Social Problems: Constructionist ReadingsDonileen R. Loseke, Joel Best This collection of focused essays is directed at several levels of students of social problems. It is accessible to the uninitiated, who are not familiar with the constructionist literature, and aimed at those who are not particularly interested in subtle theoretical and empirical issues of concern to academics studying social problems from constructionist perspectives. Some readings focus on the construction of problems by scientists and other professionals; others examine the work of social activists, mass media, and social service personnel. Among the topics included are studies of social inequalities and individual deviance; a comparison of the images of social problems in the United States with those in other countries; and an examination of the importance of politics and power in constructing public images of social problems. Constructionist perspectives have become the leading theoretical approach for sociology and allied fields in studying social problems. Yet constructionists' impact on the teaching of social problems has been far less dramatic. Undergraduate courses on social problems are often subject to a theoretical barrage of eclectic perspectives. Just as the first social problems textbooks did almost a century ago, textbooks continue to present a series of unrelated chapters, each devoted to a particular social problem. Social Problems is an effort at systematic analysis rather than random thought on the subject. Social Problems presents detailed case studies demonstrating how constructionist perspectives can actually be applied to understand particular social problems. While these articles can be read alone, the editors have organized these selections to correspond with the chapter topics in the second edition of Donileen Loseke's Thinking about Social Problems, an accessible introduction to constructionist approaches. At the same time, some instructors who use this edited collection might wish to provide their own mix to the selection process. Many of the contributions make multiple points and so reasonably could be used to illustrate other basic texts or classic studies in the field of social problems. Donileen R. Loseke is professor of sociology at the University of South Florida. Joel Best is professor and chair, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware. He has also served as an advisory editor for Aldine in the area of social problems. |
Contents
The Changing Meanings of Spanking | 6 |
Bullying as a Social Problem in Great Britain | 13 |
The Problem with the Earthquake Problem | 21 |
Reality Television Constructs Crime | 29 |
ClaimsMakers and Audiences | 37 |
Introduction | 39 |
Audiences Evaluate Statistics | 43 |
Promoters of Hate Crime Legislation | 51 |
The Homeless Mentally Ill and Involuntary Hospitalization | 146 |
Constructing a War on Drugs | 154 |
Urine Testing and Social Control | 162 |
The Size Acceptance Movement | 169 |
Social Problems and Everyday Life | 175 |
Introduction | 177 |
Constructing the Need for LowFat Food | 180 |
Pregnant Women as a Social Problem | 188 |
Psychiatrists Construct Homosexuality | 59 |
Television Talk Shows Construct Morality | 66 |
Constructing Conditions | 75 |
Introduction | 77 |
Smoking Problems in Japan | 81 |
Crime Frames and Their Sponsors | 88 |
Framing in the Fathers Rights Movement | 93 |
Factory Farming as a Social Problem | 101 |
Constructing People | 107 |
Introduction | 109 |
The Rhetorical Appeal of Random Violence | 113 |
Prostitutes Respond to AIDS | 120 |
Science Constructs PMS | 127 |
Multicultural Education as Moral Drama | 135 |
Constructing Solutions | 141 |
Introduction | 143 |
Constructing Sexually Marginalized Catholics | 196 |
The Beliefs of Recovery Religion | 204 |
Social Problems and Troubled People | 213 |
Introduction | 215 |
Medicalizing Childhood | 219 |
Teaching Gifted Children | 226 |
Constructing Insanity in Involuntary Commitment Hearings | 233 |
Formula Stories and Support Groups for Battered Women | 241 |
Evaluating Constructionist Perspectives on Social Problems | 249 |
Introduction | 251 |
Crack Babies and the Politics of Mothering | 254 |
The Symbolic Meanings of Pedophile Priests | 261 |
Horror Stories and the Construction of Child Abuse | 267 |
Constructing the Jewish Problem in Nazi Germany | 272 |
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acceptance movement activists activities advocates Aldine de Gruyter American argue audience members behavior believe campaign Catholic chapter is excerpted child abuse civil rights claims claims-makers cocaine concern condition constructed constructionist contemporary COYOTE crack babies crack cocaine crime genre criminal critics cultural custody disease drug earthquake threat earthquakes emotional employers evaluate example experience factory farming feminist formula story harm homosexuality images important individual involuntary commitment issue Joel Best liberal feminism lives mass media mental illness moral mothers multiculturalists nongifted organizations parents pediatricians pediatrics percent person political pregnant programs promote prostitutes psychiatric random violence response rhetoric rights movement risk role scientific sexually marginalized smoking social movement social problems society spanking Spitzer statistics studies talk shows television tion tobacco types United urine testing victims villains War on Drugs wife abuse women workplace bullying worry
Popular passages
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