Social Problems: Constructionist Readings (Social Problems and Social Issues) Book

This collection of readings is aimed at several levels of students of social problems. It is accessible to the uninitiated who are not already familiar with the constructionist literature, and aimed at those who are not particularly interested in subtle theoretical and empirical issues of concern to academics studying social problems from constructionist perspectives. Some readings focus on the construction of problems by scientists and other professionals; others examine the work of social activists, mass media, and social service personnel. Among the topics included are constructionist studies of social inequalities, and of individual deviance; a comparison of the images of social problems in the United States with those in other countries; and an examination of the importance of politics and power in constructing public images of social problems. CONTENTS Preface ? I Examining Social Problems ? Introduction ? 1 The Changing Meanings of Spanking Philip Jenkins ? 2 Bullying as a Social Problem in Great Britain Frank Furedi ? 3 The Problem with the Earthquake Problem Robert A. Stallings ? 4 Reality Television Constructs Crime Gray Cavender ? II Claims-Makers and Audiences ? Introduction ? 5 Audiences Evaluate Statistics Joel Best ? 6 Promoters of Hate Crime Legislation Valerie Jenness and Kendall Broad ? 7 Psychiatrists Construct Homosexuality Stuart A. Kirk and Herb Kutchins ? 8 Television Talk Shows Construct Morality Katheen S. Lowney ? III Constructing Conditions ? Introduction ? 9 Smoking Problems in Japan Jun Ayakawa ? 10 Crime Frames and Their Sponsors Theodore Sasson ? 11 Framing in the Fathers? Rights Movement Gwyneth I. Williams and Rhys H. Williams ? 12 Factory Farming as a Social Problem Karl Kunkel ? IV Constructing People ? Introduction ? 13 The Rhetorical Appeal of Random Violence Joel Best ? 14 Prostitutes Respond to AIDS Valerie Jenness ? 15 Science Constructs PMS Anne E. Figert ? 16 Multicultural Education as Moral Drama Shan Nelson-Rowe ? V Constructing Solutions ? Introduction ? 17 The Homeless Mentally Ill and Involuntary Hospitalization Donileen R. Loseke ? 18 Constructing a War on Drugs Craig Reinarman and Henry Levine ? 19 Urine Testing and Social Control William J. Staudenmeier ? 20 The Size Acceptance Movement Jeffrey Sobal ? VI Social Problems and Everyday Life ? Introduction ? 21 Constructing the Need for "Low Fat" Food S. Bryn Austin ? 22 Pregnant Women as a Social Problem Carol Brooks-Gardner ? 23 Constructing Sexually Marginalized Catholics Donileen R. Loseke and James C. Cavendish ? 24 The Beliefs of Recovery Religion Kathleen S. Lowney ? VII Social Problems and Troubled People ? Introduction ? 25 Medicalizing Childhood Dorothy Pawluch ? 26 Teaching Gifted Children Leslie Margolin ? 27 Constructing Insanity in Involuntary Commitment Hearings James A. Holstein ? 28 Formula Stories and Support Groups for Battered Women Donileen R. Loseke ? VIII Evaluating Constructionist Perspectives on Social Problems ? Introduction ? 29 "Crack Babies" and the Politics on Mothering Jacqueline Litt and Maureen McNeil ? 30 The Symbolic Meaning s of "Pedophile Priests" Philip Jenkins ? 31 Horror Stories and the Construction of Child Abuse John M. Johnson ? 32 Constructing the "Jewish Problem" in Nazi Germany Ronald J. Berger ? IndexRead More