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Social Problems Research Paper
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Introduction
The fact that academics in fields as diverse as anthropology, sociology, psychology, and
criminology have dedicated significant time and energy to studying social problems is not
coincidental. Researchers in the social sciences may reveal their prejudices through the issues
they choose to learn, as there is no general agreement on which are the most pressing.
Anthropologists use their judgment when deciding which questions are the most important to
explore. (Carvalho & Mazzon, 2019) It introduces an element of subjectivity into the scientific
investigation of social issues. One study may focus on racism because it's the biggest issue, but
another study may ignore racism altogether for various reasons. Unlike the natural sciences,
anthropology will never be as objective because it is conducted by humans interested in
understanding other humans. Despite this caveat, anthropologists have much to contribute to
discussing social problems. They use a novel set of methods, such as ethnography, that shed light
on various issues. Understanding social problems require an interdisciplinary approach, and
anthropology helps us do that by looking at how things like culture and power play a role.
SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF NATURAL DISASTERS AND EROSION OF THE EARTH
Considering that we haven't even been in the new millennium for a decade, it's safe to say
that the 21st century has had its fair share of natural calamities. At least in the United States,
Hurricane Katrina's destruction of New Orleans in 2005 is the most prominent example of a
recent natural disaster. Hurricane Katrina was one of the deadliest and most expensive hurricanes
in U.S. history. Because Hurricane Katrina is symbolic of many different types of social
problems in addition to environmental issues, it will be referenced several times throughout this
research paper. Hurricane Katrina is an example of a situation that highlights issues of inequality,
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racism, and sexism. The storm's aftermath and subsequent deaths disproportionately impacted
people of color, people of Latino descent, women, and children.
Anthropologists define ethnocentrism as the attitude that one's culture is the best. Societal
scientists attempt to avoid ethnocentric thinking when analyzing these and other social problems
and instead take a more global viewpoint. Therefore, we must divert our attention away from
recent natural disasters that have occurred only in the United States. Various natural catastrophes
have struck other parts of the world in the twenty-first century, adding to the devastation caused
by Hurricane Katrina. Although Hurricane Katrina is often mentioned as a devastating natural
disaster, it pales in contrast to the destruction wreaked by the Asian tsunami in 2004. Most of the
Asian tsunami victims were poor, as was the case with Hurricane Katrina. Most of these people
did not have insurance or funds to assist them in getting back on their feet after the tragedy
because they lived in inadequate housing that was quickly destroyed. It's reasonable to assume
that poor people are more likely to be affected by natural catastrophes than other demographics.
It's a horrible irony that those with the least in society tend to be the ones hit hardest by
natural disasters. At the same time, those with the most have the most to answer for in terms of
causing damage to our planet. Climate change and global warming have resulted from excessive
corporate greed and consumption, which may increase the frequency and severity of natural
disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the Asian tsunami in the future. The United States has the
most significant per-capita carbon emissions. Unchecked, the greenhouse impact caused by gas
pollution from cars and factories might have disastrous results. As the global average
temperature rises, certain regions may see more precipitation while others become drier. Even a
modest rise in global temperature could have far-reaching consequences for life as we know it.
The United States produces a disproportionate amount of solid garbage compared to other
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countries populations. Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency recently completed
research indicating that the average American throws out 4.54 pounds of rubbish daily. Many
people in the United States and other developed nations will undoubtedly throw away a lot of old
computers, televisions, and other electronic gadgets. The environmental impact of this problem,
sometimes known as "e-waste," is substantial. Dealing with electronic waste can lead to soil and
water contamination.
The United States is to blame for rising global consumption, destroying ecosystems, and
depleting natural resources. Worker salary accumulation, business profit accumulation, and
consumer commodity hoarding are all encouraged by cultural norms. More to the point, a small
group of powerful elitists profits significantly from participating in a consumer-based culture.
These people are frequently to blame for utilizing the media to generate consumerism to further
their interests. (Yuan et al., 2021) It's common knowledge that advertisers play a crucial role in
the success of American capitalists. Clever advertising can make buyers feel they need to have a
luxury good immediately, even though it is entirely unnecessary. Consequences for the natural
world include pollution, depletion of natural resources, and waste.
