Brenden Weber

 The environment is one of the most important issues facing society today because it connects directly to human health, social inequality, and global sustainability. Environmental sociology studies how human behavior and social structures impact the natural world. It helps us understand that problems like pollution, deforestation, and climate change are not only scientific issues but also social ones. These challenges often stem from human choices and economic systems that put profit before sustainability. From a sociological perspective, there are three major ways to view environmental problems. Functionalism focuses on how different parts of society work together to maintain balance, so when pollution or overpopulation disrupt that balance, it creates dysfunction that affects everyone. Conflict theory emphasizes inequality, showing how wealthy nations and corporations often exploit natural resources while poorer communities bear the negative effects, such as exposure to toxi...

The dynamic between urban and rural communities in the United States presents a complex array of social issues. Within urban settings, dense populations often generate challenges such as housing shortages, urban decay , and elevated rates of joblessness in declining neighborhoods. In contrast, rural areas may struggle with issues like isolation, limited access to healthcare or employment, and the out-migration of younger populations. In the chapter and PowerPoint we reviewed, these contrasts are highlighted by how resources, infrastructure and social services are concentrated more heavily in urban centers, while rural regions often lack economies of scale and face “brain drain.” One of the highlights from the assigned questions was how the concept of social stratification plays out differently in urban vs. rural contexts. For example, in urban areas the stratification may appear in terms of gentrified neighborhoods next to under-resourced areas, whereas in rural places stratification...