Social Problems Unit 3 Study Guide PDF

Chapter 7: Poverty (All) Place and Poverty: Poverty is often geographically concentrated, with certain areas or counties facing persistent poverty over time. Persistent Poverty Counties: These are counties in the United States where over 20% of the population has lived b...

Chapter 7: Poverty (All) Place and Poverty: Poverty is often geographically concentrated, with certain areas or counties facing persistent poverty over time. Persistent Poverty Counties: These are counties in the United States where over 20% of the population has lived below the poverty line for the past 30 years or more. Extreme Poverty Neighborhoods: These are neighborhoods where more than 40% of the people live below the poverty line. New Poor: Refers to individuals who have recently fallen into poverty, often due to changes in the economy such as globalization or shifts from industrial to service-based economies. Sunset Industries: These are industries that are declining or disappearing, often due to changes in technology, trade policies, or consumer preferences, contributing to the displacement of workers. Sunrise Industries: New or emerging industries, typically driven by technological advances or globalization, which provide new job opportunities. Globalization: The process through which businesses and other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale, often leading to job displacement in certain sectors but creating new opportunities in others. Post-Industrial Society (Service Occupations): Refers to a society that has shifted from manufacturing and agriculture to service-based industries, where jobs in fields like healthcare, finance, and education have become dominant. Old Poor: Refers to those who have been in poverty for a long time, often generationally, and may have limited opportunities to escape. Working Poor:  People who are employed but still live in poverty due to low wages, insufficient work hours, or other economic factors. Near Poor: Individuals who live just above the poverty line but still face significant financial hardships, often struggling with limited resources. Severely Poor: People whose incomes are at half the poverty line or less, making it extremely difficult for them to meet basic needs like food, shelter, and healthcare. Myth: The Poor Just Refuse to Work Reality: Many full-time workers live in poverty due to low wages. A minimum-wage job today covers only 70% of the poverty level for a family of three. Myth: Welfare Creates Dependency Reality: Welfare reform in 1996 reduced welfare rolls but didn't reduce poverty. Low wages and high costs remain the main drivers of poverty. Myth: The Poor Get Special Advantages Reality: Aid for the poor is much less than benefits for the wealthy, and poor people often pay more for basic goods and services. Myth: The Welfare System Primarily Benefits Minorities Reality: While minorities face higher poverty rates due to systemic racism, welfare benefits are distributed to both poor and non-poor groups. Myth: Poor People Have No Motivation to Improve Reality: Many poor people are working hard to improve their lives but face barriers like low wages, high living costs, and limited access to education. Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA): A 1996 law that reformed the U.S. welfare system, moving control of welfare programs from the federal government to the states, imposing work requirements on recipients, limiting welfare benefits, and cutting funding for various poverty assistance programs. Causes of Poverty Deficiency theories explain poverty as the result of individual shortcomings, such as genetic or cultural flaws, rather than societal factors. Innate Inferiority- Innate inferiority refers to the belief that someone is naturally inferior. Blame the Victim: This theory suggests that the poor are poor due to inherent flaws, such as lower intelligence or poor character. It ignores social factors and blames individuals for their poverty. Self-fulfilling Prophecy: IQ tests and other assessments can label individuals as "slow" or "bright," influencing how they're treated. This treatment can reinforce the labels, limiting opportunities and perpetuating poverty. Meritocracy & Social Darwinism: Social Darwinists like Herbert Spencer argued that the poor are unfit for success, and government aid would hinder societal progress. Later theorists like Jensen and Herrnstein believed intelligence is inherited, and success or failure in life is determined by innate ability, reinforcing social stratification. Cultural Inferiority- Cultural inferiority is the belief that one culture is lesser. Culture-of-Poverty Hypothesis: This theory argues that the poor have a distinct set of values—such as focusing on immediate gratification and fatalism—that perpetuate their poverty. These behaviors are passed down through generations, creating a cycle of poverty. Deferred vs. Instant Gratification: Some theorists claim the poor have a present-time orientation (focusing on immediate