Premium Essay

Examples Of Social Problems In America

Submitted By
Words 784
Pages 4
Social Problems in America
America is one of the greatest countries in the world, but there is still some room for improvement. The social problems in this country have been a major focus in the media lately, and people are beginning to realize the issues that American citizens are facing. While the solutions to these problems are not yet clear, it is apparent that we must unite as a country in order to work through them. I believe that the three largest social problems in our country are violence, race issues, and poverty because these issues effect American families across the country every day.
Violence in America is reaching an all-time high, and every day more people are victims of violent acts. The violence in this country seems to be becoming much more frequent and damaging. Mass shootings are happening quite often, and we all sit and watch the news in horror as the death tolls rise. According to our textbook, 68 percent of crimes are committed using guns (Kendall 15). While these acts of violence are extremely alarming, it is even more concerning that our country has begun to argue over how to end the violence. Some citizens and politicians feel that gun control laws will lessen the violence, while others feel that guns are not the issue. Our country is divided over the solution to this …show more content…
The media focuses on how poverty effects people, especially children. Education is not what it should be in inner city schools and low income communities, and there is little opportunity for people to improve their circumstances. The objective reality of poverty is that “more than 30 million children are growing up in poverty” (11 Facts About Education and Poverty in America). Facts like these show how overwhelming poverty can be for families in the United

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Social Issue

...A social issue (also called a social problem or a social ill) is an issue that relates to society's perception of people's personal lives. Different societies have different perceptions and what may be "normal" behaviour in one society may be a significant social issue in another society. Social issues are distinguished from economic issues. Some issues have both social and economic aspects, such asimmigration. There are also issues that don't fall into either category, such as wars. Thomas Paine, in Rights of Man and Common Sense, addresses man's duty to "allow the same rights to others as we allow ourselves". The failure to do so causes the birth of a social issue. Personal issues versus social issues[edit] Personal issues are those that individuals deal with themselves and within a small range of their peers and relationships.[1] On the other hand, social issues threaten values cherished by widespread society.[1] For example, the unemployment rate of 7.8 percent[2] in the U.S. as of October 2012 is a social issue. The line between a personal issue and a public issue may be subjective, however, when a large enough sector of society is affected by an issue, it becomes a social issue. Although one person fired is not a social issue, the repercussions of 13 million people being fired is likely to generate social issues. Caste system[edit] Caste system in India resulted in most oppressed Untouchables on earth for the past 3000 years . UK recently banned caste system[1] and US is...

Words: 789 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Research on Social Issues

...A social issue (also called a social problem or a social ill) is an issue that relates to society's perception of people's personal lives. Different societies have different perceptions and what may be "normal" behaviour in one society may be a significant social issue in another society. Social issues are distinguished from economic issues. Some issues have both social and economic aspects, such asimmigration. There are also issues that don't fall into either category, such as wars. Thomas Paine, in Rights of Man and Common Sense, addresses man's duty to "allow the same rights to others as we allow ourselves". The failure to do so causes the birth of a social issue. Personal issues versus social issues[edit] Personal issues are those that individuals deal with themselves and within a small range of their peers and relationships.[1] On the other hand, social issues threaten values cherished by widespread society.[1] For example, the unemployment rate of 7.8 percent[2] in the U.S. as of October 2012 is a social issue. The line between a personal issue and a public issue may be subjective, however, when a large enough sector of society is affected by an issue, it becomes a social issue. Although one person fired is not a social issue, the repercussions of 13 million people being fired is likely to generate social issues. Caste system[edit] Caste system in India resulted in most oppressed Untouchables on earth for the past 3000 years . UK recently banned caste system[1] and US is...

Words: 789 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Nice Guy

... | |Social Problems of United States verses Europe Final Exam | |Intro to Social Problems - SOCI 1160 | |by | |Ms Christy Flatt | | | |Christopher Brown 135758 | |4/30/2011 | | | Social Problems of United States verses Europe Final Exam This paper is designed to review how social problems affect our society. Additionally, this paper will address social problems of the United States compared to Europe. Along with the factors...

