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Copyright, ii
New to This Edition, iii
Box Features, xiv
Preface, xv
Acknowledgments, xviii
Part 1. Political Economy of Social Problems, 2
Chapter 1. The Sociological Approach to Social Problems, 2
History of Social Problems Theory, 6
Toward a Definition of Social Problems, 8
Types of Social Problems, 10
Norm Violations, 10
Social Conditions, 11
The Sociological Imagination, 14
Social Structure as the Basic Unit of Analysis, 15
Person-Blame Approach versus System-Blame Approach, 16
Reasons for Focusing on the System-Blame Approach, 18
Organization of the Book, 19
Chapter Review, 21
Key Terms, 21
Websites for Further Reference, 22
Chapter 2. Wealth and Power: The Bias of the System, 23
Capitalism and Socialism, 25
Capitalism, 25
Socialism, 28
U.S. Economy: Concentration of Corporate Wealth, 30
Monopolistic Capitalism, 30
Transnational Corporations, 35
Concentration of Wealth, 36
Political System: Links between Wealth and Power, 40
Government by Interest Groups, 41
Financing of Political Campaigns, 42
Candidate Selection Process, 45
Bias of the Political System, 45
Consequences of Concentrated Power, 47
Subsidies to Big Business, 50
Trickle-Down Solutions, 51
The Powerless Bear the Burden, 52
Foreign Policy for Corporate Benefit, 53
Reprise: The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, 54
Chapter Review, 55
Key Terms, 56
Websites for Further Reference, 56
Part 2. Problems of People, the Environment, and Location, 58
Chapter 3. World Population and Global Inequality, 58
World Population Growth, 60
Demographic Transition, 62
Family Planning, 64
Societal Changes, 66
Poverty, 67
Food and Hunger, 68
Sickness and Disease, 70
The New Slavery, 71
Concentration of Misery in Cities, 73
U.S. Relations with the Developing World, 74
Transnational Corporations, 75
United States in the Global Village, 79
Chapter Review, 81
Key Terms, 82
Websites for Further Reference, 82
Chapter 4. Threats to the Environment, 84
Worldwide Environmental Problems, 86
Degradation of the Land, 90
Environmental Pollution and Degradation, 91
Global Environmental Crises, 97
Fossil Fuel Dependence, Waste, and Environmental Degradation, 97
Destruction of the Tropical Rain Forests and Other Forms of Deforestation, 100
Global Warming, 101
Sources of U.S. Environmental Problems, 103
Cultural Sources, 103
Structural Sources, 110
Solutions to the Environmental Crises, 113
Probusiness Voluntaristic Approach, 113
Egalitarian/Authoritarian Plan, 113
Control of Resource Use, 114
International Implications of Environmental Problems, 116
Chapter Review, 118
Key Terms, 118
Websites for Further Reference, 119
Chapter 5. Demographic Changes in the United States: The Browning and Graying of Society, 120
Profile of the U.S. Population, 121
New Immigration and the Changing Racial Landscape, 122
Immigration and Increasing Diversity, 125
Consequences of the New Immigration, 127
Immigration and Agency, 131
Effects of Immigration on Immigrants: Ethnic Identity or Assimilation?, 132
The Aging Society, 134
Demographic Trend, 134
Demographic Portrait of the Current Elderly Population, 136
Problems of an Aging Society, 139
Social Security, 140
Paying for Health Care, 143
Elderly Abuse, 144
Responses by the Elderly, 148
Chapter Review, 150
Key Terms, 150
Websites for Further Reference, 151
Chapter 6. Problems of Place: Urban, Suburban, and Rural, 152
Urban Problems, 153
Urban Job Loss, 154
Disinvestment, 155
Federal Abandonment, 157
Urban Poverty, 157
Urban Housing Crisis, 159
Decaying Infrastructure, 162
Transportation, Pollution, and the Environment, 163
Health and Health Care, 165
Urban Schools, 167
Crime, Drugs, and Gangs, 167
Suburban Problems, 169
Suburban Sprawl, 169
Automobile Dependency, 173
Social Isolation in the Suburbs, 173
Rural Problems, 174
Poverty, 175
Jobs in Rural Areas, 177
Environment, 179
Health Care and Delivery, 180
Small-Town Decline, 181
Crime and Illicit Drugs, 181
Chapter Review, 182
Key Terms, 183
Websites for Further Reference, 184
Part 3. Problems of Inequality, 186
Chapter 7. Poverty, 186
Extent of Poverty, 187
Racial Minorities, 189
Nativity, 190
Gender, 190
Age, 191
Place, 191
The New Poor, 193
The Working Poor, 194
The Near Poor, 195
The Severely Poor, 195
Myths about Poverty, 195
Refusal to Work, 195
Welfare Dependency, 196
The Poor Get Special Advantages, 198
Welfare Is an African American and Latino Program, 199
Causes of Poverty, 199
Deficiency Theory I: Innate Inferiority, 200
Deficiency Theory II: Cultural Inferiority, 203
Structural Theories, 204
Costs of Poverty, 206
Elimination of Poverty, 209
Chapter Review, 215
Key Terms, 216
Websites for Further Reference, 217
