Understanding Social Problems and Constructions

What is a social problem?

• Social problems are harmful conditions that can be defined by objective facts (e.g., racism, sexism, drug abuse) or by subjective perceptions of a society.
• Social problems are dynamic, changing as people's opinions and experiences shape what they see as problematic.
• Social problems in a society often reflect the experiences and values of its members.

Social Construction

• Social constructions are shared meanings that societies assign to phenomena.
• Examples of social constructions include race, gender, nationality, sexuality, money, time, poverty, terrorism, truth, beauty, honor, status, and merit.
• Social constructions are not fictional but originate from social processes and have real-world consequences.

Social vs. Individual Problems

• Social problems are distinguishable from individual problems by their embeddedness in social context.
• Examples of social problems rooted in social structure include inequality, traffic, mass incarceration, segregation, and global warming.

Claims about Social Problems

• Descriptive Claims: Address the scale, scope, and commonality of a social problem, while acknowledging potential variations in individual experiences.

• Causal Claims: Identify factors contributing to the problem, often through suggesting causal arguments supported by evidence.

Gender Inequality as a Social Problem

• Causal claims about gender inequality often point to both institutional and cultural factors.

Institutions and Gender Inequality

• Institutions are organized collectives with established roles and rules influencing behavior and resource distribution.
• Institutional processes can perpetuate inequalities (e.g., unequal pay in female-dominated fields, access to childcare).
• Potential solutions include state policies like anti-discrimination legislation and changes in institutional rules.
• Institutions influence the meso-level of social structure.

Culture and Gender Inequality

• Gender norms are expectations shaped by culture that guide behavior, often enforcing power imbalances.
• Norms are enacted by individuals at the micro-level of social structure (e.g., competition for rewards, power, safety).
• Culture encompasses the way of life of a people, including technology, beliefs, rituals, and everyday practices.

Doing Gender

• Gender is a social construct that is performed and reinforced through everyday interactions.
• Gender differences are not innate but learned behaviors influenced by social norms.
• Gender norms permeate social structures, shaping practices and relationships in various settings (e.g., workplaces, families).
• Doing gender can perpetuate inequalities by placing burdens on women.

Gender Ideology

• Ideologies are systems of beliefs, often internalized through socialization, that shape thoughts and actions.
• Dominant ideologies, like meritocracy, reinforce the status quo, masking underlying social structures.
• Gender ideology influences many social interactions, including the perception of merit and success in society.

Housing Insecurity

• Housing insecurity refers to a lack of control over one's housing situation, including difficulty acquiring housing, risk of losing housing, and living in inadequate conditions.
• A rise in the relative cost of housing contributes to this issue.

Key Elements of Housing Insecurity

• Affordability: The cost of housing relative to income.

• Credit: Access to credit for purchasing or securing rental housing.

• Availability: The physical availability of suitable housing units.

• Residential Instability: The frequency of relocations or housing changes.

• Gentrification and Displacement: The process of wealthier individuals moving into poorer neighborhoods, often leading to displacement of low-income residents and altering neighborhood character.

Mechanisms Contributing to Housing Insecurity

• Social Networks: Support systems and connections that can influence housing stability.

• Landlords: The practices and policies of landlords significantly impact tenants' security.

• Real Estate Intermediaries: Agents and brokers who can facilitate or hinder access to housing.

The Role of Policy in Housing Security

• Public housing, housing voucher programs, and tenant protections are policy measures aimed at promoting housing security.

Gentrification

• Gentrification occurs when wealthier individuals move into lower-income neighborhoods, often leading to changes in population demographics, local businesses, and neighborhood character.
• It can negatively impact historically marginalized neighborhoods that have been avoided by higher-income individuals.

Research on Housing Insecurity and Gentrification

• Studies on housing insecurity and gentrification often employ quantitative designs using data sources such as Medicaid records or housing surveys.
• It is essential to evaluate the internal validity (logical and evidence-supported claims) and external validity (generalizability of findings) of such research.
• Threats to validity include social desirability bias, confirmation bias, and confounding bias.

Gentrification as a Social Problem

• Research on gentrification focuses on its scale and impact on neighborhoods while distinguishing it from neighborhood integration.
• Displacement and social mobility are critical considerations in addressing gentrification as a social problem.

Notes on Problematic Landlord Behavior

• Landlords' abusive behavior can include illegal actions like removing doors, cutting off utilities, or enforcing surveillance by neighbors.
• Legal cynicism, blaming tenants for their situation, and the "culture of poverty" are rationalizations used by landlords to justify their actions.

Unintended Policy Effects on Landlord Behavior

• Policy interventions aimed at addressing social problems can have unintended consequences, making problem-solving a complex and ongoing process.
• Policy changes can lead to "whack-a-mole" scenarios where solving one problem produces new ones.
• Example: Introducing a plant-eating bug to control a certain plant can disrupt the ecosystem and affect various species.

Landlord Perspectives on Policy Impacts

• Landlords may face challenges due to lengthy eviction processes, difficulty recovering lost rent, and concerns about tenant screening practices.
• These concerns can contribute to discriminatory practices and legal cynicism.

Micro-Meso-Macro Theory of Structure

• Social problems often involve a complex interplay of micro-, meso-, and macro-level structures:

• Micro Level: Individual experiences and behaviors (e.g., tenant facing eviction due to low rent)

• Meso Level: Institutions and local government policies (e.g., balance between tenant rights and financial interests of landlords)

• Macro Level: Broader economic systems and power dynamics (e.g., capitalism favoring landlords over tenants).