rewards), while the non-poor defer gratification for future benefits. Critics argue this is a rational adaptation to poverty rather than an inherent cultural trait. Blaming the Victim: The culture-of-poverty hypothesis often blames the poor for their condition, ignoring structural causes like lack of opportunity or discrimination. Critics argue that poverty shapes behavior, not the other way around. Structural theories- structural theories contend that the organization of society, including institutional discrimination and capitalist practices, creates and sustains poverty, rather than individual failings. Structural Theories of Poverty Institutional Discrimination Poverty is driven by societal structures, not individual flaws. Institutional discrimination in schools, workplaces, and healthcare disproportionately affects the poor, minorities, and women, reinforcing the cycle of poverty. Political Economy of Society Capitalism prioritizes profit over workers’ well-being, keeping wages low and maintaining poverty. The wealthy 1% control most resources, while political decisions, like resisting wage increases, sustain inequality. Consequences of poverty Health Problems Lack of Healthcare: 31.6 million Americans were uninsured in 2020, delaying care and worsening health, deepening poverty. Poor Health Outcomes: Uninsured people rely on emergency services, leading to worse health and higher costs. Poverty also contributes to high infant mortality, especially among Black infants. Education Problems  Educational Disadvantages: Poor children face underfunded schools and higher dropout rates, with graduation rates 20% lower in low-income areas. Long-Term Inequality: Educational challenges reinforce poverty, especially for Black and Brown children. Economic Costs Costs to Society: Childhood poverty costs the U.S. economy $1.03 trillion annually due to lost productivity, crime, and poor health. Potential for Prosperity: Eliminating poverty would boost the economy, but the focus should be on reducing human suffering. Family Problems Stress and Mental Health: Financial insecurity causes stress, affecting parents’ ability to care for children. Family Instability: Poverty leads to relationship breakdowns and neglect, harming children's emotional development. Childcare Issues: Low-income families struggle with affordable childcare, affecting work and child safety. Increased Risk of Abuse: Poverty heightens the risk of neglect and abuse due to stress and lack of support. Intergenerational Poverty: Children in poverty are more likely to stay in poverty, perpetuating the cycle. Elimination of Poverty (10 Assumptions) Welfare: Government aid provided to people living in poverty, such as food assistance, housing subsidies, and healthcare. Wealthfare: Government subsidies, tax breaks, and other benefits directed toward the wealthy or large corporations, often at the expense of social programs for the poor. Tax Expenditures: Government spending through the tax system, often benefiting wealthier individuals and corporations, such as deductions, exemptions, or credits that reduce tax liability. Regressive Tax: A tax system in which lower-income individuals pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes compared to higher-income individuals. Chapter 4: Immigration and Aging Population Shifts in the U.S. 1. Two Main Shifts: ○ Rural to Urban Migration: People moving from rural areas to cities for better job opportunities and living conditions.  ○ Sun Belt Migration: A shift of populations from northern states to the southern and western U.S. (e.g., Florida, Texas) due to better climate, job opportunities, and lower cost of living. National Origins Rules National Origins Act (1924): U.S. immigration policy that favored Northern and Western European immigrants while severely restricting those from Southern and Eastern Europe, and virtually excluding Asian immigrants. The quota system was replaced in 1965 (Immigration and Nationality act of 1965) with a preference for family reunification and skilled workers. Harbinger A harbinger refers to a sign or omen that predicts a future event. In the context of immigration, it could refer to trends or early signs that indicate larger demographic or social changes ahead. Do Immigrants Take Jobs Away from U.S. Citizens? Economic Debate: While there are concerns that immigrants may compete with native-born workers for jobs, studies suggest that immigrants often take jobs in industries that natives may not fill (e.g., agriculture, construction, tech). Immigrants can also create jobs and contribute to economic growth, benefiting the economy overall. Are Immigrants a Drain on Society’s Resources? Economic Contribution: Immigrants contribute to the economy by paying taxes and participating in the workforce, though some argue that certain groups may require more public assistance. Will Increasing Diversity Lead to Blurred Racial Lines or Increased Tension? Tension or Unity?: Increased diversity can lead to more inclusivity and integration, or it can exacerbate