viii ContentsBox 9.1: Social Problems in Global Perspective159Organized CrimeAre U.S. Families in Decline?195161Changing Views on Marriage and Families196Biological and Psychological Explanations ofCrimeBiological ExplanationsPsychological Explanations161162162Sociological Explanations of CrimeThe Functionalist PerspectiveThe Conflict PerspectiveThe Symbolic Interactionist Perspective163163164164Diversity in Intimate Relationships and FamiliesSinglehoodPostponing MarriageCohabitation and Domestic PartnershipsSame-Sex Marriages197198198198199The Criminal Justice SystemThe PoliceThe CourtsPunishment and the PrisonsThe Death Penalty165165166166168Is There a Solution to the Crime Problem?Functionalist/Conservative SolutionsConflict/Liberal SolutionsSymbolic Interactionist Solutions169169169170Summary 170 Key Terms 172 Questions forCritical Thinking 17210Health Care: Problems ofPhysical and Mental Illness173Health Care as a Social ProblemAcute and Chronic Diseases and DisabilityThe HIV/AIDS Crisis: A Case Study of anEpidemicBox 10.1: Social Problems in Global Perspective176178Mental Illness as a Social ProblemRace, Class, Gender, and Mental Disorders179180Paying for Health Care in the United StatesThe Affordable Care ActBox 10.2: Social Problems and Social Policy181181183Health Care Organization, RisingCosts, and Unequal AccessPrivate Health InsurancePublic Health InsuranceMedicaidThe Uninsured174176183184184185185Race, Class, Gender, and Health Care186Sociological Explanations and SolutionsThe Functionalist PerspectiveThe Conflict PerspectiveThe Symbolic Interactionist Perspective187187188188Summary 189 Key Terms 191 Questions forCritical Thinking 19111The Changing FamilyThe Nature of FamiliesChanging Family Structure and PatternsBox 11.1: Social Problems in Global PerspectiveA01 KEND2848 07 SE FM.indd 8192193193194Family Life and Employment in Two-Parent andOne-Parent HouseholdsTwo-Parent Households with Dual orSingle IncomesOne-Parent HouseholdsChild-Related Family IssuesReproductive Freedom, Contraception,and AbortionInfertility and Reproductive TechnologiesBox 11.2: Social Media and Social ProblemsAdoptionTeen Pregnancies and Unmarried YoungMotherhood199199200201201203204204205Divorce and Remarriage206Domestic ViolenceChild MaltreatmentIntimate Partner ViolenceSocial Responses to Intimate Partner Violence207207208209Sociological Explanations and SolutionsFunctionalist PerspectivesFunctionalist/Conservative SolutionsConflict and Feminist PerspectivesConflict and Feminist SolutionsSymbolic Interactionist PerspectivesSymbolic Interactionist Solutions209209210210210211211Summary 212 Key Terms 213 Questions forCritical Thinking 21312Problems in EducationSociological Perspectives on EducationFunctionalist Perspectives214215215SOCIALIZATION 216 TRANSMISSION OF CULTURE 216 SOCIAL CONTROL 216 SOCIALPLACEMENT 216 CHANGE AND INNOVATION 216Conflict PerspectivesSymbolic Interactionist PerspectivesProblems in U.S. EducationFunctional IlliteracyImmigration and Diversity in Schools in theTrump EraEducational Opportunities and InequalitiesBased on Race and ClassBox 12.1: Social Problems in Global Perspective217218219219219220221School Safety and Violence223Problems in School Financing224Voucher Programs22511/27/17 9:48 PM

ContentsixCharter Schools and For-Profit Schools225Problems in Higher Education: Two-Year andFour-Year Colleges and UniversitiesThe Soaring Cost of a College Education14226226The Importance of the Media in Contemporary LifeBox 14.1: Social Media and Social Problems255256The Political Economy of Media Industries257COMMUNITY COLLEGESAND UNIVERSITIES 227226 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGESBox 12.2: Social Problems and Social PolicyThe Continuing Debate over Affirmative ActionRacial and Ethnic Minorities: Underrepresentationand DiscriminationAre There Solutions to Educational Problems?Functionalist/Conservative SolutionsConflict/Liberal SolutionsSymbolic Interactionist Solutions257229Problems Associated with ConvergenceBox 14.2: Social Problems in Global Perspective259260229Global Media Issues260230230231231Potential Effects of Aggression and Violence inthe Media260Media Stereotyping of Race, Ethnicity,Gender, and Religion261Racial and Ethnic StereotypingGender Stereotyping261263Critical Thinking 233Problems in Politics and the GlobalEconomy234Politics, Government, and