Chapter 8. Racial and Ethnic Inequality, 218
How to Think About Racial and Ethnic Inequality, 219
Racial and Ethnic Minorities, 220
Racial Categories, 221
Differences among Ethnic Groups, 226
Explanations of Racial and Ethnic Inequality, 230
Deficiency Theories, 231
Bias Theories, 231
Structural Discrimination Theories, 232
Discrimination Against African Americans and Latinos: Continuity and Change, 234
Income, 235
Education, 237
Unemployment, 238
Type of Employment, 239
Health, 240
Contemporary Trends and Issues in U.S. Racial and Ethnic Relations, 242
Growing Racial Strife, 242
More Racially Based Groups and Activities, 243
Social and Economic Isolation in U.S. Inner Cities, 244
Racial Policies in the New Century, 246
Chapter Review, 247
Key Terms, 248
Websites for Further Reference, 248
Chapter 9. Gender Inequality, 250
Women and Men Are Differentiated and Ranked, 251
Is Gender Biological or Social?, 253
Gender and Power, 254
What Causes Gender Inequality?, 255
Socialization versus Structure: Two Approaches to Gender Inequality, 256
Learning Gender, 256
Children at Home, 257
Children at Play, 258
Formal Education, 260
Socialization as Blaming the Victim, 264
Reinforcing Male Dominance, 264
Language, 264
Interpersonal Behavior, 265
Mass Communications Media, 266
Religion, 268
The Law, 269
Politics, 270
Structured Gender Inequality, 272
Occupational Distribution, 272
The Earnings Gap, 275
Intersection of Race and Gender in the Workplace, 275
Pay Equity, 276
How Workplace Inequality Operates, 276
Gender in the Global Economy, 279
Costs and Consequences of Sexism, 279
Who Benefits?, 279
The Social and Individual Costs, 281
Fighting the System, 282
Feminist Movements in the United States, 282
Women’s Struggles in the Twenty-First Century, 283
Chapter Review, 284
Key Terms, 284
Websites for Further Reference, 285
Chapter 10. Sexual Orientation, 287
Social Deviance, 288
Gay and Lesbian Community: An Overview, 291
Defining Homosexuality, 291
Roots of Homosexuality, 291
Numbers: How Many Gays and Lesbians?, 292
Interpersonal Relationships and Domestic Arrangements among Gays and Lesbians, 294
Discrimination, 296
Ideological Oppression, 296
Legal Oppression: The Law and the Courts, 302
Occupational Discrimination, 307
Fighting the System: Human Agency, 308
Chapter Review, 312
Key Terms, 312
Websites for Further Reference, 313
Chapter 11. Disability and Ableism, 314
Definitions, 316
Individual Model of Disability, 316
Social Model of Disability, 317
Toward a More Complete Definition of Disability, 318
People with Disabilities as a Minority Group, 319
Defined as Different, 319
Derogatory Naming, 320
Minority as a Master Status, 320
Categorization, Stigma, and Stereotypes, 320
Exclusion and Segregation, 322
Matrix of Domination, 323
Discrimination, 324
Issues of Gender, Sexual Behavior, and Fertility, 325
Gender Stereotyping, 325
Sexual Relationships, 327
Physical and Sexual Abuse, 329
Abortion Issue, 330
Agency, 331
Disability Rights Movement, 332
Americans with Disabilities Act, 334
Conclusion, 338
Chapter Review, 339
Key Terms, 339
Websites for Further Reference, 340
Part 4. Social Structure and Individual Deviance, 342
Chapter 12. Crime and Justice, 342
Crime in Society, 343
What Is Crime?, 343
Crime Rates, 346
Demographic Characteristics of People Arrested for Crimes, 350
Categories of Crime, 354
Unjust System of Justice, 363
Laws, 364
Police, 365
Judicial Process, 367
Correctional System, 373
Unjust Imposition of the Label “Criminal”, 377
Chapter Review, 379
Key Terms, 380
Websites for Further Reference, 380
Chapter 13. Drugs, 382
The Politics of Drugs, 384
Historical Legality of Drugs, 384
Factors Influencing Drug Laws and Enforcement, 385
Drug Use in U.S. Society, 388
Commonly Abused Illegal Drugs, 388
Legal but Dangerous Drugs, 394
Drug Use Patterns by Class, Race, and Gender, 397
Why Use Drugs?, 399
U.S. Official Policy: A War on Drugs, 402
Consequences of Official Drug Policies, 404
Is the Drug War Racist?, 405
Alternatives, 407
Regulation of Trade or Use through Licensing and Taxation, 407
Noninterference, 409
Chapter Review, 411
Key Terms, 412
Websites for Further Reference, 412
Part 5. Institutional Problems, 414
Chapter 14. Work, 414
Problems of Work, 415
Control of Workers, 415
Alienation, 417
Dangerous Working Conditions, 418
Sweatshops, 421
Unions and Their Decline, 421
Discrimination in the Workplace: Perpetuation of Inequality, 423
Unemployment, 426
Globalization and the Structural Transformation of the Economy, 428
Globalization, 429
From Manufacturing to Services, 430
Age of Discontinuity, 433
Changing Nature of Jobs, 433
Job Insecurity, 435
Benefits Insecurity, 436
Increased Workload, 437
Worker Compensation, 438
