Sociology 102

Define social problem

a social condition that part of a society views as harmful and in need of a remedy

Private troubles

are personal and a result of an individual’s choices. it is up to them to solve it.

Public issues

a problem shared by multiple people in a society. caused by any elements of the social structure and its solution lies in changing society’s social institutions and culture.

The Sociological Imagination

awareness of the connection between our own personal lives and the history and social structure of the society that we live in. term coined by C. Wright Mills.

Objective component of social problems

awareness of the existence of a negative social condition through the media, personal experiences, education, etc.

Subjective component of social problems

the shared belief that a social condition is harmful to society and thus should be addressed.

The Natural History of a Social Problem

how social problems are commonly addressed and defined by society (its usual pathway)

Functionalist perspective on social problems

views social problems as both functional (promotes social cohesion) and dysfunctional (disrupts social stability). can also be seen as a “sickness” in a social institution (social pathological view) or the result of rapid social change that disrupts societal norms (social disorganization). solution lies in slowing down the pace of social change and strengthening social norms.

Conflict perspective on social problems

seen as a competition over power and resources caused by high inequality in a capitalistic system. Solution is to change this inequality in society’s structure.

Symbolic perspective on social problems

social problems are seen as social problem as long as individuals label it as problematic. the solution lies in changing the meanings and definitions of social problems.

How does social inequality contribute to social problems?

Inequalities in race, class, and gender contribute to social problems because they reinforce that some individuals benefit more than others.

Social stratification

the unequal ranking of individuals that perpetuates inequality in the distribution of rewards and chances in a society. It’s embedded in society, generational, universal, and it also involves beliefs.

How is poverty measured?

Absolute: a lack in basic-everyday necessities

Relative: a lack of material and economic resources in comparison to other populations

Extreme: individuals that make less than $2.15 per day at a global level

Poverty line

Created by the SSA to measure poverty based on data indicating that families spent 1/3 of their income in food.

Feminization of poverty

Women are more likely to live in poverty than men

Key factors about poverty in the U.S.A

• most typical poor people in the US are white

• US is one the richest countries with the highest poverty and child poverty rates

• COVID 19 may have contributed to rising poverty rates in the US

• Nearly 34 million Americans lived under the poverty line

Who are the poor?

Individuals that earn less than or live on a minimum wage. They live below the poverty line, can’t afford basic necessities. Includes the working poor, poor class, and the underclass.

Social patterns of poverty

Race & ethnicity: Blacks and Latinos are more likely to have higher poverty rates than whites

Gender: Feminization of poverty

Age: children less than 18 years old and people older than 65 have higher poverty rates

Region: people living in the suburbs have higher rates of poverty than people living in cities
Family structure: single mother headed households are more likely to live in poverty

7 myths about poverty in the U.S.A

1. Majority of poor are Blacks and Hispanics

2. People are poor because they do not want to work

3. The poor are trapped in a cycle of poverty

4. Welfare programs strain the federal budget

5. Majority of poor live in inner-cities

6. Poor people live off government welfare

7. Most of the poor are single mothers and their children

Conflict theory on poverty

poverty is the result of the bourgeoisie (the rich) exploiting proletariat (working class) labor

Structural functionalist theory on poverty

poverty is the result of structural breakdown that has both functional and dysfunctional purposes.

Symbolic functionalist theory on poverty

poverty is the consequence of ones actions. the rich are labeled as hard workers while the poor are seen as lazy or unmotivated.

Social structural factors of poverty

Government: those with the most wealth have more control over political decisions, often choosing those that favor them

Poverty & the economy: capitalism works for the rich and encourages accumulation of wealth. poor people are trapped in a cycle because they may not have the resources they need to advance in social class.

Patterns of family life: children of the well do better than children with poor parents. family size is also a major factor.

Education of the poor: poor students are less likely to pursue a higher education, may lack superior or parental guidance than students from high income families and communities.

Why does poverty persist? (Individual explanation)

They lack the ambition and motivation to work hard

Why does poverty persist? (structural explanation)

unequal opportunities (discrimination, education, health care) and a lack of jobs in US society (deindustrialization, foreign manufacturing)

Why does poverty persist? (Cultural explanation)

a culture of poverty is shared throughout generations who have experienced extended periods of economic depravation.