racial tensions, depending on political, social, and economic factors. While racial lines may blur over time, there is also a risk of increased polarization and conflict, especially if racial issues are politicized. Human Agency Human Agency refers to the ability of individuals to make choices and influence their social, cultural, and economic environments. It emphasizes personal responsibility and action in shaping one’s life course, even within social structures. Islamophobia Islamophobia is the fear, prejudice, or hatred of Islam and Muslims, often fueled by stereotypes, misinformation, and events like 9/11. It can lead to discrimination, violence, and exclusion of Muslim communities. Ethnic Identity  Ethnic Identity refers to an individual’s sense of belonging to a particular ethnic group, often tied to shared cultural practices, traditions, language, and history. It plays a key role in how people perceive themselves and are perceived by others. Assimilation Assimilation refers to the process by which immigrants or minority groups adopt the dominant culture's norms, values, and practices, potentially losing aspects of their original cultural identity. Types of Assimilation 1. Structural Assimilation: Integration into social institutions (e.g., schools, jobs). 2. Cultural Assimilation: Adoption of the dominant culture’s language, customs, and values. 3. Identification Assimilation: Individuals begin to identify with the dominant group. 4. Attitudinal Assimilation: Changes in attitudes toward the dominant group (e.g., acceptance of intergroup marriages). 5. Behavioral Assimilation: Changes in daily behavior to match the dominant culture (e.g., dress, food, language use). 6. Marital Assimilation: Intermarriage between different ethnic or racial groups. Melting Pot The Melting Pot metaphor suggests that immigrants blend into the dominant culture, losing distinct ethnic identities over time to form a unified national identity. Pluralism Pluralism refers to a society that celebrates and preserves cultural diversity, where different ethnic, religious, or social groups coexist and maintain their unique identities while participating equally in the broader society. Baby Boomers The Baby Boomers are the generation born between 1946 and 1964, following World War II. This group has had a significant impact on society, culture, and the economy. Fertility Fertility refers to the number of children born in a population. It is influenced by factors such as economic conditions, cultural norms, access to healthcare, and social policies. Mortality Mortality refers to the incidence of death within a population. It is influenced by health factors, public health policies, and access to medical care. Demographics of Aging Population  The aging population refers to the increasing percentage of elderly people (60+ years) in the U.S. due to longer life expectancies and lower birth rates. This shift raises concerns about healthcare, pensions, and social services. Hispanic/Latino Paradox The Hispanic/Latino Paradox refers to the observation that despite lower socio-economic status, Hispanic and Latino populations in the U.S. often exhibit better health outcomes compared to other racial and ethnic groups, possibly due to strong family structures, diet, or community support. Social Security (What is it; Problems with it) Social Security is a federal program providing financial assistance to retirees, the disabled, and survivors of deceased workers. Problems include an aging population, rising life expectancy, and insufficient funding to meet future obligations, leading to potential benefit cuts. Skewed Dependency Ratio The dependency ratio compares the number of working-age individuals to those who are dependent (children and elderly). A skewed ratio occurs when there are more dependents than workers, placing a strain on social support systems like Social Security and healthcare. Medicare (What is it, Problem with it) Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance to people aged 65 and older and certain disabled individuals. The problem lies in its growing costs due to an aging populatio`n and the increasing expense of healthcare. Elder Abuse (What is it, Types of) Elder Abuse refers to physical, emotional, or financial harm inflicted on older adults. Types include physical abuse, emotional abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, and sexual abuse. Therapeutic Care Skilled personal care focused on treatment by licensed medical personnel. Custodial Care Nonskilled personal care facilities that help residents with daily activities like bathing and dressing. Beanpole Family Structure A vertical, four-generation family structure that includes three tiers of parent–child relations, two sets of grandparent–grandchild ties, and linkage between great-grandparent and great-grandchild. Sandwich Generation A family structure in which adults care for both their parents and their children simultaneously. Ageism The devaluation of and the discrimination against the elderly.