Investors and business owners have traditionally been opposed to environmental
protection measures requiring government regulation of the industry. In the late 1970s, U.S.
firms began spending billions of dollars annually to convince the American public that there was
too much environmental regulation. Many environmental restrictions enacted in the 1970s were
either repealed or not enforced in the 1980s as a direct result of the aggressive lobbying of this
group. Companies' resistance to environmental regulation shows that a select group of wealthy
individuals is reaping the rewards of the planet's devastation and looting. Capitalism's pressures
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have destroyed vital natural resources and created a highly stratified and inequalitarian social
system.
SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF POVERTY, INEQUALITY, AND RACISM
In addition to being a symbol of a recent and devastating natural disaster, Hurricane
Katrina is a microcosm of broader societal issues such as poverty and injustice. It's entirely
possible, for instance, that affluent locals and tourists were evacuated from New Orleans ahead
of low-income locals in buses before the hurricane arrived. Low-income African Americans
were the most likely to stay in the city during Hurricane Katrina. During the 2004 Asian tsunami,
it may not be a surprise to learn that Western tourists received much more relief than the
thousands of poor locals who were largely left to fend for themselves. (Yuan et al., 2021)
Whenever a natural disaster occurs, the impoverished and the socially marginalized are usually
the ones who suffer the most. Due to a lack of resources, several communities stayed in the city
throughout the approaching storm. (Seider et al., 2019) As a result, many low-income New
Orleanians may have been unable to get where they needed to go. The cost of leaving could have
been prohibitive, even for those fortunate enough to own cars. Some locals might have chosen to
"take their chances" instead, only to regret their decision years later.
The media disproportionately targeted people of color for negative coverage during and
after Hurricane Katrina. Some media outlets, for instance, greatly inflated the amount of violence
in New Orleans during the storm. Many of these works perpetuated harmful generalizations
about poor urban people, painting them as prone to acts of extreme violence and criminality.
Some media portrayals have been called racist by other experts. Shockingly, prominent media
sources propagated the false information outlined here without conducting any thorough fact-
checking. What's scarier is that most people appeared inclined to believe these tales at face value.
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These stories reinforce their preconceived notions about the poor and people of color. Some
white Americans continue to believe, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that people of color
are culturally or intellectually inferior to them. The media does not assist correct these
misunderstandings when it regularly publishes articles that paint a poor picture of ethnic
minorities, especially African Americans. It's not hard to find media depictions of black people
that label them helpless victims or violent perpetrators of crime.
Furthermore, racial minority disenfranchisement processes. An essay titled "The Culture
of Poverty" makes the case that living in abject poverty is a cultural norm for some groups of
people. A lack of jobs and subpar educational opportunities are two examples of structural
impediments that may be to blame. It argues that kids growing up in urban slums have a
worldview that helps keep them poor at a very young age. Many of these kids are members of
racial minorities, which is not unusual. Young people socialized into this society have trouble
delaying gratification and shun formal involvement in civic life. In this culture, it is also
common for women to be the sole breadwinners in their homes. Children raised in such settings
are more likely to develop counterproductive beliefs and behaviors that may make them less
employable. It's no secret that blacks and Latinos are disproportionately represented in the ranks
of America's poor.
Those born into poverty typically face formidable challenges in their quest to break into
the labor force. Competition for low-paying fast-food employment is fierce, with many more
applicants applying for each available position. Even though the restaurant is located in a mainly
African American community, African Americans are still not considered for these positions.
Even those fortunate to land a job flipping burgers still have to compete with other workers for
hours and frequently endure incivilities from managers and customers. Fast-food employees with
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low wages were also observed and interviewed extensively. Many of America's poor are stuck in
low-skilled service industries like fast food, with no prospects for career improvement.
SOCIAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO CRIME
Perhaps the most well-publicized societal issues are those associated with crime. Any
federal, state or municipal law violation with a statutory or constitutional penalty is considered a
crime. That is to say, there can only be a crime if the state can impose a sanction for the offense.
