...These problems range from drugs to terror and even to homelessness. Over the past year, over 2 million men, women, and children were homeless and this number is sure to go up in coming years. Why is this? No one really knows why but many factors can cause one to become homeless. Losing ones job, becoming ill, and a lack of affordable housing can all play a major role in ones becoming homeless. What exactly does it mean to be homeless? The word homeless means having no home or permanent place of residence. To better understand the issue of homelessness it is necessary for one to not look at it in only one way but from a few different angles. You have to look at the way that different homeless people act and behave in a society; you have to look at it from a sociological perspective point of view. Within sociology, there is not a single theoretical perspective, but many theoretical perspectives. The three main perspectives are the functionalism, the conflict theory, and the symbolic interaction perspectives. The functionalism theory is about social organization and how this organization is maintained throughout the society. This theory emphasizes the importance of stability and integration in a society. The ideas come from natural sciences and look at society like a biologist would look at a living organism. They both try to identify the various parts or structures and see how they work and/or function. In this theory homelessness is viewed as inevitable and basically a must for the...
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...Now looking back in retrospect, it has raised my understanding of the conflict perspective on how it applies to our current society based on power distribution and marginalization. Furthermore, according to the conflict theory, Kendal (2013), states that “groups in society are engaged in a continuous power struggle for scarce resources” (pg. 12). When dealing with the homeless population in Tarrant County – specifically, the East Lancaster Avenue area, it is observable to see how the homeless arena/community has been forced to reside within an acceptable radius based on the notions of the larger, more powerful society. Extending equally, Johnson & Rhodes (2015), “argue that community life reflects the inequalities of wealth and power in American...
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...Question: Marxists, like William Chambliss, would argue that law is a weapon of social conflict used by the ruling classes for their own benefit. Drawing on Chambliss’ historical analysis of vagrancy laws in England, how might a Marxist scholar interpret the recent government action and court decision on Occupy Toronto? Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to argue that the law is influenced by elite classes and that the law rules in favour of these elites. The law isn’t as detached from society and its class structure as everyone would like to believe, and the paper will discuss how this is true from a Marxist perspective in regards to vagrancy. Drawing from Batty v. City of Toronto, a case that ruled against a group protesting against...
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...The Homeless Plight Student Name Course/Professor Date The Homeless Plight Homelessness is on the rise. Homeless people can be seen sleeping in a variety of places such as city subways, terminals, stations, and the underground world of transportation. In the winter, the homeless may be sleeping on top of grates for the warm steam; fires may be burning from cylinders on street corners, under bridges, or in alley ways for warmth. In the summer, buses, subway cars, malls, and fountains are but a slight relief for those homeless until an authority figure moves the person(s) on. In small suburban areas, most of the homeless are hidden and out of view. The United States faces many social problems; however, homelessness is a major dilemma. To understanding the issue of homelessness from a sociologist point of view, different lenses need to be used. The sociological perspectives of functionalism, conflict structuralists, and symbolic interactionism, provide the best angles to assess homelessness in the United States as well as analyzing the efforts to resolve the homeless dilemma the nation faces. There are approximately two million homeless men, women, and children, and the numbers are increasing. For the second consecutive year, homeless families are on the rise (AHAR, 2009). Causes of this dilemma are vast and include hardships from loss of employment, illness, lack of affordable housing, poverty, and the current economy. The number of homeless is constantly changing. Researchers...
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...normally applies to people who are not able to meet societal social needs. According to Townsend (1979), a family is considered to be in relative poverty if it is not able to afford the required diet, get involved in societal activities, and use basic health and educational facilities. Problems connected to poverty bring political, economic, and social disorder in the society. There are two theories that apply to poverty; conflict theory and structural theory. Conflict theory explains that poverty leads to class conflict in a society (Giddens & Simon, 2006). This comes as a result of the oppression of the poor by the rich. It says that conflict must remain in order to create a positive change in the society and that the wide gap between the rich and the poor is very significant. Structural function theory explains that poverty has a purpose in the society since it motivates people to work hard (Andersen & Taylor, 2006). This ensures that all jobs are attended to, and this in turn encourages development. Poverty causes its victims to suffer malnutrition, various diseases and homelessness. Poor people are also unable to access education and health services and are denied their...
