Ira Silver is Professor of Sociology at Framingham State University. He also teaches during the summer at Wellesley College. He is the editor of Social Problems: Readings.

• PrefaceChapter 1 - Introduction: Making Sense of Hot-Button Issues What Is the Problem? Exploring Multiple Perspectives The Craft of Sociology Igniting Your Sociological Imagination The World Is Your Oyster PART I: INEQUALITYChapter 2 - Class and the American Dream Struggling to Get By Unequal Chances for Success Stuck in Poverty Living the Dream Looking Inward Chapter 3 - Race, Crime, and Policing Tragic Encounters Assigning Personal Blame Images of Danger Susceptibility to Crime Gaining New Perspective Chapter 4 - Gender, Violence, and Power Invisible Scars in Plain Sight Sources of AbuseBe a Man Limited Options Adding Insult to Injury Seeing a Private Matter as a Public Issue Chapter 5 - LGBTQ+ People and Their Critics The Pulse of Opposition Protecting Vulnerable Children Widespread Panic Living with Labels Expanding Your Mind PART II: DANGER AND RISKChapter 6 - Drug Use and Abuse Just Say NoExternal Influences Menaces and Miracles Getting an Edge Unequal Impacts of Drug Enforcement Thinking Broadly about Drugs Chapter 7 - Health and the Environment Social Determinants of Health Food Choices and Other Indicators of Well-Being Going Upstream Houston, We Have a Problem Preying upon Vulnerabilities Surrounded by Doughnuts Chapter 8 - Mass Shootings, Hate Groups, and Access to Weapons Familiar Scenes of Horror Displaying Masculinity Seeking Revenge Contagious Behavior Locked and Loaded A Pack of Wolves Chapter 9 - Mental Illness and Suicide A Source of Stigma Distracted in SchoolFeeling Sad When You Should Be Happy Making Sense of the UnexplainableLiving and Dying without Shame PART III: INSTITUTIONSChapter 10 - Immigration and Border SecurityNavigating Perilous WatersEntering and Staying in the United StatesBringing Vice into the Country Fleeing from Imminent DangersLooking Globally and Locally Chapter 11 - Education and Upward Mobility Crumbling Classrooms Funding for Public Schooling Reinforcing Inequalities Going to College Education as Transformation Chapter 12 - Media, Body Image, and Self-WorthPursuing an IdealThin Is In Hitting the GymFeeling DisembodiedLove YourselfKeeping It RealChapter 13 - Technology and Instant PleasureDivided AttentionConstantly ScrollingFeeling DisconnectedSowing Division Behaving CompulsivelyRethinking Technology’s RewardsChapter 14 - Conclusion: Seeing Multiple RealitiesStepping Outside Your MatrixThinking ComprehensivelyGlossaryPhoto CreditsIndex

"Seeing Social Problems, second edition is major and welcome contribution to understanding and teaching about timely and divisive issues in contemporary society. Silver draws on diverse literatures; skillfully integrates concepts and data; offers a direct and engaging writing style and a recurring arc in each chapter, from “first impressions” to dominant framings of issues in culture and media, toward a more comprehensive and constructive array of policy options. A superb source for students, teachers, and researchers."