the Political Economy235Economic Systems and the Underground EconomyCapitalismSocialismMixed EconomiesThe Underground (Informal) Economy235236236236236Problems in the Global EconomyInequality Based on Uneven EconomicDevelopmentMultinational, Transnational, and InternationalCompanies, and the Lack of AccountabilityBox 13.1: Social Problems in Global Perspective237239240Problems in the U.S. EconomyConcentration of WealthCorporate WelfareThe National Debt and Consumer DebtUnemployment240240241241242Problems in U.S. PoliticsPolitical Parties, Elections, and Public DiscontentPartisanship, Voter Participation, and theGender GapBox 13.2: Social Problems and Social Policy243243244245Raising and Spending Money in Political CampaignsBox 13.3: Social Media and Social Problems246247Government Power by Special-Interest Groups,Bureaucracy, and the Military-Industrial ComplexGovernment by BureaucracyThe Military-Industrial Complex248249249Sociological Perspectives on the Political EconomyThe Functionalist PerspectiveThe Conflict PerspectiveAre There Solutions to Problems in Politics and theEconomy?Summary 251 Key Terms 253 Questions forCritical Thinking 253A01 KEND2848 07 SE FM.indd 9254Media Ownership, Control, and Concentration228Summary 232 Key Terms 233 Questions for13Problems in the Media238250250250251Sociological Perspectives on Media-Related ProblemsThe Symbolic Interactionist PerspectiveThe Functionalist PerspectiveThe Conflict PerspectiveAre There Solutions to Media-Related Problems?264264264265266Summary 266 Key Terms 267 Questions forCritical Thinking 26815Population, Global Inequality, andthe Environmental Crisis269Global OverpopulationFertilityMortalityMigrationBox 15.1: Social Problems and Statistics270270271271272The Effects of Population Composition and GrowthThe Malthusian PerspectiveThe Marxist PerspectiveThe Neo-Malthusian PerspectiveDemographic Transition TheoryOther Perspectives on Population Change273273273274274274World Hunger and MalnutritionThe Green RevolutionThe Biotechnological Revolution275276276Controlling FertilityFamily PlanningZero Population Growth277277278Immigration and Its ConsequencesImmigration in the United States278278LEGAL IMMIGRATION 278 ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION 279 CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION279Immigration Outside of the United StatesBox 15.2: Social Problems in Global Perspective280280Population and the EnvironmentEconomic Growth and Environmental DegradationAir Pollution and Climate Change281281282DEPLETION OF THE OZONE LAYERCHANGE 283282 CLIMATE11/27/17 9:48 PM

x ContentsProblems with Water, Soil, and Forests283WATER SHORTAGES AND POLLUTION 283 SOILDEPLETION AND DESERTIFICATION 284Solid, Toxic, and Nuclear Wastes284SOLID WASTE 284 TOXIC WASTE 285 NUCLEARWASTE 285 TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTERS 285Sociological Perspectives and Solutions for Populationand Environmental ProblemsThe Functionalist PerspectiveThe Conflict PerspectiveThe Symbolic Interactionist Perspective286286286287Summary 288 Key Terms 289 Questions forBiological and Psychological Perspectives onWar and TerrorismBiological PerspectivesPsychological Perspectives317317318Sociological Perspectives on War and TerrorismThe Functionalist PerspectiveThe Conflict PerspectiveThe Symbolic Interactionist Perspective319319319320Solutions to War and Terrorism320Critical ThinkingUrban Problems290Changes in U.S. CitiesEarly Urban Growth and Social ProblemsContemporary Urban Growth291291292Urban Problems in the United StatesFiscal Crises in CitiesHousing Problems293293295THE SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING 295 THE HOUSING MELTDOWN OF THE TWENTY-FIRSTCENTURY 296 HOMELESSNESS 297Box 16.1: Social Media and Social Problems297Racial and Ethnic SegregationBox 16.2: Critical Thinking and You299300Problems in Global Cities301Sociological Perspectives and Solutions to UrbanProblemsThe Functionalist PerspectiveThe Conflict PerspectiveThe Symbolic Interactionist Perspective303303303304Summary 305 Key Terms 306 Questions for CriticalThinking 30617315316Summary 321 Key Terms 322 Questions forCritical Thinking 28916Terrorism in the United StatesBox 17.3: Social Problems in Global PerspectiveGlobal Social Problems: War andTerrorism307War as a Social ProblemThe Nature of WarThe Persistence of War308308309The