Criminal behavior requires intent and will. If there is no reasonable justification for an activity, it
is more likely to be considered illegal. (Ward & Carter, 2019) Contrary to what one might
expect, popular media have altered our perception of crime and criminals, even if there are clear-
cut legal definitions of crime. Thus, the media plays an instrumental role in developing and
defining the types of activities that we as a society should consider to be crimes and the types of
people who are likely to be perceived as criminals. Some public members may form the notion
that most people of color use drugs and constitute a threat to society due to their extensive
viewing of cop and reality crime shows. Although officers of the law certainly commit crimes,
such incidents are rarely, if ever, depicted on television. They don't elaborate much on white-
collar crimes, despite the fact that those can end up costing society a lot more than violent
crimes.
Furthermore, the media's constant portrayal of violent crime is likely to instill
apprehension and unease. In the United States alone, billions of dollars are spent annually on
safes and other forms of home security. It's curious how much money is spent on reality police
shows and the evening news, both of which regularly offer skewed pictures. Many shows have a
history of stereotyping offenders from minority groups as more prone to commit crimes against
whites. This country's state of race relations will not be improved by this, unfortunately.
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African American and Hispanic males are overrepresented in practically every step of the
criminal justice system, even though there is no evidence that members of racial minorities are
more likely to be criminals by nature. Institutional racism may be to blame for this problem. As
an example, racial profiling can be practiced by police officers who single out suspects based
purely on their race. (Shahriar & Shepherd, 2019) This policy is little more than prejudice and
may indicate a more significant problem with racial bias in the criminal justice system. Black
men are disproportionately affected by systemic racism. Race-based discrimination occurs at
every stage of the criminal justice system's production line, and to believe otherwise is nave.
Conclusion
It doesn't take much exploration to discover the wide range of societal issues currently
confronting humanity. However, just because this paper has covered a wide range of topics
doesn't mean we've covered them all. Anthropologists examine a wide range of social issues,
including but not limited to those we've already discussed: health and the health care system;
population and immigration; substance abuse; gender and sexuality; mental illness and terrorism.
Unfortunately, many issues exist in today's environment. A discussion of all of them is
impracticable and goes beyond the scope of this research study. The media's function in
identifying and creating different problems is a vital topic explored in this study paper. Media
reports frequently have the possibility of presenting skewed information. Despite widespread
belief to the contrary, mainstream media outlets are not necessarily progressive think tanks. As a
result, many of them get polluted by corporate forces and sponsors who pay for marketing. Our
collective outlook on social issues will be modified as a result. The situation is exacerbated by
the fact that many American voters avoid the ballot box at all costs. It is doubtful that legislators
will address social problems if they believe that the population is primarily apathetic and
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uneducated. In light of this, it is essential for citizens of the United States to not only cast their
votes but also to remain well-informed.
There is a unique obligation on the part of anthropologists and other social scientists to
improve people's lives through knowledge and advocacy. Even if there is a lot of work to be
done, this is not an insurmountable task. To achieve our goals, every one of us must do what we
can to improve the world. The first step can be taken on an individual basis, with initiatives like
recycling and volunteering. There is a lot to be hopeful about if people are prepared to chip in.
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References
Carvalho, H. C., & Mazzon, J. A. (2019). Embracing complex social problems. Journal of Social
Marketing.
Seider, S., Clark, S., Graves, D., Kelly, L. L., Soutter, M., El-Amin, A., & Jennett, P. (2019).
Black and Latinx adolescents’ developing beliefs about poverty and associations with
their awareness of racism. Developmental Psychology, 55(3), 509.
Shahriar, A. Z. M., & Shepherd, D. A. (2019). Violence against women and new venture
initiation with microcredit: Self-efficacy, fear of failure, and disaster
experiences. Journal of Business Venturing, 34(6), 105945.
Ward, T., & Carter, E. (2019). The classification of offending and crime related problems: A
functional perspective. Psychology, Crime & Law, 25(6), 542-560.
Yuan, F., Li, M., Liu, R., Zhai, W., & Qi, B. (2021). Social media for enhanced understanding of
disaster resilience during Hurricane Florence. International Journal of Information
Management, 57, 102289.
