Social Problems Fourteenth edition
D. Stanley Eitzen Colorado State University
Maxine Baca Zinn Michigan State University
Kelly Eitzen Smith University of Arizona, Drachman Institute
330 Hudson Street, NY, NY 10013
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Eitzen, D. Stanley, author. | Zinn, Maxine Baca, author. | Smith, Kelly Eitzen, author. Title: Social problems/D. Stanley Eitzen, Colorado State University, Maxine Baca Zinn, Michigan State University, Kelly Eitzen Smith, University of Arizona, Drachman Institute. Description: Fourteenth edition. | Boston : Pearson, [2017] Identifiers: LCCN 2016037871| ISBN 9780134631905 (alk. paper) | ISBN 0134631900 (alk. paper) | ISBN 9780134637907 | ISBN 9780134637808 Subjects: LCSH: Social problems. | Social problemsUnited States. | Social structureUnited States. | United StatesSocial conditions1945 Classification: LCC HN17.5 .E372 2017 | DDC 361.1dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016037871
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Part 1 The Political Economy of Social Problems
1 The Sociological Approach to Social Problems 1
2 Wealth and Power: The Bias of the System 20
Part 2 Problems of People, Loca- tion, and the Environment
3 World Population and Global Inequality 46
4 Demographic Changes in the United States: The Browning and Graying of Society 68
5 Problems of Place: Urban, Suburban, and Rural 94
6 Threats to the Environment 122
Part 3 Problems of Inequality
7 Poverty 145 8 Racial and Ethnic
Inequality 171
9 Gender Inequality 197 10 Disability and Ableism 223
Part 4 Social Structure and Individual Deviance
11 Crime and Justice 244 12 Drugs 271
Part 5 Institutional Problems
13 The Economy and Work 299 14 Families 322 15 Education 346 16 The Health Care System 375 17 National Security in the
Twenty-First Century 399
Part 6 Solutions
18 Progressive Plan to Solve Social Problems 424
Brief Contents
iii
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Box Features xi Preface xii
Part 1 The Political Economy of Social Problems
1 The Sociological Approach to Social Problems 1
An Introduction to Social Issues 2
Defining Social Problems 5 The Objective and Subjective
Nature of Social Problems 6 Types of Social Problems 7
The Sociological Perspective 9 The System-Blame Approach to
Social Problems 11
Studying Social Problems: The Craft of Sociology 13 Sociological Questions 13 Sources of Data 14 Objectivity 16 Chapter Review 17 Key Terms 19
2 Wealth and Power: The Bias of the System 20
U.S. Economy: Concentration of Corporate Wealth 21 Monopolistic Capitalism 22 Transnational Corporations 25 Concentration of Wealth 25
Political System: Links Between Wealth and Power 27 Government by Interest Groups 27 The Financing of Political Campaigns 29 Candidate Selection Process 35 The Power Elite 35
The Consequences of Concentrated Power 37 The Powerful Control Ideology 37 Powerful Corporations Receive Benefits 39 Trickle-Down Solutions Disadvantage the Powerless 40 The Powerless Bear the Burden 41 Reprise: The Best Democracy Money Can Buy 42 Chapter Review 43 Key Terms 44
Part 2 Problems of People, Location, and the Environment
3 World Population and Global Inequality 46
World Population Growth 47 Demographic Transition 48 Family Planning 50 Societal Changes 51
Global Inequality 52 Food and Hunger 54 Sickness and Disease 56 The New Slavery 58 Concentration of Misery in Cities 59
U.S. Relations with the Developing World 60 Transnational Corporations 61
United States in the Global Village 64 Chapter Review 66 Key Terms 67
4 Demographic Changes in the United States: The Browning and Graying of Society 68
New Immigration and the Changing Racial Landscape 69 Immigration Patterns 69 Conflicts over Immigration 72 Immigration and Human Agency 76
Contents
v
vi Contents
The Aging Society 78 Demographic Trends 79 Demographic Portrait of the Current
Elderly Population 79
Problems of an Aging Society 83 Social Security 83 Paying for Health Care 87 Elder Abuse 88 Aging and Human Agency 90 Chapter Review 91 Key Terms 92
