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Poverty, Work, and the Economy

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The topic of poverty, work, and the economy explores how social systems and structures affect people’s opportunities, income, and quality of life. Poverty remains one of the most persistent social problems in the United States and is often shaped by larger economic systems that influence employment, wages, and education. When jobs are scarce or pay low wages, individuals and families face challenges meeting their basic needs. Sociologists study these patterns to understand how inequality develops and why certain groups are more vulnerable to economic hardship than others. From a sociological perspective, functionalism , conflict theory , and symbolic interactionism each provide a different way to understand poverty and work. Functionalists believe that inequality serves a purpose by motivating people to fill different roles in society and keeping the economy running. Conflict theorists argue that poverty results from power differences where the wealthy control resources and limit...
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Children, Families, and Schools

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Education is one of the most important social institutions in society because it teaches individuals the knowledge, norms, and values they need to become productive members of their community. The textbook Social Problems: Continuity and Change (v.1.0) explains that formal education, or schooling under trained professionals, became widespread in the United States during the nineteenth century as the nation industrialized. Compulsory education laws were created to promote national unity and prepare immigrants and working-class children for life in an industrial economy. In early America, only wealthy white males received formal schooling, while others learned informally at home or through apprenticeships. Over time, free and required schooling expanded access for all social classes, although inequalities still exist today. In modern society, the U.S. education system involves millions of students and teachers across more than 130,000 schools nationwide. However, the correlates of e...
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Crime and Criminal Justice

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 Crime and criminal justice are central concerns in sociology because they show how societies define and enforce norms, how social control is maintained, and how power shapes which behaviors are labeled deviance . The chapter this week discussed how crime isn't simply the breaking of laws, but the result of social definitions, institutional power, and inequality. The PowerPoint emphasized how factors like socioeconomic status , neighborhood context, and race/ethnicity influence both who commits crime and who is victimized. Finally, the assigned questions made me think about how data alone can mislead — for example, comparing reported vs. unreported crime, or looking at trends over time rather than one snapshot. From a sociological perspective: Functionalism views crime as having a role in society, such as reinforcing norms when deviant acts provoke social condemnation, or clarifying moral boundaries. Conflict theory argues that crime and laws are shaped by inequality; those ...
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Alcohol and Other Drugs

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 Alcohol and other drugs have long played a central role in society, both in everyday life and as subjects of controversy, regulation, and social concern. This week’s lesson focused on how sociologists approach drug and alcohol use, including the ways in which these substances shape communities, affect individual lives, and contribute to broader social issues. One of the main themes highlighted was how substance abuse not only causes health problems but also creates ripple effects across families, workplaces, and institutions. Alcohol, in particular, is a socially accepted substance, yet it remains linked to a wide range of social problems such as impaired driving, domestic violence, and addiction. The chapter readings and PowerPoint emphasized the importance of defining deviance in relation to drugs and alcohol. Deviance refers to behavior that violates social norms, and whether a drug is considered “acceptable” or “illicit” often depends on cultural context. For example, marij...
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Aging, Health, and Medicine

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Aging is a natural part of life that affects everyone differently. It involves not only physical changes but also shifts in mental abilities and social roles. Understanding how aging impacts health and society is important because as the population gets older, challenges related to healthcare, social support, and quality of life become more common. Aging affects people in many different ways, including physical, mental, and social changes. For example, chronological age simply counts the years since birth, while psychological aging refers to changes in mental functions like personality and cognition. Another important aspect is social aging , which involves changes in a person’s roles and relationships with family, friends, and community groups. Sociologists have different theories to explain the aging process. The activity theory suggests that older adults stay healthier and happier when they remain socially active and engaged. On the other hand, disengagement theory says that s...
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Understanding Social Problems

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This week, we learned about three main ways sociologists look at social problems: functionalism , conflict theory , and symbolic interactionism . Functionalism, based on Émile Durkheim’s ideas, sees society like a living body where different parts, like family and schools, work together to keep things stable and peaceful. Functionalists think social problems happen when society is out of balance, but usually, small changes can fix these problems without shaking everything up. Conflict theory, started by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, looks at society as a place where different groups fight over resources and power. It focuses on unfairness and says that social problems come from these inequalities, like the gap between rich and poor. Conflict theorists believe big changes are needed to fix these problems. Feminist theory is part of this view and focuses on inequality between men and women. Symbolic interactionism is different because it looks at how people’s everyday actions and the...
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