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...focus on human needs. | | It challenges cultural tradition to provide a new framework of human understanding. | | It enforces social solidarity and expands the importance of the social imperative. | 1 out of 1 Correct!! 2 of 20 The event that most inspired Auguste Comte to pose the question, "What holds society together?" and begin developing sociology as a science was the ________. | industrialization of society | | discovery of the new world by Christopher Columbus | | development of the psychoanalytic approach | | French Revolution | 1 out of 1 Correct!! Question 3 of 20 Based on the theories formulated by Karl Marx, what was the ultimate goal of the proletariat? | The proletariat sought to establish a democratic society and independence. | | The proletariat wanted to develop a society with a strong middle class. | | The proletariat sought to develop a classless society free of exploitation. | | The proletariat wanted to establish capitalism and a higher standard of living for all. | 1 out of 1 Correct!! 4 of 20 What sociological phrase is used to describe "opening a window onto unfamiliar worlds and offering a fresh look at familiar worlds?" | The sociological perspective | | The social imperative | | Social integration | | Social location | 1 out of 1 Correct!! 5 of 20 Frank is examining the broad stream of events that have occurred over the past 50 years, along with the specific experiences...
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...Marxist sociology is the study of sociology from a Marxist perspective. Marxism itself can be recognized as both a political and a sociological philosophy. Marxist sociology is a conflict theory associated with the objective of developing a positive science of capitalist society as part of the mobilization of a revolutionary working class. Influenced by the thought of Karl Marx, Marxist sociology emerged during the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. As well as Marx, Max Weber and Émile Durkheim are considered key influences in early Marxist sociology. Marxist sociology generally explores the negative aspects of society such as poverty, homelessness and the class struggle, hence why it is called a ‘Conflict’. Fundamentally it categorises society into two groups; the many proletariats slaving away for the few Bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie own the means of production and therefore all the wealth in society and give a limited amount to the Proles in return for their labour in a process known as wage slavery. The means of production include but are not limited to: - Materials - Wealth or capital - Land - Technology - Power to employ - Access to skills and knowledge With these things, the bourgeoisie completely own society and everything belongs to them and thus there will never be any equality under this system as even the Bourgeoisie are sub-divided. In the 19th century, Marx distinguished two types of bourgeois capitalist: the functional capitalist, the...
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...election, President Obama emphasized on change, as did Marx. As we reflect on history, being a radical leader takes strength and courage, which both Marx and Obama possesses. Marx felt that progress for all people only comes through communication between people facing the same struggles is a language for change. Marx also felt that conflict between classes of people would block progress and production of goods. Obamas seems to have this same opinion; he also believes that division between the democrat and republican parties has blocked the progression of a failing economy. Marx and Obama have similar views concerning social-economics, justice, poverty and our society. Shallow thoughts that running the country by the wealthier classes standards should only benefit that particular class. This despicable thinking seems to disturb Karl Marx and President Obama, also produces internal tension, which leads to self-destruction. This broken Government has been proven that to be found true, our last our last 8 years of republicans. President Bush along with his constituents has pushed the economy to the edge of a cliff. Obama’s theory is that the working class would govern a socialism society, which would then be a workers democracy. Obama has spoken of history transforming our society, which calls for a combination of both parties participation. Page 2 It appears that both pioneer of history consider both classes of people. Painting a concise picture for all people should be a plan...
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...breed violent conflict or violent conflict cause poverty is very complex and difficult to answer. Many scholars have different views. Some are in the favor of poverty led violence other having different opinion. This phenomenon is interlinked. In some situations, poverty and under development is caused by violence and on the other hand violence is been the main source of destruction of poverty and underdevelopment .It is observed that those people who live in poverty and belong to poor class are more prone to violence. There could be a number of provocations; poor/limited housing space, excessive and close interaction with lots of people, homelessness, distressed neighborhood, noise pollution, disrupted families, high crime rate, disease etc. Simply hunger can push a teenager to steal...
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...Deviance Labelling theory paved the way in understanding how deviance was something defined by social processes. In this way social agencies such as the police defined what was deviant. Marxists took this view even further by examining the power of certain social groups to define deviance and create the laws which secured social conformity. Marxists see crime and deviance as not coming from moral or biological defects but defects within social order. Crime is an inevitable part of capitalism as it stems from social inequalities. Working-class crime is caused by labour exploitation and material misery. Therefore theft is an expression of that exploitation and is a political act of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie. As anything the ruling class defines as being criminal because it’s in their interests to do so. The ruling class will violate laws with impunity while members of the subject classes will be punished. Crime is a reaction to the life conditions of a person’s social class. Crime diverts the working-class’s attention from the exploitation they experience; it contains their resistance. Crime changes from society to society depending on the political and economic structures of society. Crime will persist in capitalist societies because they promote inequality and class conflict, and penal law will expand relative to that inequality and exploitation. Chambliss argues that acts are defined as criminal only when it’s in the interest of the ruling class to define them as...