5 Problems of Place: Urban, Suburban, and Rural 94
Urban Problems 95 Urban Job Loss 95 Disinvestment 96 Federal Abandonment 97 Urban Poverty 98 Urban Housing Crisis 98 Decaying Infrastructure 103 Transportation Problems 103 Health Problems 104 Urban Schools 105 Crime, Drugs, and Gangs 105
Suburban Problems 106 Suburban Sprawl 107 Social Isolation in the Suburbs 110 Transforming the Suburbs: The End of Sprawl? 110
Rural Problems 111 Poverty 113 Jobs in Rural Areas 113 Environment 117 Health Care and Delivery 117 Small-Town Decline 118 Crime and Illicit Drugs 118 Chapter Review 119 Key Terms 120
6 Threats to the Environment 122 Worldwide Environmental Problems 123
Degradation of the Land 124 Deforestation 125
Environmental Pollution and Degradation 126 Fossil Fuel Dependence 132 Climate Change 133
Sources of U.S. Environmental Problems 135 Cultural Sources 135 Structural Sources 137
Solutions to the Environmental Crises 140 Individual/Local Solutions 140 Societal-Level Solutions 140 Global-Level Solutions 142 Chapter Review 143 Key Terms 143
Part 3 Problems of Inequality
7 Poverty 145 Extent of Poverty 146
Racial/Ethnic Minorities 148 Gender 149 Age 149 Place 149 The Severely Poor 151
Myths about Poverty 151 Just Get a Job 151 Welfare Dependency 153 The Poor Get Special Advantages 155
Causes of Poverty 156 Deficiency Theories 157 Structural Theories 161
Consequences and Solutions 164 Family Problems 165 Health Problems 165 Problems in School 165 Economic Costs 166 Potential Solutions 166 Chapter Review 169 Key Terms 170
8 Racial and Ethnic Inequality 171
Defining Race and Ethnicity 172 The Changing Social Definitions of Race 173 Ethnic Groups and Their Differences 177
Contents vii
Racial and Ethnic Groups in the United States and Inequality 178 Racial and Ethnic Groups in the
United States 178 Racial-Ethnic Inequality 181
Explanations of Racial and Ethnic Inequality 185 Deficiency Theories 185 Bias Theories 186 Structural Discrimination Theories 187
Contemporary Trends and Issues in U.S. Racial and Ethnic Relations 189 Growing Racial Conflict 189 Social and Economic Isolation in
U.S. Inner Cities 191 Racial Policies in the New Century 194 Chapter Review 194 Key Terms 195
9 Gender Inequality 197 The Difference Between Sex and Gender 198
Is Gender Biological or Social? 199 Intersections of Gender, Race, Class, and Sexuality 200
Learning and Doing Gender 201 Learning Gender at Home 201 Learning Gender Through Play 202 Learning Gender Through Language 204 Doing Gender: Interpersonal Behavior 204 Socialization versus Structure:
Two Approaches to Gender Inequality 206
Reinforcing Gender Inequality Through Institutions 207 Formal Education 207 Mass Media 210 Religion 211 The Law 212 Politics 213
Structured Gender Inequality in the Workplace 214 Occupational Distribution 214 The Earnings Gap 216 Intersection of Race and Gender in the
Workplace 217 How Workplace Inequality Operates 218
Gender in the Global Economy 219 Fighting Structured Gender Inequality 220 Chapter Review 221 Key Terms 222
10 Disability and Ableism 223 Definitions and Models of Disability 224
Individual Model of Disability 224 Social Model of Disability 226 Toward a More Complete Definition
of Disability 226
People with Disabilities as a Minority Group 227 Defined as Different 227 Derogatory Naming 227 Minority as a Master Status 228 Categorization, Stigma, and Stereotypes 228 Exclusion and Segregation 229 Matrix of Domination 230 Discrimination 231
Issues of Gender, Sexual Behavior, and Abuse 232 Gender Stereotyping 233 Sexual Relationships 234 Physical and Sexual Abuse 235
Agency 235 Disability Rights Movement 236 Americans with Disabilities Act 237 Prenatal Testing and Disability Rights 239 Chapter Review 242 Key Terms 243
Part 4 Social Structure and Individual Deviance
11 Crime and Justice 244 The Definition of Crime 245
What Is Crime? 245 Categories of Crime 246
Crime Rates in the United States 253 Violent Crimes and Property Crimes 253 Murder and Nonnegligent Manslaughter 254 Demographic Characteristics of People