The Racial Wealth Gap

Absolute difference in wealth between the median households grouped by race and ethnicity. The typical white household owns more wealth than Black and Latino households.

Racial income inequality

Income inequality is exacerbated along racial and ethnic lines in the US. Asians have the highest median earnings, followed after Whites, Blacks, and Latinos at the end.

Gendered income inequality

income inequality between men and women. Women make on average $0.82 for every $1 a man earns.

Ethnic income inequality

Differences in income earnings among ethnic groups that is exacerbated by cultural differences and socioeconomic factors.

Dimensions of racial disparities in the labor market

Income inequality can be related to unemployment rates among racial groups, unequal promotion practices, and unequal opportunities for stable employment.

Individual explanations for income and labor market inequality

differences in human capital among racial groups or the practice of discrimination onto racial groups in the labor force (implicit bias, categorical exclusion, shifting standards)

Cultural explanations for income and labor market inequality

a shared lack of value in meritocracy, lack of strong family ties, or a lack of willpower, essentially victim-blaming.

Structural explanations for income and labor market inequality

decline in manufacturing, deindustrialization and a shift to service economy, decline in unionized jobs.

Land ownership after slavery

Residential segregation was carried out through violence and intimidation led by whites against non-whites. The real estate industry and the FHA would often exclude minorities from homeownership opportunities.

The creation of residential segregation

Practice of redlining by the FHA, creation of Vanilla suburbs

How was the racial wealth gap created?

• slavery

• Jim Crow Laws and segregation

• Housing policies: GI Bills

• Some families were able to accumulate wealth while others not

Explaining the wealth gap in the 21st century

1. Years of homeownership (accounts for 27%)

2. Household income (20%)

3. Years of unemployment (9%)

4. College education (5%)

5. Inheritance/financial support (5%)

How can we reduce racial and ethnic inequality?

increasing federal aid for the poor, invest and expand intervention programs, invest in school improvement, better nutrition and health services, strict enforcement of anti-discriminatory laws, eliminate residential segregation

Why does policy matter?

policy matters because it is easier to change the root of the problem. through policy making, barriers to achievement can be easily eliminated while simultaneously challenging loopholes in the system that disproportionately benefit white households.

1. Emergency and claim-making

crowd calls attention to a problem to authorities and the media. if crowd fails to gain attention, the social problem does not emerge.

2. Legitimacy

convincing the government that the claims are based and that action through policy making or spending is necessary

3. Renewed claims making

if an action is too ambitious or the problem goes unsolved, claims are recited and the lack of action by the larger figure is critized.

4. Development of alternative strategies

realizing the claims are not being responded to, thus supporters create their own strategies to solve the problem.

Drug

Any substance that can alter the structure or function of the body when it enters the bloodstream

Sociological definition of a drug

• has a direct effect on physical, psychological, and/or intellectual functioning

• Potential to be abused

• Adverse consequences for individuals and society

Harms of drugs

• suicide

• Drunk driving

• Addiction

• Unemployment

which socioeconomic status consume the most alcohol?

Upper and middle classes

Tobacco killed about __ Americans annually

435,000

Alcohol kills about __ Americans annually

85,000

Social patterns of drug use

Gender: men have the highest rates of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use

Race & ethnicity: whites have the highest drinking rates, native Americans have the highest tobacco and illegal drug use, African Americans and Hispanics have the lowest drug use rates

Education: people with higher education are more likely to drink socially

Region: the south has the lowest alcohol use but the highest tobacco use rates

Religion: those with more religiosity are less likely to consume drugs and alcohol

Biological explanation for drug use

There could be a biological predisposition to drug addiction, making others more likely to use and be addicted to drugs

Psychological explanation for drug use

Certain personality traits are predisposed to drug addiction, for example, people with lower self-esteem find more pleasurable effects in drug use

Sociological explanation for drug use

An individual’s social environment can influence their predisposition to drug use, especially with weaker social bonds. Drug use does not stem from biological or psychological factors, rather social problems.