Changing Economy, Demography, and the Future of Work, 442
Transformation of the Economy and the Bifurcation of the United States, 443
Chapter Review, 445
Key Terms, 446
Websites for Further Reference, 447
Chapter 15. Families, 448
The Mythical Family in the United States, 449
U.S. Families in Historical Perspective: The Family in Capitalism, 451
Stratification and Family Life: Unequal Life Chances, 452
Changing Families in a Changing World, 455
Economic Transformation and Family Life, 455
Today’s Diverse Family Forms, 458
Balancing Work and Family with Few Social Supports, 459
Single Parents and Their Children, 462
Societal Response to Disadvantaged Children, 466
Divorce, 468
Consequences of Divorce, 469
Children of Divorce, 471
Violence in U.S. Families, 472
Violence and the Social Organization of the Family, 472
Intimate Partner Violence, 472
Child Abuse and Neglect, 474
Chapter Review, 478
Key Terms, 479
Websites for Further Reference, 479
Chapter 16. Education, 482
Characteristics of Education in the United States, 483
Education as a Conserving Force, 483
Mass Education, 484
Local Control of Education, 486
Competitive Nature of U.S. Education, 489
“Sifting” and “Sorting” Function of Schools, 489
Preoccupation with Order and Control, 490
Education and Inequality, 490
Financing Public Education, 492
Family Economic Resources, 495
Higher Education and Stratification, 499
Segregation, 501
Tracking and Teachers’ Expectations, 502
Possibilities for Promoting Equality of Opportunity, 505
Universal Preschool Programs, 506
Free Education, 508
The Role of the Government, 508
Reducing Class and School Size, 509
Attracting and Retaining Excellent Teachers, 510
Extending the School Day and Year, 510
Holding Educators Accountable, 510
Reforming the Educational Philosophy of Schools, 510
Restructuring Society, 511
Chapter Review, 512
Key Terms, 512
Websites for Further Reference, 513
Chapter 17. Health and Health Care Delivery, 514
The Crisis in Health Care: Cost and Coverage, 515
Rising Health Care Costs, 515
The Uninsured and Underinsured, 516
Unequal Access to Health Care, 517
Social Class, 518
Race/Ethnicity, 522
Gender, 525
Class, Race, and Gender: Who Wins and Who Loses in the Battle Against HIV/AIDS?, 529
Changing Social Organization of Health Care Delivery, 530
Fee-for-Service System, 531
Shift to Managed Care, 532
Shift from Private to For-Profit Hospitals, 534
Toward a Better Health Care System: Some Alternatives, 536
Reforms within the Medical Community, 537
National Health Insurance, 538
Societal Changes, 540
Chapter Review, 541
Key Terms, 542
Websites for Further Reference, 542
Chapter 18. National Security in the Twenty-First Century, 544
The Threat of Nuclear Weapons, 545
The Threat of Climate Change, 546
The Threat of Terrorism, 547
The U.S. Military Establishment, 548
The Size of the U.S. Military, 548
The Cost of Maintaining U.S. Military Superiority, 550
U.S. National Security and the War on Terror, 553
Precursors to the 9/11 Attacks, 553
The Precipitating Event, 556
A Rush to War, 556
The War in Iraq, 559
The Occupation: What Went Wrong?, 560
Consequences of the U.S. Responses to 9/11, 561
The Costs of the War, 561
The Legacy of the War, 565
Strategies to Combat the New Terrorism, 572
Lesson 1: Military Might Alone Does Not Make a Nation Secure, 572
Lesson 2: Vengeance Is Self-Defeating, 572
Lesson 3: The Solution to Terrorism Is to Address Its Root Causes, 572
Lesson 4: In Planning for War, the Question Guiding the Plan Must Be, How Does the Conflict End?, 573
Lesson 5: The U.S. Goal of Spreading Democracy in the Middle East Will Likely Fail, 573
Lesson 6: The Path to the Moral High Ground Goes through International Organizations and International Law, 574
Chapter Review, 575
Key Terms, 576
Websites for Further Reference, 576
Part 6. Solutions, 578
Chapter 19. Progressive Plan to Solve Social Problems, 578
Sociology, Social Problems, and Social Change, 580
The Sociological Imagination and Social Problems, 580
Sociological Paradox: Structure and Agency, 581
Sociological Dilemma: Recognition and Rejection, 582
Progressive Principles to Guide Public Policy, 583
Is a Progressive Social Policy Possible?, 589
Should a Progressive Plan Be Adopted by U.S. Society?, 589
Financing the Progressive Agenda, 590
Is There Any Hope of Instituting a Social Agenda Based on Progressive Principles?, 591
Human Agency: Social Change from the Bottom Up, 593
Individuals Protesting and Organizing for Change, 594
Chapter Review, 597
Key Terms, 597
Websites for Further Reference, 598
Bibliography, 601
Index, 639
Photo Credits, 653
The Demographics of U.S. Poverty, EP-1

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