Words: 1357 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Substance Abuse Among American Adolescents

...an excessive consumption or a disorder use of substances especially drugs or alcohol that is associated with significant problems. Substance abuse is a disease that commonly appears among adolescents. According to Kerby Anderson1, “93% percent of all teenagers have some experience with alcohol by the end of their senior year of high school. Almost two-thirds of all American young people try illicit drugs before they finish high school.” If substance abuse is left untreated, it will cause violence in streets, such as crimes, kidnaping. Also, it will cause domestic violence. For example, many babies are born with drug dependency. There are many basic factors that lead to the use of control substances among American adolescents, how these factors affect our community, and what are the methods used to minimize them. Adolescence is a sensitive period for young people. They are encountered by many basic factors. First of all, family factors, which have the strongest impact on adolescent development, play a part in the influence to try control substances. For example, parents who provide low levels of support, or are not as close to their children, and use bad parenting judgment have children who are more likely to be drug abusers. “The parents are the biggest factor in the choice to drink or drug” (Stephen Artrburn24). Other factors are the social pressure, such as friends and school these significant effects on adolescent. If they have friends or classmates in school...

Words: 531 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Cultural Differences Of Chicanos And Latino Americans

...What Chicanos and Latinos have dealt with while living in America has changed their identities and behaviors. Chicanos/nas identities have been impacted positively or negatively due to experiences in school and because of them being aware of their race. In addition, comparing themselves to other minorities and being conscious has affected their identities. Furthermore, there aren’t only Chicanos/nas in America, there are three separate groups which are Chicanos, Mexican Americans, and Latinos. Even though these groups sound closely related to each other, they have their differences. Some of the differences include how politically/socially involved they are, how much education they’ve received, transnational identity, and how much they...

Words: 1306 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Week 5

...9 chapter current controversies and issues Introduction The Clash of Values in Social Policies Welfare Euthanasia Government: How Much Support for the Needy? Target Populations: The Struggle for Support The AIDS Epidemic The Homeless Welfare Recipients Professionalism in the Human Services The Role of Human Services Workers Whom Do Human Services Workers Serve? A Basic Reading and Thinking Skill Ranking American Values References 324 Human Services in Contemporary America - © Cengage Learning c u r r e n t c o n t r ov e r s i e s a n d i s s u e s 325 INTRODUCTION You may have gathered by now that the human services field is quite complex. Complete agreement regarding philosophies, methods, goals, services, funding, or anything else just does not exist nor, from our point of view, should it. There are times when controversies and differences are stimulating, healthy, and valid and lead to creative solutions. At other times, they are repetitious, meaningless, and destructive. Too frequently they consume time, energy, and resources that might better be used providing needed services. To this end, we highly recommend that students become familiar with the books in the Opposing Viewpoints series, published by the Greenhaven Press, that deal with issues of concern to human services workers. The purpose of this chapter is to present a sampling of basic controversies and issues in the field of human services that have not yet been resolved and may never be resolved...

Words: 8154 - Pages: 33

Premium Essay

Poverty in Latin America

...Eugene Harmon Poverty in Latin America Inequality: The Most Political and Economic Problem in Latin America Throughout the years, Latin America has experienced dramatic political, social, and economic changes amongst its numerous countries. As time went on, various leaders brought grand ideas to the table in hopes of bettering the region. However, in most cases, the outcome was far from grand, failing to address social conflicts that derived from deep inequality and high levels of poverty. Without successfully conquering the underlying causes of conflict within the region, change in a positive direction for Latin America does not exist. This paper will define inequality as the most political and economic problem that Latin American countries continue to face, and how inequality, discrimination, poverty, and crime violence stem from the underlying problem of inequality. As a result, social programs currently in place fail to properly address the issues of inequality and poverty within Latin America, thus being unsuccessful. In their literature review of the Southern Commands, Jorge Castaneda and Patricio Navia remind the reader that, “be it in the Caribbean heat or in the Andes-mountain cold, the uniform and lasting defining characteristic of Latin America is inequality” (82). They continue to explain that, “Latin America brings together – often within the same countries, same cities and occasionally even the same neighborhoods...

