Society 2 Flashcards
How does Cross (1970) distinguish between social problems and sociological problems?
Social Problem Behavior violating societal norms (e.g., crime, poverty), requiring government intervention.
Example: Drug abuse leading to policy changes.
Sociological Problem: Academic study of societal patterns (e.g., why poverty persists).
Key Contrast:
Social = Public concern → Action.
Sociological = Theoretical understanding.
Compare absolute and relative poverty with Caribbean examples.
Absolute Poverty:
Cannot meet basic needs (food, shelter).
Example: Haiti’s 65% poverty rate (World Bank).
Relative Poverty:
Deprivation compared to societal standards.
Example: Lack of internet access in rural Jamaica despite national broadband coverage.
Critique: Absolute measures ignore regional cost-of-living variations (e.g., urban vs. rural Trinidad).
Why do functionalists argue poverty is “useful” to society?
Labor Pool: Fills undesirable jobs (e.g., sugarcane harvesting).
Economic Subsidy: Low-wage workers reduce costs for non-poor.
Social Control: Justifies welfare systems employing non-poor (e.g., social workers).
Criticism Ignores systemic inequality (e.g., colonial land ownership patterns).
What are the key traits of Lewis’ “culture of poverty,” and how is it criticized?
Traits:
◾Fatalism, inability to defer gratification, family instability.
◾Example: Intergenerational welfare dependence in Kingston ghettos.
Critiques:
◾Overgeneralizes (e.g., Peru’s Shanti Towns show community solidarity).
◾Blames victims, ignoring structural barriers (e.g., unemployment).
Identify 3 structural causes of poverty from the World Bank Report (1996).
1) External Shocks:
Natural disasters (Hurricane Maria in Dominica).
Trade dependency (e.g., banana industry collapse in Windwards).
2) Policy Failures:
IMF austerity measures cutting social spending (1990s Jamaica).
3) Low-Quality Services:
Overcrowded schools, underfunded clinics (e.g., Guyana’s hinterland).
What are poverty Alleviation Strategies?
Formal safety nets: Government programs like social assistance, school feeding, and unemployment relief.
Informal safety nets: Family and community-based support, especially from extended families.
Alternative programmes: Initiatives like small business development, credit access, and technical training for the poor.
3 poverty reduction strategies:
◾ Promoting economic growth.
◾Improving social services.
◾ Creating partnerships with NGOs and communities.
What is a crime?
A deviant act that breaks the law and is punishable; it functions as social control.
What questions do sociologists ask about crime?
◾Who decides what is criminal?
◾Are laws applied equally?
◾Is there a social consensus on crime?
How does the PowerPoint distinguish crime from deviance?
Crime: Violates laws (e.g., theft).
Example: Harsh penalties for marijuana use in 1980s vs. decriminalization today.
Deviance: Violates norms (e.g., sagging pants).
Culturally relative (e.g., Rastafarian dreadlocks once stigmatized).
Key Point: Power determines what is criminal (e.g., white-collar crime vs. street crime).
Is all deviance crime?
No, not all deviant behavior is criminal (e.g., mental illness).
Why is crime considered relative?
Because what is considered a crime changes across time and place.
What are the three main types of domestic violence covered?
Physical abuse: Physical force that causes bodily harm or creates fear of such harm.
Even threats of physical harm, whether a weapon is involved or not, can be considered physical abuse under the law. The key factor is the intent to cause harm or instill fear of harm.
Emotional abuse: Any behavior that undermines a person’s self-worth or emotional well-being through manipulation, intimidation, threats, or constant criticism.
The law recognizes emotional abuse as serious if it causes “substantial emotional distress,” especially when linked to threats of violence or coercion.
Child abuse: Child abuse refers to any form of physical injury, sexual abuse, or emotional harm inflicted on a child by an adult, intentionally and not accidentally.
Child protection laws apply regardless of biological relation.
What is white collar crime?
Nonviolent crimes by respected individuals during their occupation, often for financial gain.
Why is white collar crime hard to prosecute?
Because it involves complex, concealed transactions and skilled offenders. The perpetrators are sophisticated criminals who have attempted to conceal their activities through a series of complex transactions.