Arrested for Crimes 254
Unjust System of Justice 256 Laws 257
viii Contents
Police 257 Judicial Process 259 U.S. Correctional System 265 Stopping the Cradle to Prison Pipeline 267 Chapter Review 268 Key Terms 269
12 Drugs 271 The Politics of Drugs 272
Historical Legality of Drugs 272 Factors Influencing Drug Laws
and Enforcement 274
Drug Use in the United States 277 Illegal Drugs 277 The Controversy over Marijuana 281 Legal Drugs 282 Drug Use Patterns by Class, Race, and Gender 286 Why Use Drugs? 287
U.S. Official Policy: A War on Drugs 290 Consequences of Official Drug Policies 291 Is the Drug War Racist? 292 Alternatives 293 Chapter Review 296 Key Terms 298
Part 5 Institutional Problems
13 The Economy and Work 299
The Corporation-Dominated U.S. Economy 300 Capitalism 300
Socialism 302 The Corporation-Dominated U.S. Economy 304
Mega Economic Trends 305 Globalization 305 The Transformation of the Economy: From Manufacturing to Services 306 The Changing Nature of Jobs 307 The Great Recession 308
Work and Social Problems 311 Control of Workers 311 Alienation 312 Dangerous Working Conditions 312 Sweatshops 314
Unions and Their Decline 315 Discrimination in the Workplace:
Perpetuation of Inequality 317 Unemployment 317 Benefits Insecurity 318 Conclusion 319 Chapter Review 319 Key Terms 321
14 Families 322 The Mythical Family in the United States 323
Economic Trends and U.S. Families 325 Economic Insecurity and Family Life 326 Todays Diverse Family Forms 327
Institutional Support for Families 330 Balancing Work and Family with
Few Social Supports 330 Single Parents and Their Children 331 Societal Response to Disadvantaged
Children 333
Divorce 335 Consequences of Divorce 336 Children of Divorce 337
Violence in U.S. Families 339 Violence and the Social Organization
of the Family 339 Intimate Partner Violence 339 Child Abuse and Neglect 341 Chapter Review 344 Key Terms 345
15 Education 346 Characteristics of Education in the United States 347
Education as a Conserving Force 347 Mass Education 348 Preoccupation with Order and Control 348 A Fragmented Education System 349 Local Control of Education 350 The Sifting and Sorting Function of Schools 352
The Common Core Controversy 352 No Child Left Behind 352 Common Core 353
Education and Inequality 354 Financing Public Education 359
Contents ix
Family and Community Resources 360 Higher Education and Stratification 363 Segregation 365 Tracking and Teachers Expectations 366
Possibilities for Promoting Equality of Opportunity 368
Provide Universal Preschool Programs 369 Offer Free Education 369 Set National Education Standards 370 Reduce Funding Disparities across States and
Districts 370 Reduce Class and School Size 371 Attract and Retain Excellent Teachers 371 Extend the School Day and Year 371 Hold Educators Accountable 371 Reform the Educational Philosophy
of Schools 372 Restructure Society 373 Chapter Review 373 Key Terms 374
16 The Health Care System 375 Crises in Health Care 376
Rising Health Care Costs 376 Does the High Cost of Health Care Translate into Good Health Consequences? 378
Unequal Access to Health Care 379 Social Class 379 Race/Ethnicity 380 Gender 383
The Health Care System in the United States Prior to the 2010 Affordable Care Act 386
Different Plans for Different Categories of People 386
Private Insurance 387 For-Profit Hospitals 388 Managed Care Networks 389
Reforming the Health Care System of the United States 390
The Politics of Health Reform 391 Affordable Care Act/ObamaCare 392 The Future of the Affordable Health Care Act 394
Models for National Health Care: Lessons from Other Societies 394
The Bismarck Model 394 The Beveridge Model 395 The National Health Insurance Model 395 Chapter Review 397 Key Terms 398
17 National Security in the Twenty- First Century 399
The U.S. Military Establishment 400 The Size of the U.S. Military 400 The Cost of Maintaining U.S. Military Superiority 401
The Threat of Terrorism 403 Domestic Terrorism 404 International Terrorism 407