Consequences of WarCasualties and Civilian DeathsNuclear War and Weapons of Mass DestructionBox 17.1: Social Media and Social Problems309309310311Disability and TraumaPatriotism312312Military Technology and WarBox 17.2: Social Problems and Statistics312314Global Terrorism314A01 KEND2848 07 SE FM.indd 1018322Can Social Problems Be Solved?The Problem with Tackling Social ProblemsIdeal versus Practical SolutionsDefining the Problem versus Fixing It323324324325Social Change and Reducing Social Problems325Microlevel Attempts to Solve Social ProblemsSeeking Individual Solutions to Personal ProblemsLimitations of the Microlevel Solutions Approach326326326Midrange Attempts to Solve Social ProblemsGroups That Help People Cope with Their ProblemsGrassroots Groups That Work for Community-BasedChangeLimitations of the MidrangeSolutions ApproachBox 18.1: Social Media and Social Problems327327328329Macrolevel Attempts to Solve Social Problems329Working Through Special-Interest Groups for PoliticalChange330Working Through National and International SocialMovements to Reduce ProblemsLimitations of the Macrolevel Solutions ApproachBox 18.2: Sociology and Social Problems330331332Final Review of Social Theories and Social ProblemsThe Functionalist PerspectiveThe Conflict PerspectiveThe Symbolic Interactionist Perspective332332333333327Summary 334 Key Terms 335 Questions forCritical Thinking 335Glossary336References341Name Index358Subject Index36011/27/17 9:48 PM

PrefaceWe are living in difficult times: Our social problems are many in number, diverse in theircauses and consequences, and often global intheir reach. The United States and other countries continueto struggle with social problems that have been present forgenerations: racial, ethnic, and gender inequality; alcoholand drug abuse; disparities in wealth and income; crime;and the challenges of educating, housing, and providing medical care for a growing population. Since I wrotethe previous edition of this textbook, many national andglobal problems have intensified or become more complex.National and international economic structures continuein a state of upheaval, and political leaders frequently appear unable, or unwilling, to create social policies or lawsthat will benefit larger segments of the population. Therichest individuals have accumulated even greater wealthwhile a significant portion of middle- and lower-incomefamilies have seen employment opportunities dry up andhousehold incomes diminish. Housing has become moreexpensive, and home ownership is no longer a realisticaspiration for many people. In the United States, politicalbattles are being fought over immigration and the costs ofhealth care and education. We seem to be living in a state ofendless war. The two dominant political parties seem to beunable to work together for the common good.We are constantly bombarded with data, news, andpolitical spin. At the same time, a debate rages over whatnews is real and what cannot be trusted. In addition, themedia do not report comprehensively on all important issues. Some social problems are discussed at length in themedia, while others are barely mentioned. Some mediasources frame their presentations of the news based on theirown political and ideological slants. This kind of slantedmedia representation, coupled with the unprecedented reliance for news on social media outlets such as Facebookand Twitter, produces a sense of “media overload” in manypeople. Sometimes it is easy to become discouraged, thinking that social problems can’t be reduced or solved.However, studying social problems helps us thinkabout ways in which social change might occur because itprovides us with new insights on problems in our nationand world. Although we live in challenging times, this social problems course provides us with an excellent opportunity to develop our critical thinking skills and to learnhow to use sociological perspectives to analyze concernsranging from terrorism and war to inequalities rooted infactors such as race, ethnicity, nationality, class, gender,age, and sexual orientation.My first and foremost goal in writing this book is tomake the study of social problems interesting and relevantto you, the student. To stimulate your interest in readingthe chapters and participating in class discussions, I haveused lived experiences (personal