Words: 1121 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Obesity in America

...Dani Park Kines 1 M 2:00pm – 4:50pm Critical Thinking Paper Obesity In America Obesity is one of the most commonly discussed issues in America today. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 68.8 percent of adults are overweight and 35.7 percent are obese. Also, 31.8 percent of American children and adolescents are overweight and 16.9 percent are obese. Moreover, the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn if Americans do not change their diet and living habits, 42 percent of Americans will be obese by the year 2030. The two main causes of obesity in America are due to diet and lifestyle. For example, fast food contains extremely high levels of fat, calories and carbohydrates that one's body doesn't need, and the lack of exercise only serves to compliment these reasons for becoming obese. However, the side effects of obesity go beyond just being overweight or having an increased risk for developing serious health conditions. Obesity in America is a crucial issue that has many causes and effects. The most significant reason that is primarily responsible for obesity is an unhealthy diet, because it fails to provide the correct amounts and types of nutrients for a healthy body's maintenance. Instead, it provides unhealthy fats and toxins that only serve to slow the body down. For example, fast food contains calories that may exceed the daily needs in just one meal, along with sodium, cholesterol, trans fats, sugars and other unhealthful...

Words: 1084 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Poverty in Latin America

...Inequality: The Most Pressing Problem in Latin America Throughout the years, Latin America has experienced dramatic political, social, and economic changes amongst it’s numerous countries. As time went on, various leaders brought grand ideas to the table in hopes of bettering the region. However, in most cases, the outcome was far from grand, failing to address social conflicts that derived from deep inequality and high levels of poverty. Without successfully conquering the underlying causes of conflict within the region, change in a positive direction for Latin America does not exist. This paper will define inequality as the most pressing problem that Latin American countries continue to face, and how inequality, discrimination, poverty, and crime violence stem from the underlying problem of inequality. As a result, social programs currently in place fail to properly address the issues of inequality and poverty within Latin America, thus being unsuccessful. In their literature review of the Southern Commands, Jorge Castaneda and Patricio Navia remind the reader that, “be it in the Caribbean heat or in the Andes-mountain cold, the uniform and lasting defining characteristic of Latin America is inequality” (82). They continue to explain that, “Latin America brings together – often within the same countries, same cities and occasionally even the same neighborhoods – the wealth and prosperity of the most-industrialized nations in the world and the dispossession, despair and hopelessness...

Words: 1071 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Soc - Gun Statistics

...to be able to critically think about social statistics. He pinpoints some common complications with social statistics and provides examples to define his points. By providing examples, it makes understanding the problem easier than by just general statements. He gives the reader tools they can use in every day instances regarding statistics. Making sure that the reader knows how to ask basic questions about statistics they hear. This helps us to understand how sometimes numbers can become mangled within communication. That one cannot compare apples to oranges, that comparison must be fair. That we must be analytical, and critical of numbers, but to also not become naïve or cynical. I absolutely loved his explanation for the way society is often innumerate. He provided a perfect example of how many people don’t process the concept of large numbers. As his example he used a small child and a penny. To a child a penny is a lot of money, but to an older child a penny is not a lot of money. In the same aspect, if you ask an older child if one hundred dollars is a lot of money they would most likely agree that a hundred bucks is a lot of money, but to an adult it’s most likely not a lot of money. That to most people big numbers blend together. There are huge implications to being innumerate. Because some many people have issues in contemplating big numbers, they really can’t grasp the severity, or non-severity of an issue. In this example the conflicts between the Regan administration...

Words: 1155 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

How to Solve Social Problems

...‘How Can We Solve Our Social Problem’ by Crone, J.is a book that show Practical approach to tackling problems in our community today but one would really as why have the governments never thought of introducing such ideas to deal with humanities’ social problems. It’s quite clear as much as some of the ideas sound very nice it’s difficult for any political arm to try to implement because of the long term and short term effects they will have on the community. A good example of an impractical ideas is the book concept of the American judicial system. Many times confessions are used as strong evidences in court however they can be very misleading if the confessions are false .In United States more than 400 untrue confessions (Cassell, 1998).these confessions may lead to wrong conviction which is inappropriate. Social Problems: Community, Policy and Social Action Third Edition Leon-Guerrero, A. Sage also doesn’t touch on the family bit which is the core of all social aspects. The books doesn’t also consider the values and beliefs that already exist in the community today. Beliefs don’t just fade away in one day. Only an organized strategy can see to the extinction of social beliefs and value. The two books have very nice ideas on how to revolutionize the social aspect of America but the writer forgot to discuss the reasons why some of the ideas cannot be implemented in the current situation in the America and the results that would be achieved if the ideas are implemented. ...