U.S. National Security and the War on Terror 408 The War on Terror 409 The War in Iraq 411 The War in Afghanistan 412 The Costs of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars 412 The Legacy of the Wars 415
Twenty-First Century Warfare 419 Minimizing Personnel 419 Shielding the Public 420 The Use of Drones 420 The Threat of Nuclear Weapons 421 Chapter Review 422 Key Terms 423
Part 6 Solutions
18 Progressive Plan to Solve Social Problems 424
Sociology, Social Problems, and Social Change 425
The Sociological Imagination and Social Problems 425 Sociological Paradox: Structure and Agency 426 A Sociological Dilemma: Recognition and Rejection 426
Impediments to Social Change and Progressive Principles to Guide Policy 427 The Power of Money in Decision- Making 428
x Contents
Progressive Social Change and Higher Taxes 428 Gridlock Among Decision-Makers 429 Progressive Principles to Guide Public Policy 429
Progressive Social Policy 433 Should a Progressive Plan Be Adopted
by U.S. Society? 433 Financing the Progressive Agenda 434
Is There Any Hope of Instituting a Social Agenda Based on Progressive Principles? 434
Chapter Review 436 Key Terms 437
Bibliography 438
Credits 462
Index 466
Social Problems in Global Perspective Social Welfare States: A Mixture of Capitalism and Socialism 8
Chinas One-Child Policy 50
Why Is Haiti So Poor? 53 The Developed World Turns Gray 86 Mexicos Drug War 291
The More Equal the Society, the Healthier the Citizens 380
Social Policy The Structure of the Senate as a Barrier to Democracy 28 Are Microloans the Answer for the Worlds Poor? 65 The Unintended Consequences of Rigid Policing of the Border 71 The Future: Return to Urban Density? 111 Reducing the Risk of Future Disasters for Urban African Americans 193 A Progressive Strategy for Including More People with Disabilities in the Workforce 240 Halden, the Worlds Most Humane Prison 267 Drug Decriminalization in Portugal 296 The Swedish Welfare State 303 Same-Sex Marriage 325 A Canadian Doctor Diagnoses U.S. Health Care 396 Shifting Some Military Spending to Alternative Programs 414
a Closer Look William Graham Sumner and Social
Darwinism 12 Karl Marx and Self-Destruct Capitalism 22 Undemocratic Elections in a Democracy? 30
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations War Against Malaria 57
Some Societal Benefits from Undocumented Workers 75
The Poorest Communities in the United States 114 Technology and Toxic Waste 129 Climategate 134 The Housing and Transportation
Affordability Index 152 Its a Disaster for the Poor 164 Speaking to Students 192 Bitches, Bunnies, and Biddies 205 Jena Six 262 Adam Smith 301 The Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster:
Preventable? 314
Leaving Boys Behind? 357
Voices Your Fears, My Realities 231 Does the Doctors Gender Matter? 385 A Letter from Timothy McVeigh 405
Looking toward the Future Righting the UrbanSuburban Imbalance 109 Transit-Oriented Development 142 The Childswap Society: A Fable 432
Speaking to Students Got Privilege? Studying What It Means
to Be White 175 Racist Acts on Campus 192 Generational Forgetting 283 Moving Back Home 328 In-school Marketing 361 Recruiting an All-Volunteer Military 401
Box Features
xi
Preface
Social Problems, Fourteenth Edition, examines inherently interesting subjects such as cor-porate crime, racism, sexism, urban decay, poverty, health care, the changing economy, the politics of drugs, antigovernment movements, and terrorism. The typical book on social prob- lems describes these phenomena separately, using a variety of explanations. Students exposed to such a mélange of approaches might retain their interest in these problems, but they probably would complete the book with little grasp of how social problems are interrelated and societys role in their creation and perpetuation. This book is different. The approach is consistently sociologi- cal. There is a coherent framework from which to analyze and understand societys social problems.
