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Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Title: Social problems : a Canadian perspective / Lorne Tepperman, Josh Curtis and Rachel La Touche.
Names: Tepperman, Lorne, author. | Curtis, Josh, author. | La Touche, Rachel A., author.
Description: Fifth edition. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20190169796 | Canadiana (ebook) 2019016980X |
ISBN 9780199032785 (softcover) | ISBN 9780199032792 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Social problems—Textbooks. | LCSH: Canada—Social conditions—Textbooks. |
LCGFT: Textbooks.
Classification: LCC HN103.5 .T46 2020 | DDC 361.1—dc23
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Contents iii
Contents
Preface ix
How This Book Is Organized xi
Acknowledgements xiii
PART ONE Introduction 1
What Are Social Problems? 3
Learning Objectives 3
What Is a “Social Problem”? 4
Sociology and the Study of Social Problems 4
Social Problems and the Sociological Imagination 7
Social Problems Research as a Moral Enterprise 8
Social Problems: Then and Now 12
Theoretical Perspectives on Social Problems 12
Solutions to Social Problems 20
Chapter Summary 25
Questions for Critical Thought 25
Exploring Social Problems 26
Recommended Readings and Websites 26
PART TWO Inequalities 27
Class, Poverty, and Economic Inequality 29
Learning Objectives 29
Introduction 30
Measuring Poverty 33
Measuring Well-Being and Inequality 37
Poverty in Canada 38
Poverty as an Urban Problem 40
The Government’s Role in Reducing Poverty 43
Theoretical Perspectives on Poverty 44
Social Consequences of Poverty and Economic Inequality 47
Health Consequences of Poverty and Economic Inequality 50
Solving the Problems of Poverty and Economic Inequality 51
Chapter Summary 59
Questions for Critical Thought 60
Exploring Social Problems 60
Recommended Readings 60
iv Contents
Race and Ethnic Relations 61
Learning Objectives 61
Introduction 62
Race 62
Ethnicity 62
Multiculturalism in Canada 64
The Vertical Mosaic 67
Theoretical Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity 72
Racism and Prejudice: Social Problems 77
Social Consequences of Race and Ethnicity 80
Governmental and Organizational Solutions to Prejudice and Racism 87
Chapter Summary 88
Questions for Critical Thought 89
Exploring Social Problems 90
Recommended Readings 90
Gender Relations 91
Learning Objectives 91
Introduction 92
The Battle over Gender Today 93
Defining Sexism and Gender Inequality 94
Factors That Reinforce Gender
Inequality at Home 97
Problems of Structural Sexism 100
Gender Stereotypes in the Media 103
Theoretical Perspectives on Gender Relations and Inequality 104
Social Consequences of Gender Inequality 107
Self-Esteem and Appearance Issues 111
Claims-Making in Gender Relations and Sexism 114
Policy and Institutional Solutions to Gender Inequality 114
Chapter Summary 115
Questions for Critical Thought 116
Exploring Social Problems 116
Recommended Readings and Websites 116
Sexualities 118
Learning Objectives 118
Introduction 119
Sexual Orientation 119
Attitudes and Laws 123
Gay Rights Movement 125
Theoretical Perspectives on Sexual Orientation 130
Homophobia and Heterosexism 133
Social Consequences of Homophobia 134
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Contents v
Health Consequences of Homophobia 141
Solutions to Homophobia 143
Chapter Summary 147
Questions for Critical Thought 148
Exploring Social Problems 149
Recommended Readings and Websites 149
PART 3 Outcomes 151
Crime and Violence 153
Learning Objectives 153
Introduction 154
Defining Crime, Laws, and Social Order 154
Crime in Canada and Elsewhere 155
The Demography of Crime 162
Theoretical Perspectives on Crime 170
Social Effects of Crime and Violence 174
Economic Consequences of Crime 179
Health Effects of Crime and Violence 181
Solutions to the Crime and Violence Problem 182
Chapter Summary 184
Questions for Critical Thought 184
Exploring Social Problems 185
Recommended Readings and Websites 185
Health Issues, Addictions,
and Substance-Use Disorders 186
Learning Objectives 186
Introduction 187
Defining and Measuring Health 187
Measuring Health and Illness 188
Pandemics: Threats to Canadian
and Global Health 190
Theoretical Perspectives on Health, Illness,
and Health Care 198
The Social Determinants of Health 202
Solutions to Problems in Health Outcomes and Health-Care Delivery 203
Addictions and Substance-Use Disorders: Why They’re a Problem 204
How Do Drugs and Alcohol Cause Social Problems? 205
Medicalization and the Transformation of a Problem 207
Social and Physical Characteristics of Addictions 209
Social Consequences of Addiction and Substance-Use Disorder 214
Health Consequences of Addictions 215
Solutions to Health and Addiction Problems 217
Chapter Summary 220
vi Contents
Questions for Critical Thought 220
Exploring Social Problems 221
Recommended Readings and Websites 221
Global Inequality, War,
and Terrorism 222
Learning Objectives 222
Globalization and Global Inequality 223
Theoretical Perspectives on Globalization
and Global Inequality 224
Consequences of Globalization
and Global Inequality 229
Globalization, War, and Terrorism 233
Theoretical Perspectives on War
and Terrorism 239
Social Consequences of War 244
Solutions to Global Inequality, War,
and Terrorism 247
Chapter Summary 251
Questions for Critical Thought 252
Exploring Social Problems 252
Recommended Readings 252
PART 4 Domains
253
Families 255
Learning Objectives 255
Introduction 256
Theoretical Perspectives on the Family 264
Social Consequences of Family Life 267
Health Consequences of Family Life 273
Fertility Trends 275
The Boomerang Effect 277
Family Violence 279
Solutions to Family Problems 282
Chapter Summary 285
Questions for Critical Thought 286
Exploring Social Problems 286
Recommended Readings and Websites 286
Aging and the Life Course 288
Learning Objectives 288
Introduction 289
Cross-Cultural Attitudes to Aging 289