narratives of real people)and statements from a wide variety of analysts to showhow social problems affect people at the individual, group,and societal levels. Moreover, I have applied the sociological imagination and relevant sociological perspectives toall the topics in a systematic manner. I think that one ofthe most important contributions of this new edition isthat I have thoroughly revised and updated informationthroughout the book. In this age of instant communications, it is very important to have the latest data availableat the time the text is being written, and I have worked toward this goal throughout all eighteen chapters.Like previous editions of Social Problems in a DiverseSociety, the seventh edition focuses on the significance ofsocial inequality and race, class, and gender as key factorsin our understanding of problems in the United States andworldwide. Throughout this text, all people—but particularly people of color and white women—are shown notmerely as “victims” of social problems but as individuals who resist discrimination and inequality and seek tobring about change in families, schools, workplaces, andthe larger society. To place specific social problems withina larger social inequality framework, Chapters 2 through6 conduct a systematic evaluation of wealth and poverty,racial and ethnic inequality, gender inequality, and inequalities based on age and sexual orientation. Thereafter,concepts and perspectives related to race, class, and genderare intertwined in the discussion of specific social problems in institutions such as education and health care.Social Problems in a Diverse Society is balanced in its approach to examining social problems. It includes a comprehensive view of current feminist and other contemporaryperspectives on a vast array of subjects—including the effectof new technologies on social life and how the media depictsocial issues. As a sociologist who specializes in social theory,I have been disheartened by the minimal use of sociologicaltheory to analyze social problems in many texts. Similarly,some texts give the impression that social problems can besolved if people reach a consensus on what should be done,but Social Problems in a Diverse Society, Seventh Edition, emphasizes that the way people view a social problem is related to how they believe the problem should be reducedor solved. Consider poverty, for example: People whofocus on individual causes of poverty typically believe thatxiA01 KEND2848 07 SE FM.indd 1111/27/17 9:48 PM

xii PrefaceNew to This EditionSocial Problems in a Diverse Society, Seventh Edition, buildson the successful features of the previous edition but addsseveral new elements to support student learning and engagement, including organization by learning objectives, afocus on the impact of social media on social problems, andexciting new content.Learning objectives at the beginning of each major sectionguide students through their reading of the chapter. Theend-of-chapter summary and questions for considerationare also organized by learning objective.Learning Objectivesperpetuates stereotypes of older people.5.2 Explain how age contributes to socialinequality throughout all stages in thelife course.5.3 Discuss reasons why people associate deathwith the process of aging, and outline fourframeworks for explaining how people copewith the process of dying.5.4 Describe how age stratification is relatedto workplace discrimination, retirement,and health care issues.A01 KEND2848 07 SE FM.indd 12Box 5.1: Social Media and Social ProblemsSocial Media: A Toxic Mirror for Looking at Teen Body Image?Journalist Rachel Simmons (2016) describes social media as a“toxic mirror” for many teens. Although most criticism of socialmedia focuses on cyberbullying, other problems are often overlooked, including the impact of social media on one’s body confidence (Simmons, 2016). Let’s look more closely at this issue.Traditional media sources (such as magazines, televisionshows, and movies) perpetuate negative body image

10 Health Care: Problems of Physical and Mental Illness 173 11 The Changing Family 192 12 Problems in Education 214 13 Problems in Politics and the Global Economy 234 14 Problems in the Media 254 15 Population, Global Inequality, and the Environmental Crisis 269 16 Urban Problems 290 17 Global Social Problems: War and Terrorism 307