Social Problems

LORNE TEPPERMAN is a professor of sociology at the University of Toronto. JOSH CURTIS is an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Calgary.RACHEL LA TOUCHE is an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Toronto.

• PrefaceAcknowledgementsPART 1: INTRODUCTION1. What Are Social Problems?Learning ObjectivesWhat Is a "Social Problem"?Sociology and the Study of Social ProblemsSocial Problems and the Social ImaginationSocial Problems Research as a Moral EnterpriseSocial Problems: Then and Now (NEW!)Theoretical Perspectives on Social ProblemsSolutions to Social ProblemsChapter SummaryQuestions for Critical ThoughtExploring Social Problems (NEW!)Recommended Readings and WebsitesPART 2: INEQUALITIES2. Class, Poverty, and Economic InequalityLearning ObjectivesIntroductionMeasuring PovertyMeasuring Well-Being and InequalityPoverty in CanadaPoverty as an Urban ProblemThe Government's Role in Reducing PovertyTheoretical Perspectives on PovertySocial Consequences of Poverty and Economic InequalityHealth Consequences of Poverty and Economic InequalitySolving the Problems of Poverty and Economic InequalityChapter SummaryQuestions for Critical ThoughtExploring Social Problems (NEW!)Recommended Readings3. Race and Ethnic RelationsLearning ObjectivesIntroductionRaceEthnicityMulticulturalism in CanadaThe Vertical MosaicTheoretical Perspectives on Race and EthnicityRacism and Prejudice: Social ProblemsSocial Consequences of Race and EthnicityGovernmental and Organizational Solutions to Prejudice and RacismChapter SummaryQuestions for Critical ThoughtExploring Social Problems (NEW!)Recommended Readings4. Gender RelationsLearning ObjectivesIntroductionThe Battle over Gender TodayDefining Sexism and Gender InequalityFactors that Reinforce Gender InequalityProblems of Structural SexismGender Stereotypes in the MediaTheoretical Perspectives on Gender Relations and InequalitySocial Consequences of Gender Inequality at HomeSelf-Esteem and Appearance IssuesClaims-Making in Gender Relations and SexismPolicy and Institutional Solutions to Gender InequalityChapter SummaryQuestions for Critical ThoughtExploring Social Problems (NEW!)Recommended Readings and Websites5. SexualitiesLearning ObjectivesIntroductionSexual OrientationAttitudes and LawsGay Rights Movement (NEW!)Theoretical Perspectives on Sexual OrientationHomophobia and HeterosexismSocial Consequences of HomophobiaHealth Consequences of HomophobiaSolutions to HomophobiaChapter SummaryQuestions for Critical ThoughtExploring Social Problems (NEW!)Recommended Readings and WebsitesPART 3: OUTCOMES6. Crime and ViolenceLearning ObjectivesIntroductionDefining Crime, Laws, and Social OrderCrime in Canada and ElsewhereThe Demography of CrimeTheoretical Perspectives on CrimeSocial Effects of Crime and ViolenceEconomic Consequences of CrimeHealth Effects of Crime and ViolenceSolutions to the Crime and Violence ProblemChapter SummaryQuestions for Critical ThoughtExploring Social Problems (NEW!)Recommended Readings and Websites7. Health Issues, Addictions, and Substance-Use DisordersLearning ObjectivesIntroductionDefining and Measuring HealthMeasuring Health and IllnessPandemics: Threats to Canadian and Global HealthTheoretical Perspectives on Health, Illness, and Health CareThe Social Determinants of HealthSolutions to Problems in Health Outcomes and Health-Care DeliveryAddictions and Substance-Use Disorders: Why They're a ProblemHow Do Drugs and Alcohol Cause Social Problems?Medicalization and the Transformation of a ProblemSocial and Physical Characteristics of AddictionsSocial Consequences of Addiction and Substance-Use DisorderHealth Consequences of AddictionsSolutions to Health and Addiction ProblemsChapter SummaryQuestions for Critical ThoughtExploring Social Problems (NEW!)Recommended Readings and Websites8. Global Inequality, War, and TerrorismLearning ObjectivesGlobalization and Global Inequality (NEW!)Theoretical Perspectives on Globalization and Global InequalityConsequences of Globalization and Global InequalityGlobalization, War, and TerrorismTheoretical Perspectives on War and TerrorismSocial Consequences of WarSolutions to Global Inequality, War, and TerrorismChapter SummaryQuestions for Critical ThoughtExploring Social Problems (NEW!)Recommended ReadingsPART 4: DOMAINS9. FamiliesLearning ObjectivesIntroductionTheoretical Perspectives on the FamilySocial Consequences of Family LifeHealth Consequences of Family LifeFertility TrendsThe Boomerang EffectFamily ViolenceSolutions to Family ProblemsChapter SummaryQuestions for Critical ThoughtExploring Social Problems (NEW!)Recommended Readings and Websites10. Aging and the Life CourseLearning ObjectivesIntroductionCross-Cultural Attitudes to AgingThe Idea of a "Life Course"Aspects of the Sociology of AgingSocial Consequences of AgingHealth Consequences of AgingSolutions for Problems of AgingClaims-Making and the Social Construction of AgingChapter SummaryQuestions for Critical ThoughtExploring Social Problems (NEW!)Recommended Readings and Websites11. SchoolsLearning ObjectivesIntroductionDefining Education and Its Social ProblemsEducation and GenderEducation and RaceThe Effectiveness of SchoolingTheoretical Perspectives on EducationSocial Consequences of EducationBullyingSolutions to Educational Social ProblemsChapter SummaryQuestions for Critical ThoughtExploring Social Problems (NEW!)Recommended Readings and Websites12. WorkplacesLearning ObjectivesIntroductionComparative Economic SystemsThe Bureaucratization of WorkTheoretical Perspectives on Work and UnemploymentSocial Consequences of WorkVulnerable PopulationsUnemployment and Its EffectsSocial Consequences of UnemploymentHealth Consequences of WorkSolutions to UnemploymentChapter SummaryQuestions for Critical ThoughtExploring Social Problems (NEW!)Recommended Readings and Websites13. Populations and the Natural EnvironmentLearning ObjectivesIntroductionWorld Population in ContextThe Demographic TransitionContrasting Perspectives on Population ChangePopulation DensityUrban Sociology: A PrimerTheoretical Perspectives on Urban LifeTheoretical Perspectives on Environmental ProblemsSocial Consequences of Population Growth and UrbanizationSocial Consequences of Environmental ProblemsSolutions to Population ProblemsSocial Responses and Solutions to Environmental ProblemsChapter SummaryQuestions for Critical ThoughtExploring Social Problems (NEW!)Recommended Readings and WebsitesPART 5: THE FUTURE14. What Problems Are On the Way?Learning ObjectivesIntroductionTheoretical Perspectives on Future StudiesTechnology: Making and Solving Problems (NEW!)Trends in Social Problems Projected to the Near FutureChapter SummaryQuestions for Critical ThoughtExploring Social Problems (NEW!)Recommended Readings and WebsitesGlossaryReferencesCreditsIndex

"This is an accessible text for a first-year social problems course that integrates Canadian content throughout." --Scott Grills, Brandon University"Clear, inclusive and well selected topics for studying social problems. Excellent tools used to aid the student in navigating complex social issues through critical thinking questions, current Canadian cases, tables and graphs ... to make understanding social trends interesting and fun to learn." --Indira Prahst, Langara College