The overarching goal in Social Problems, Fourteenth Edition, is to capture the imagina- tions of our readers. We want them not only to be interested in the topics but also to become enthusiastic about exploring the intricacies and mysteries of social life. We want them, moreover, to incorporate the sociological perspective into their explanatory repertoire. The sociological per- spective requires, at a minimum, acceptance of two fundamental assumptions. The first is that individuals are products of their social environ- ment. Who they are, what they believe, what they strive for, and how they feel about themselves are all dependent on other people and on the society in which they live. The incorporation of the so- ciological perspective requires that we examine the structure of society to understand such social problems as racism, poverty, and crime. This method, however, runs counter to the typical explanations people offer for social ills that tend to focus on individual behavior and choices. An observer cannot gain an adequate understanding
of racism, crime, poverty, or other social prob- lems by studying only bigots, criminals, and the poor. Therefore, we focus on the social structure to determine the underlying features of the social world in an effort to understand social problems.
Because the emphasis is on social structure, the reader is required to accept another fundamen- tal assumption of the sociological perspective. We refer to the adoption of a critical stance toward all social forms. Sociologists must ask these questions: How does the social system really work? Who has the power? Who benefits under the existing social arrangements, and who does not? We should also ask questions such as: Is the law neutral? Why are some drugs illegal and others, known to be harmful, legal? Why are so few organizations in the United Stateswhich is characterized as a democracydemocratic? Is U.S. society a meri- tocratic one in which talent and effort combine to stratify people fairly? Questions such as these call into question existing myths, stereotypes, and of- ficial dogma. The critical examination of society demystifies and demythologizes. It sensitizes the individual to the inconsistencies present in soci- ety. But, most important, a critical stance toward social arrangements allows us to see their role in perpetuating social problems. In conclusion, the reader should be aware that we are not dispassion- ate observers of social problems.
Let us, then, briefly make our values more ex- plicit. We oppose social arrangements that prevent people from developing to their full potential. That is, we reject political and social repression, educational elitism, institutional barriers to racial and sexual equality, economic exploitation, and official indifference to human suffering. Stating these feelings positively, we favor equality of op- portunity, the right to dissent, social justice, an
xii
Preface xiii
economic system that minimizes inequality, and a political system that maximizes citizen input in decisions and provides for an adequate health care system and acceptable living conditions for all people. Obviously, we believe that U.S. society as currently organized falls short of what we con- sider to be an optimal society. The problem areas of U.S. society are the subjects of this edition. So, too, are structural arrangements around the globe that harm people.
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Organization of the Book The organizing theme of this book is that many aspects of social problems are conditions result- ing from cultural and social arrangements, in particular social problems resulting from wealth and power and the bias of our current system
(introduced in Part One). The focus is on power because the powerful, by making and enforcing the laws, create and define deviance. They de- termine which behaviors will be rewarded and which ones punished. The powerful influence public opinion, and they can attempt to solve so- cial problems or ignore them.
Part Two focuses on problems of people, location, and the environment. Specifically, we cover social problems resulting from population changes, both in the United States and globally. We end the section with a closer look at environ- mental problems arising from both population growth and cultural norms.