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Contents vii
The Idea of a “Life Course” 291
Aspects of the Sociology of Aging 293
Social Consequences of Aging 297
Health Consequences of Aging 301
Solutions for Problems of Aging 307
Claims-Making and the Social Construction
of Aging 315
Chapter Summary 316
Questions for Critical Thought 316
Exploring Social Problems 317
Recommended Readings and Websites 317
Schools 318
Learning Objectives 318
Introduction 319
Defining Education and Its Social Problems 319
Education and Gender 327
Education and Race 328
The Effectiveness of Schooling 332
Theoretical Perspectives on Education 334
Social Consequences of Education 336
Bullying 341
Solutions to Educational Social Problems 345
Chapter Summary 346
Questions for Critical Thought 346
Exploring Social Problems 347
Recommended Readings and Websites 347
Workplaces 348
Learning Objectives 348
Introduction 349
Comparative Economic Systems 350
The Bureaucratization of Work 354
Theoretical Perspectives on Work
and Unemployment 354
Social Consequences of Work 357
Vulnerable Populations 364
Unemployment and Its Effects 370
Social Consequences of Unemployment 373
Health Consequences of Work 373
Solutions to Unemployment 376
Chapter Summary 378
Questions for Critical Thought 379
viii Contents
Exploring Social Problems 379
Recommended Readings and Websites 379
Populations and the Natural
Environment 380
Learning Objectives 380
Introduction 381
World Population in Context 381
The Demographic Transition 383
Contrasting Perspectives on Population Change 384
Population Density 386
Urban Sociology: A Primer 389
Theoretical Perspectives on Urban Life 393
Theoretical Perspectives on Environmental Problems 394
Social Consequences of Population Growth and Urbanization 396
Social Consequences of Environmental Problems 400
Solutions to Population Problems 406
Social Responses and Solutions to Environmental Problems 407
Chapter Summary 409
Questions for Critical Thought 410
Exploring Social Problems 410
Recommended Readings and Websites 410
PART 5 The Future 411
What Problems Are On the Way? 413
Learning Objectives 413
Introduction 414
Theoretical Perspectives on Future Studies 417
Technology: Making and Solving Problems 418
Trends in Social Problems Projected to
the Near Future 420
Chapter Summary 436
Questions for Critical Thought 436
Exploring Social Problems 437
Recommended Readings and Websites 437
Glossary 438
References 444
Index 493
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Preface
Welcome to the fifth edition of Social Problems: A Canadian Perspective. As in earlier
editions, in this text we continue to assume that there is such a thing as a “social prob-
lem.” A social problem is any circumstance that many people experience and that has
both social causes and social consequences. The social problems we discuss actually
exist. We can verify that fact with our own eyes and with the measurement tools of
social science. Yet, each social problem is also socially constructed, in the sense that
people think, define, and react to it as such. If people were to stop thinking about social
problems, they would cease to exist, at least at the level of consciousness, social defini-
tion, and social action.
Because of this socially constructed aspect of social problems, we can trace their rise
and fall over time. We can study how people came to share the understanding that a
certain circumstance was problematic. To take a simple example, few people in Canada
today consider the so-called promiscuity of young women to be a social problem, al-
though this was not the case in the past. Likewise, few Canadians today are troubled by
what used to be called “miscegenation”—couples from two different races having sexual
relations—although in earlier times many considered this a serious social problem. On
the other hand, many people today consider climate change to be an important social
problem, although 50 years ago this issue was barely discussed.
Sociologists study why certain behaviours, and not others, come to occupy our con-
cern and evoke the label of “social problem.” This takes us into the areas of changing
morality and moral panics—sudden, intense, widespread, and often fleeting concerns
about the immorality of one particular group. The rise and fall of social problems also
reflects social, intellectual, and scientific changes. At any given time, there are problems
in society that can be shown to harm our quality of life, but only a few people see them
as problems and government and other powerful agencies do little to address them.
The social problems that last the longest and evoke the most concern are those that
are not merely socially constructed and thus not simply problems “in people’s minds.”
They are serious matters of health and of life and death. Poverty, racial discrimination,
poor working conditions, domestic violence—these are all serious social problems be-
cause, at the extremes, they hurt or kill people. In less extreme circumstances, they exac-
erbate illness and reduce people’s well-being and quality of life. Increasingly, we live in a
world in which we are all, always, in danger of harm from sources that are often hidden
from view and beyond human control. These risks are frequently the result of human ac-
tivity, especially the applications of science and technology to the natural environment.
Often, they are the result of what we are taught to regard fondly as “progress.”
So, apart from the perceived immorality, injustice, or unfairness of the problems
discussed in this book, serious social problems cost our society many human lives and
many days lost from work and family life; they also lead to shattered families, workplace
conflict, and destroyed hopes. These problems are not merely “in people’s minds.” In fact,
the job of the sociologist, in these cases, is to bring them to people’s conscious attention.
