Author's Choice Crossroads Reader for Introduction to Social Problems

Table of Contents:
1. “The Problem with Social Problems,” by Donileen R. Loseke. This author argues that social problems can only be partially understood if seen only as objective conditions; The subjective definition of social problems is also important. This is a good analysis of the social constructionist approach. 2. “The Welfare State: The Implications of Sweden's Democratic Socialism,” by John Logue. In keeping with the global perspective of the text, this article discusses the policies that Sweden has used to maintain a globally competitive economy while still providing desired social programs and supports for its citizens. 3. “The Nordic Countries: Public Programs for Dealing With the Consequences of Divorce,” by William J. Goode. This article summarizes the social policies in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark that are intended to provide for people's needs when there is a divorce and discusses the reasons why the countries feel that such policies are desirable. 4. “The Evolution of the Insanity Defense: Welcome to the Twilight Zone of Mental Illness, Psychiatry, and the Law,” by Gerald Robin. This article provides a fascinating view of the changes in and the current status of the insanity defense. It looks at both the benefits and disadvantages of having such a defense and explores whether it should simply be abolished. 5. “Broken Faith: Why We Need to Renew the Social Compact,” by Robert B. Reich. This article addresses the economic gap that has expanded between the well off and the poor. The author argues that the social compact—the reciprocal obligations that people have to assist and support one another—has frayed and needs to be revitalized. 6. “Rebels With a Cause,” by The Southern Poverty Law Center. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) combats hate and intolerance through education and legal action. This article describes the roots, ideology, and activities of a contemporary group that the SPLC considers to be fundamentally racist. 7. “Facts Are Not Enough: Education as a Tool for Change in Sweden,” by Mona Eliasson. This article addresses the ways in which violence can be a weapon used in the oppression of women and points to the legal reforms implemented in Sweden to reduce this violence. The reforms focus on both education and the threat of punishment. 8. “ "The Portrayal of Homosexuality in Abnormal Psychology and Sociology of Deviance Textbooks,” by Rose Weitz and Karl Bryant. These authors help in the exploration of the social constructionist approach to social problems by describing the different ways in which homosexuality is characterized in college textbooks and how that characterization changes over time. 9. “Fraternities and Collegiate Rape Culture: Why Are Some Fraternities More Dangerous Places for Women?” by A. Ayres Boswell and Joan Z. Spade. Using direct observations on and near college campuses, along with interviews of college students, the authors are able to show why some fraternities, bars, and other college-associated locales are particularly dangerous places for women while others are not. 10. “The Presentation of Drugs in the News Media: The News Sources Involved in the Construction of Social Problems,” by Steven Chermak. This article provides an additional perspective on the constructionist approach to social problems. Using direct observation of news shows along with interviews of media news personnel, the author describes how it is decided that only limited representations of the "drug problem" will appear in the news. 11. “Global Trafficking in Women: Some Issues and Strategies,” by Lin Chew. This author shows how attempts to solve one social problem may create other problems. Government policies to help women by reining in the global trafficking in women have often treated women as criminals, rather than as victims of oppression, and thus made their lives more difficult. 12. “Going Places,” by Jay Walljasper. Using European cities as an example, this author shows how cities can be designed so that automobiles are less central to transportation and some environmental problems can be reduced. 13. “Networks and Mobile Arrangements: Organizational Innovation in the U. S. Environmental Justice Movement,” by David Schlosberg. This article explores the beliefs and activities of the various groups that support environmental justice. It shows how the strategy of networking among these groups has many benefits but also some disadvantages. 14. “The New Terrorism: Coming Soon To a City Near You,” by The Economist. Although written before September 11, 2001, this article suggests that the "new terrorism" will spread violence to the U. S. homeland and suggests what the nature of this new terrorism is. 15. “The Culture of Surveillance,” by William G. Staples. This author suggests how technology now makes it possible to put almost all people under surveillance on an almost continuous basis. He describes some different kinds of surveillance (“soft” versus “hard”) and suggests the pros and cons of such surveillance.