Structural functionalist theory on drugs

Drug use is functional for society as it creates agencies and careers in the criminal justice system. It also disrupts other social institutions.

Conflict theory on drugs

Drug use is the result of socioeconomic inequalities. Individuals from lower socioeconomic status are more likely to engage in drug trafficking as a source of income. Like so, there are varying penalties for people from different social backgrounds.

Symbolic interaction theory on drugs

Drug use is the result of learned behaviors from either peer pressure or heavy drinking cultures.

Crime

A willing, intentional, unjustified violation of a criminal law

Felony

A serious offense punishable for years or with death

Misdemeanor

A minor offense that is punishable by a fee or less than a year in prison

USA is 5% of the world’s population but holds _% of the world’s prisoners?

25%

What is the major cause for rises in incarceration rates in the US?

Changes in laws and policies as well as the criminalization of drug use

Which presidents used the “War on Drugs” and “Tough on Crime’ as political strategies?

Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush

The increase in incarceration rates…

Does not correlate to a decrease in crime rates in the US

US has an incarceration rate _ times higher than multiple other nations

7

_% of felons are unable to find a job within a year of their release

75%

What accounts for much of the disparity in incarceration rates?

The War on Drugs

The rise of mass incarceration

Is a relatively new phenomenon of the 20th century following the end of slavery and of Jim Crow Laws

In 2005, % of drug arrests were for drug use and _% for drug possession

80%, 20%

From 1993 to 2001, how many people were arrested for drug crimes?

30 million people

Institutional racism

Policies, laws, and institutional policies that reproduce racial inequalities

Black men are _ times more likely than white men to be arrested for drug charges

13

Black men are _ times more likely than white men to be given a mandatory minimum sentence and/or be sentenced to prison

20 times

between 1970 and 1997, the female prisoner population rose from _ to _

5,600 to 7,500

Collateral consequences of mass incarceration

• impacts families and communities

• Children with incarcerated parents are more likely to suffer from mental health issues

• Affects the lifestyles of 2 million people behind bars and 7 million people under correctional supervision

• The lives of 12 million felons and their families

How many Americans live in poverty?

34 million

What is the highest income a single mother can earn?

$17,420

About _% of cases in the criminal justice system are for misdemeanors

80%

How the US views drug addiction

Sees it as a health problem not in need of criminal justice intervention

How many people were in correctional supervision in 2008 and then in 2018?

From 6,410,000 to 2,125,000 people

Numbers of global prisoners within each USA and China in 2012

USA: 2,228,424

China: 1,701,344

In 2008, Blacks and Latinos were less than 1/3 of the US population but made up _% of the prison population

58%

Health

State of complete physical, mental, and social well being

Life expectancy

The number of years that an individual is expected to live

Which are the countries with the lowest and highest life expectancies?

Central Africa (53 years) and Japan (84 years)

The top 1% of US men live _ years more than the poorest 1%

15 years more

Common causes of death for high income

Alzheimer’s, dementia, heart disease

Common causes of death for low income

Respiratory infections, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS

Lifestyle of high income countries

Higher alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and fat consumption

Lifestyle of low income countries

Higher tobacco usage, malnutrition

Cardiovascular disease

• Causes 1/3 of global deaths

• Result of urbanization and unhealthy lifestyles

Where is the lowest life expectancy found in the US?

Mid USA

Structural functionalist theory on health

Changes in a population’s health and illness shapes other social institutions for better or for worse

Conflict theory on health

How powerful groups and industries, for the sake of profit, influence health, illness, and access to health care

Symbolic interaction theory on health

How labels, meanings, and definitions can stigmatize and influence health and illness in a society. How we deal with our health and illnesses is a social process.

War

The most violent form of conflict that is usually organized armed violence against a social group in pursuit of an objective

Which was the deadliest war in US history?

The Civil War with 500,000 deaths

_% of the US population fought in WWII while _% of the current population is on active duty

12% and less than 1%

In 2019, what was the global military expenditure?

$1.92 trillion (almost $249 per global citizen)

Structural functionalist theory on war

War is functional for society because it creates social cohesion that is focused on a common cause and enemy. War also stimulates the economy and creates political cooperation. Promotes advances in medicine and technology.