Macionis's Social Problems is the only social problems text that explains how society frames social problems and solutions through politics. The text analyzes social issues and policies, using the concepts of sociological theory and the everyday language of politics. This text helps students understand the attitudes and values that define the political spectrum in the United States. Once students know how social problems are defined by our society through politics, and how the policies to solve these problems are developed, students are able to become involved in solving social problems through activism and political involvement.

Table of Contents

Part I Sociology's Basic Approach Chapter 1 Sociology: Studying Social Problems Seeing Patterns: The Sociological Imagination Social Problems: The Basics Beyond Our Borders: A Global Perspective Analyzing Social Problems: Sociological Theory Finding the Facts: Sociological Research Responding to Social Problems: Social Policy Politics: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going On from Here Making the Grade Part II Problems of Social Inequality Chapter 2 Poverty and Wealth Economic Inequality in the United States The Rich and the Poor: A Social Profile Problems Linked to Poverty Responding to Poverty: The Welfare System Theoretical Analysis: Understanding Poverty Politics and Poverty: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going on from Here Making the Grade Chapter 3 Racial and Ethnic Inequality Race and Ethnicity Patterns of Majority-Minority Interaction The Social Standing of U.S. Minorities Prejudice Discrimination Theoretical Analysis: Understanding Racial and Ethnic Inequality Politics, Race, and Ethnicity: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going on From Here Making the Grade Chapter 4 Gender Inequality What is Gender? Gender and Social Institutions Gender Stratification Theoretical Analysis: Understanding Gender Inequality Feminism Politics and Gender: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going on From Here Making the Grade Chapter 5 Aging and Inequality Growing Old The Graying of the United States Problems of Aging Theoretical Analysis: Understanding Aging and Inequality Politics and Aging: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going on From Here Making the Grade Part III Problems of Deviance, Conformity, and Well-Being Chapter 6 Crime and Criminal Justice Norms, Law, and Crime Crime: The Extent of the Problem "Street Crime": Who Are the Criminals? Other Dimensions of the Crime Problem The Criminal Justice System Explaining Crime: Biological and Psychological Theories Explaining Crime: Sociological Theories Politics and Crime: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going on From Here Making the Grade Chapter 7 Violence What is Violence? Criminal Violence Family Violence Social Dimensions of Violence Explaining Violence: Biological and Psychological Theories Explaining Violence: Sociological Theories Politics and Violence: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going on From Here Making the Grade Chapter 8 Sexuality What is Sex? Sexual Attitudes in the Unites States Sexual Orientation Pornography Sexual Harassment Prostitution Teenage Pregnancy Abortion Sexually Transmitted Diseases Theoretical Analysis: Understanding Sexuality Politics and Sexuality: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going on From Here Making the Grade Chapter 9 Alcohol and Other Drugs What Is a Drug? The Extent of Drug Use Types of Drugs Drugs and Other Social Problems Social Policy: Responding to the Drug Problem Theoretical Analysis: Understanding Drug-Related Social Problems Politics and Drugs: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going on From Here Making the Grade Chapter 10 Physical and Mental Health Health and Illness: A Global Perspective Health Policy: Paying for Care Health Care in the United States: A System in Crisis? Mental Health and Illness Theoretical Analysis: Understanding Heath Problems Politics and Health: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going on From Here Making the Grade Part IV Problems of Social Institutions Chapter 11 Economy and Politics Economic Systems: Defining Justice, Defining Problems The Economy and Politics Problems of the U.S. Political Economy Theoretical Analysis: Understanding Economic and Political Problems Politics and Economy: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going on From Here Making the Grade Chapter 12 Work and the Workplace The Importance of Work Structural Changes in the U.S. Economy Other Problems of the U.S. Workforce New Information Technology: The Brave New Workplace Theoretical Analysis: Understanding Work-Related Problems Politics and the Workplace: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going on From Here Making the Grade Chapter 13 Family Life What is a Family? Controversies over Family Life Theoretical Analysis: Understanding Family Problems Politics and Family Life: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going on From Here Making the Grade Chapter 14 Education Problems of Education: A Global Perspective Problems with U.S. Education Theoretical Analysis: Understanding Educational Problems Politics and Education: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going on From Here Making the Grade Chapter 15 Urban Life Cities: Then and Now Problems of Today's Cities Theoretical Analysis: Understanding Urban Problems Politics and Urban Life: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going on From Here Making the Grade Part V Global Problems Chapter 16 Population and Global Inequality Global Population Increase Global Inequality Theoretical Analysis: Understanding Global Inequality Politics and Global Inequality: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going on From Here Making the Grade Chapter 17 Technology and the Environment Ecology: Studying the Natural Environment Environmental Problems Theoretical Analysis: Understanding Environmental Problems Politics and the Environment: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going on From Here Making the Grade Chapter 18 War and Terrorism War and Peace: Basic Definitions Terrorism Theoretical Analysis: Understanding War and Terrorism Politics and War: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions Going On from Here Making the Grade

Author Biography

John Macionis (pronounced "ma-SHOW-nis") was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He earned a bachelor's degree from Cornell University and a doctorate in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. His publications are wide-ranging, focusing on community life in the United States, interpersonal intimacy in families, effective teaching, humor, new information technology, and the importance of global education. He collaborates on international editions of the texts: Sociology: Canadian Edition; Society: The Basics, Canadian Edition; and Sociology: A Global Introduction. Sociology is also available for high school students and in various foreign-language editions. In addition, Macionis and Nijole V. Benokraitis have edited the best-selling anthology Seeing Ourselves: Classic, Contemporary, and Cross-Cultural Readings in Sociology, also available in a Canadian edition. Macionis and Vincent Parrillo have written the leading urban studies text, Cities and Urban Life (Prentice Hall). Macionis's most recent textbook is Social Problems (Prentice Hall), now in its third edition and the leading book in this field. The latest on all the Macionis textbooks, as well as information and dozens of Internet links of interest to students and faculty in sociology, are found at the author's personal Web site: http://www.macionis.com or http://www.TheSociologyPage.com. Additional information, instructor resources, and online student study guides for the texts are found at the Prentice Hall site: http://www.prenhall.com/macionis. John Macionis is Professor and Distinguished Scholar of Sociology at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he has taught for almost thirty years. During that time, he has chaired the Sociology Department, directed the college's multidisciplinary program in humane studies, presided over the campus senate and the college's faculty, and taught sociology to thousands of students. In 2002, the American Sociological Association presented Macionis with the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Teaching, citing his innovative use of global material as well as the introduction of new teaching technology in his textbooks. Professor Macionis has been active in academic programs in other countries, having traveled to some fifty nations. He writes, "I am an ambitious traveler, eager to learn and, through the texts, to share much of what I discover with students, many of whom know little about the rest of the world. For me, traveling and writing are all dimensions of teaching. First, and foremost, I am a teacher--a passion for teaching animates everything I do." The Macionis family--John, Amy, and children McLean and Whitney--live on a farm in rural Ohio. In his free time, Macionis enjoys tennis, swimming, hiking, and playing oldies rock-and-roll (he recently released his first CD). Macionis is as an environmental activist in the Lake George region of New York's Adirondack Mountains, working with a number of organizations, including the Lake George Land Conservancy, where he serves as president of the board of trustees.