Words: 286 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Racial Profiling In America Today

...day and age; there is still racial tension in people’s judgments. Racism still goes on today, the problems that make racism hard to conquer in America is; racial profiling in police authority and entertainment television which is ultimately in direct correlation with stereotyping. These are some of the reasons why racism is still relevant in some cases now and this answers the question of if America has conquered racism. The main focus of racism now come from stereotyping each racial ethnicity. Each race has their very own vague descriptions based on culture and beliefs. These stereotypes becoming well known in today's society it comes with the price of racial profiling in police authority. There are such events involving racial profiling especially through the police procedures such as “stop and frisk”. Stop and frisking is described as racial profiling mainly because police officers often stop people based on physical...

Words: 569 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Cultural Diversity

...different cultures is an ancient question. This is indicated by many proverbs. For example, people in the Britain used to say, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do." That is how for thousands of years people tried to avoid conflict between different cultures. Modern immigrants in the United States have much better living conditions than in the time of the Roman Empire. That is why they are not reluctant into local society. A constant flow of immigrants from different ethnic cultures has increased dramatically in the 1960s and 1970s. Approving massive immigration was a political decision to increase the population of the country and at the same time improve the economy with the help of cheap labor. The flow of immigrants continues to this days. Poverty and political frictions move millions of immigrants to the United States and other economically developed countries in search of a better life. Assimilation fell behind migration, and immigrants refuse to adapt to a new environment. Hence, cultural diversity in America leads to disunity of population because of clashes in economics, security of the country, and social relationship. Politicians assumed that adopting democratic laws for its multinational citizens, would create a chorus of American society with one common culture, traditions, desires and growing ethnic tensions. The motivation for immigrants was an opportunity to climb the social ladder and own a new international life. But the representatives of different cultures...

Words: 801 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Were Usa Prosperous in 1920's

...States of America Prosperous and United in the 1920’s? America was not prosperous or united during the 1920’s. Although there were reasons to show that The United States were prosperous during this time, there are stronger arguments and ‘harder’ evidence to show that most of population were neither prosperous nor united. These arguments are, the collapse of the American economy in the late 1920’s and the countries economical situation, prohibition and the truth in society a large part of this being racism. There are signs of prosperity and unity in the 1920’s for the Americans; evidence of prosperity is that sales in radios went from 60,000 to 10,000,000 this wasn’t because they were a necessity it was because they could be bought, a statement of wealth. Woodrow Wilson started progresism. Henry Ford made the model T car the first mass produced. They went from $3 billion in debt to $3 billion in profit. Businesses were averaging 80% profits. This all sounds fantastic and how does this mean there was no prosperity or unity? Maybe America was dancing on a volcano that they weren’t prepared to erupt. Late October 1929 the American economy collapses. From a massive high to major low, politicians claimed “Invincibility,” “Untouchable” and “On a Permanent High,” days before the crash. Surely a country cannot be prosperous when they go into recession or when there economy collapses. The economy collapsed mainly due to the fact that America went into ‘isolation,’ America wanted nothing...

Words: 1714 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

The Evolution of Liberalism in Latin America

...gave way to many economic and social advances. In particular the 19th century saw an increase both in the literature associated with this movement and the amount of leaders that nominally subscribed to this theory. In Latin America, specifically, liberalism took a very unique path that culminated in the abandonment and complete rejection of these theories. The adoption of liberal policies both economically and socially moved from adhering very strictly to the theory at first (whilst being disconnected from reality) to the eventual degradation and disassociation of liberal ideals around the 1930’s. The initial adoption was due to the closeness of Latin American intellectuals with their European and American counterparts, while the shift towards autochthonous movements was caused as a response against the ever-present influence of Europe over the Latin American subcontinent and the effects of positivism. Liberalism is defined by a set of policies, ideas, and beliefs that hold individual autonomy, equality, and freedom as the pillars of human life. From this basic concept the economic ideas of laissez-faire economics and free markets are developed. Further on, democracy naturally stems from this idea that people are autonomous, rational, free agents that are capable of having decision making power and thus elect the best person possible amongst a pool of potential candidates. This ideology resonated with many social elites in Latin America as it justified their position...

Words: 1593 - Pages: 7