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...Chapter 1 theories and methods. 1.1 Scientific Method in social science Describe some of the major areas of study in the social sciences: The major areas of study in social sciences are Political Science, Biology and Psychology, Geography, Sociology, anthropology and history. What was the main debate among the scholars in the social science department? The main debate among the scholars is which of all of the above areas of study are the most important and relevant when it comes to individual formation and thinking in reguards to social sciences and what causes people to become the people that they are. Location? Biological and Psychological make-up? Influence from higher powers (Political Science)? Or ancestry and our history? What factors do you think are the most important in shaping a human being? I truly believe that there is not really one factor that outweighs another, it is a mix of all of them. Perhaps Psychological factors may have more to do with it depending on an individual, however the Psyche can also be changed and manipulated quite easily according to events and a whole list of other things. How do the textbook authors define the scientific method? The purpose of the scientific method is to obtain evidence that is verifiable and subject to replication and to make no judgment about even the most seemingly obvious “facts” until original suppositions are overwhelmingly supported by proof. The basic technique of the scientific method is a special kind...
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...like the family and education, rest on an economic and structural analysis of society that sees a class struggle between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. This struggle comprises the attempts by the proletariat to free themselves from the domination of the bourgeoisie as they seek to take over the means of production. David Gordon argues that crime is an inevitable product of capitalism and the inequality that it generates. He argues that inequalities in wealth and income create poverty and homelessness for the working class and crime is a rational response to these problems. This idea is supported by research which shows property crime rising during recession. Gordon suggests capitalism encourages values such as greed and materialism which are conducive to all classes committing crime. Such values promote non-economic crimes such as violence, rape, child abuse, vandalism and hooliganism because inequalities in wealth and power lead to frustration, hostility, envy and alienation for some members of the working class who may commit crime in an attempt to retrieve power and status. This theory argues that it is surprising that there is not more working class crime. The idea explained is one of continual conflict and of crime being a continuation or extension of the class battle. However, critics point out that such a view is a bit sweeping, and that the whole of the working class isn’t in revolt or criminal. To see all crime as a rebellion against the system ignores individual...
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...human social life, behavior, groups, culture and societies. Culture: A way of life including widespread values (about what is good and bad), beliefs (about what is true), and behavior (what people do every day). Social Problems: A condition that undermines the well-being of some or all members of a society and that are usually a matter of public controversy. Sociological Imagination: Is the quality of mind that enables one to see the connection between personal troubles and social structures. Theory: A statement of how and why specific facts are related. Structural-Functional: A theoretical framework that sees society as a system of many interrelated parts. Social-Conflict: A theoretical framework that sees society as divided by inequality and conflict. Symbolic-Interaction: A theoretical framework that sees society as the product of individuals interacting with one another. Technology: the practical use of knowledge Science: Knowledge accumulated as statements of facts and theories or explanations for events and phenomena Lecture: Now that we have a basic concept of the vocabulary, we can get started with the lecture. The vocabulary will help us move more efficiently through this topic. The first topic that we need to discuss before we can get started defining science and technology is;...
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...This theory is clearly demonstrated in Brooks’ movie. One of the main characters, Carol, a single mother who works as a waitress and shares an apartment with her mother, has a son who is extremely sick and she struggles to afford and provide quality healthcare for him. Carol’s son, who is now eight years old, has been in and out of the emergency room monthly since he was approximately six months old with no real diagnosis. It is not until Melvin, the rich, OCD novelist, sends a doctor to treat her son at his expense that she finally receives answers and treatment for her son’s illness. With his money and social status, Melvin can provide what Carol, with her HMO healthcare plan, cannot provide for her own child – quality healthcare. The unequal distribution...
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...estimate 2.9 million at the end of 1992. 2. Low wage earners (below two thirds of median male earnings) - according to the Low Pay Unit 36% of workforce in 1979, but 41% in 1989. 3. Families - people with children tend to be worse off than childless couples. Real value of child benefit has declined. Family Credit only has a 40% take up rate. According to Family Expenditure 1990 the average income of the poorest 25% of the single population was £155 a week, while for the poorest 25% of lone parents it averaged £74 a week. 4. Disabled - disproportionately represented among those with low incomes. 5. Old people - In 1988 those over pension age numbered 18% of the population, of which two thirds were women Class and poverty Most poor people are working class. Peter Townsend notes that most low paid, unemployed, elderly, sick and disabled poor, hold or have held unskilled or...
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