Unit 10: Social Problems, Social Movements, Public Sociology & Social responsibility

You may choose one of these options as one of your four required summary-response papers:

A. Defining Social Problems

Using a concrete example, provide a sociologically-informed understanding of how some situations rather than others comes to be recognized as a social problem.

In your response discuss (a) the importance of both objective and subjective factors that operate in this process, (b) how and why a person’s social location in society – the statuses they occupy such as social class, race, ethnicity, sex, age, etc. – affects their definition of a situation as desirable or problematic and their ability to get others – such as citizens not affected by the problem and policy makers – to notice and respond to these concerns, and (c) how the mass media might play a part in this process (i.e., agenda setting; spin).

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B. Stages of Social Problems

Describe the four stages of social problems, indicating what the key issues are in each stage and how social factors affect how they unfold.

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C. Fallacies in Thinking About Social Problems

Lauer and Lauer list 10 different fallacies that are often found in the discussion of social problems. Choose five, define each one and indicate how they “muddy the waters” and prevent a clear understanding of particular social problems (use examples). Have you been guilty of any of these fallacies?

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D. In her article, “Blood on our Backs,” Karen Coates discusses the plight of Cambodian garment workers that produce clothing sold in the Western world – primarily in the United States by such stores as Old Navy, Target, Walmart and Kohl’s. In so doing, Coats outlines the contrasting perspectives of (1) the workers, mostly young women, who seek a safer work environment and an increase in their meager $80 monthly wage, (2) the garment manufacturers, who prefer to maintain their $5 billion annual exports and their current profit margin,  (3) retail stores/corporations such as Walmart that prefer that their costs remain low, and (4) western consumers who also prefer that prices for clothing at these stores remain low and affordable.

As the article indicates, each of these social categories of actors has different beliefs, values, attitudes, and interests. In other words, they inhabit somewhat different cultures and sub-cultures. As a result, they disagree over whether this objective condition really is a problem, what, if anything, should be done about the situation (i.e., whose behavior needs to change), and the likelihood that such efforts would be successful.

In your essay you will answer these four sets of questions:

(1) What are the different cultural perspectives (beliefs, values, attitudes, and interests) of the four categories of social actors listed above? Pay particular attention to the difference you find in their values and indicate how these differences affect their role and position in this state of affairs.

(2) How are these four categories of social actors, which represent regional, national, and global communities, connected in a larger system of relations and how do they interact on a national and global level?

(3) Whether you recognize it or not, your actions as a consumer play a part in the current circumstances in Cambodia. In your view, do you have any social responsibility to act – for example, to boycott stores that carry these products – in order to effect change? What other strategies would you suggest? What are the effects of you not doing anything?

(4) Given the competing interests and differences in power that are attached to the different collective social actors, a solution to this problem will not be easily devised. Cheap labor always seems to be available. And according to Ken Loo, secretary-general of the Cambodian Garment Manufacturers Association, in the end, a few boycotting consumers “can’t do anything.” Discuss what you believe to be the responsibility of each of the groups to solve the problems associated with the situation. In your view, are these difficulties insurmountable? Why or why not?