Part Three examines a crucial element of U.S. social structure: the various manifesta- tions of social inequality. It describes inequality based on wealth, race/ethnicity, gender, and disability.
Part Four examines the impact of social struc- ture on individuals. Deviant behavior is activity that violates the norms of an organization, commu- nity, or society. Consequently, deviance is cultur- ally defined and socially labeled. Certain behaviors are also labeled as deviant because they conflict with the interests of the powerful in society. Public policy, then, reflects the values and interests of those in power and is codified into law. Members of society are also taught how to respond to devi- ants. The law and these structured responses to de- viants are societal reactions that establish deviance in social roles; paradoxically, the degraded status that results from societal reactions reinforces the deviance that society seeks to control. Deviance, then, is fundamentally the result of social struc- ture. We examine these processes in relation to two types of deviance: crime and drug use.
Part Five describes problems found within five representative institutions: the economy, the family, the education system, the health care sys- tem, and the government.
The book concludes with a chapter that an- swers this question: What do we do about so- cial problems? The solutions may come from the
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xiv Preface
bottom upthat is, people organize through hu- man agency to change social structures, or from the top downsocial policies determined by the powerful.
New to This Edition Since the last edition of Social Problems was pub- lished, certain events have shaken U.S. society, and important trends have become even more significant, making a revision necessary. For example,
The U.S. has ended its involvement in the Iraq war and is committed to do the same in Afghanistan. The U.S. budget for the mili- tary continues to rise. The threat of terrorism remains high globally, as evidenced by high- profile attacks in France and Belgium.
World population continues to increase by about 80 million a year, almost all of the increase in poor countries.
The U.S. population has moved past 320 mil- lion and will add another 120 million by 2050. At about 4 percent of the worlds popula- tion, the United States has an enormous envi- ronmental footprintit is the second largest emitter of the worlds greenhouse gases and uses one-fourth of the worlds resources.
Racial/ethnic minorities will be the numeri- cal majority in the United States by 2042. Immigration increases racial/ethnic tensions and conflicts in some parts of the nation. Growing conflicts between the police and minority groups have sparked protests and discussions about racial discrimination.
Politics in the United States has become more and more polarized, resulting in factions unwilling to compromise.
The Supreme Court has ruled that money is a form of speech and therefore cannot be curtailed in politics. As a consequence, money from large organizations and wealthy
individuals is swamping elections and mak- ing a mockery of democracy.
Although some large cities in the United States are showing signs of vigor, many are troubled with growing dependent popula- tions, shrinking job markets, increasing racial tensions, and declining economic resources to meet their problems.
The economy continues its massive trans- formation from a manufacturing economy to one based on service/knowledge. This causes disruptions as some companies fail while others succeed. Globalization, with jobs and tasks moving outside the country, adds to the unemployment woes accompany- ing the economic transformation.
The Great Recession hit in 2007 and caused havoc on Wall Street, Main Street, and in families. Unemployment rose precipitously. Wall Street tumbled. The value of housing dropped, causing bankruptcies and foreclo- sures. The effects of the Recession continue to affect U.S. families.
Government bailouts of the banks and recov- ery efforts such as an economic stimulus, plus the cost of conducting two wars, raised the national debt dramatically to $19 trillion by 2016. This huge debt provides a rationale to limit government by reducing or eliminat- ing social welfare programs.
ObamaCare has been upheld by the Supreme Court. The public is divided on this health care reform.
This fourteenth edition of Social Problems consid- ers each of these important trends and events as well as others. Some of the topics new to this edition are:
Expanded discussion of the concentration of corporate wealth
The Occupy Wall Street movement
Islamophobia
Preface xv
Increasing tensions over immigration
The drought in California
Corporate polluters and lobbying
Increasing tension between the public and the police after a series of deaths of Black men at the hands of police
The Black Lives Matter movement
Campus incidents of racism
Transgender and intersex issues
Marijuana legalization: lessons from Colorado
The growing gap between the rich and poor
Same-sex marriage court ruling
The controversy over Common Core Standards
Affordable Care Act statistics
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