Abstract This paper takes a look at George Ritzer's theory of McDonaldization to describe a sociological incident that is occurring in our culture. McDonaldization, according to Ritzer, is, "The process by which the principles of the fast food business are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as the rest of the world."
From the paper:
"Ritzer has broken down this phenomenon into four characteristics that include:
1. Efficiency - The optimum method of completing a task. The rational determination of the best mode of production. Individuality is not allowed.
2. Calculability - Assessment of outcomes based on quantifiable rather than subjective criteria. Easily said as quantity over quality.
3. Predictability - The production process is organized to guarantee uniformity of product and standardized outcomes.
4. Control - The substitution of more predictable non-human labor for human labor through automation or the deskilling of the work force."
Abstract This paper gives explores the issue of transracial adoption in America. It outlines the cultural and family aspects of adoption and more specifically transracial adoption. It points to individual and broad surveys that conclude there are high success rates in both family continuity and preservation of racial/ethnic identity.
From the paper:
"Transracial adoption means adopting children of various races, color, religion, that is, from all parts of the world. Transracial adoption has been spoken for and spoken against and my argument is based on ?choosing a positive view point, that is pro transracial.?
"Here we will discuss that transracial adoption proves to be very beneficial for the adoptee and they do not face any racial discrimination problem, nor do they lack self-esteem."
An in-depth assessment of the causes of gang formation and underlying attraction of street gangs in order to determine priorities for intervention programs.
Abstract The paper looks at youth gangs: the scope of the problem, statistics, risk factors and prevention strategies. Much focus is placed upon young African-American males and the extent of their gang membership. The author believes that a combination of social opportunities, community organization, and organizational change can be most beneficial in addressing the problem of African-American male youth gangs.
From the Paper "Estimates of the magnitude of youth gang problems in the United States had steadily increased over the last decades of the twentieth century. Once considered largely an urban phenomenon, gangs have increasingly emerged in smaller communities, presenting a challenge that severely strains local resources. Today's gangs are best characterized by their diversity in ethnic composition, geographical location, organization, and the nature and extent of members' involvement in delinquent or criminal activities. Hispanics have the highest percentage of youth gang membership in the US, however, adolescent African-American males represent a large proportion of the gangs, especially those established in the inner city. Causal risk factors must be explored in order to prioritize prevention and intervention programs to reduce youth gang activity among those communities most affected by adolescent black male gang activity."
Abstract The writer explores the welfare reform laws and takes the reader on a journey through various statistics and reports on how well that law is working. In addition this paper looks at why some people have a harder time than others leaving the system behind.
From the Paper "For the last few years the public has cheered the welfare reform law supporters. Americans were tired of the increasing numbers of welfare recipients. Welfare was originally developed to be a temporary stopgap measure until one could get back on their feet. In recent decades it has become a way of life for many."
Abstract Gives a critical analysis of "the war on drugs". Through examination of the history and present motivations of drug laws, this paper argues that the reasons behind drug criminalization are invalid. The paper also shows that the current law enforcement approaches are ineffective in dealing with the drug problem.
From the Paper "The illicit drug problem is seen as a paramount concern within all western communities and is clearly the source of some of society's most major public health issues. The so-called "War on Drugs" is given unprecedented resources in the area of law enforcement and often headlines our major media outlets. The reasons for our community seeking to criminalize drug use will be explored in the following essay by tracing drugs laws to the original sources of public concern and exploring how community concern has evolved since. It will be shown that the original notions that are the basis of drug criminalization have been flawed from their inception. Furthermore it will be illustrated how current and past drug laws have been completely ineffective in achieving the aims that society has sought to achieve through drug criminalization."
Abstract This paper is an in-depth examination of divorce in our society. The author looks at the affect of divorce on different aspects of the children and their lives, at home and at school. It also looks at the affect on the child's health and well-being. Another area examined is the couple getting divorced, and the different factors that played into their decision, and the affect it has on them as individuals.
From the Paper "Children of divorced parents have a higher risk of mental, emotional, and physical problems. This does not mean that every child from divorced parents will have each and every one of these negative effects. It simply means that they have a higher risk. They may not develop any problems, but then again they may develop numerous problems. It all depends on the individual himself and how he/she deals with the difficult situation. The parents have a lot to do with the effects their divorce will have on their child. They have to deal with it like adults and keep the child in mind. The parents are also greatly affected by their divorce, even if it was in their best interest."
Abstract The paper examines spousal abuse from the point of view of the victim, focusing on abused women. The paper relates cases that received much media coverage as well as lesser-known cases. Finally, the paper examines the role of society in maintaining the rate of spousal abuse, as well as what can be done to reduce it.
Contents:
Introduction: What is Spousal Abuse?
How Common is Spousal Abuse?
Who are Battered Women?
Why do Battered Women Stay with their Abusers?
A Brief Historical Overview of Spousal Abuse
What is to be Done about Spousal Abuse?
From the Paper "The term "spousal abuse" may seem self-explanatory. In the purely definitional sense it refers to the abuse of one of the individuals in an intimate relationship. Usually the relationship is that of a marriage, other times that of a domestic partnership. Slapping, hitting, kicking, burning, punching, choking, shoving, beating, throwing things, locking out, restraining, and other acts designed to ?injure, hurt, endanger, or cause physical pain,? to one's spouse would come under the definition of abuse. (Berry, 1996, p.3) The term also encompasses emotional abuse, such as a spouse's consistently doing things to ridicule or demean their partner, refusing to let their spouse seek work outside the home, see friends or handle money, or threatening to hurt or abscond with the children. The term can also refer to sexual abuse (rape) or stalking, which often occurs when the abused partner attempts to leave the abusive relationship. Ninety-five percent of the victims of battering are estimated to be female under this definition of spousal abuse. However, men can abused as well, most commonly in a verbal fashion, or in regards to the custody of children."
Abstract This paper studies the phenomenon of interracial adoption in general and specifically adoption through the internet. It states that children of different races are priced differently on adoption sites whereas black children are the cheapest. It gives examples of several psychological studies done on transracial adoption and their various conclusions. It explains the reasons for interracial adoption and the part that governments play in this phenomenon.
From the Paper "Adoption between same-race children and parents is a difficult task. Filling the emotional needs of a child who has lost one or both parents presents a multitude of adjustment problems for both the child and adoptive parents. People who choose to adopt are compassionate and caring, or they would not want to adopt in the first place. The child is coming from place of familiarity into the unknown?and frightening. The support of the adoptive parents will help the child overcome this difficult time; at least that is the theory. In addition to changing lifestyles, sets of rules, friends, and everyone they ever knew, let us now add the change of who you are. Let us change your culture and beliefs as well. This is the problem that a child adopted into a family of a different cultural background must face. Inter-racial adoption is a form of genocide and hurts the child most of all."
Tags: race, interracial, adoption, psychology, child, parents, culture, money, United, States, Government
Abstract This paper explores studies that research the influence on children of violence in the media: television, movies and video games. The author discusses how although such violence affects youngsters, entertainment violence is not the sole factor contributing to youth aggression, anti-social attitudes and violence. Family breakdown, peer influences, the availability of weapons and numerous other factors may all play a part.
From the Paper "The effect of media violence on our children is no longer open to debate. The exceedingly violent portrayals on the media in form of films, documentaries and even cartoons have firmly placed the media in the midst of a controversy with far reaching effects. Researchers have determined that exposure to media portrayals of violence increases aggressive behavior in children and arguing against this link is useless. America's youngsters are being exposed to increasing amounts of media violence through television, movies, video games, and popular music. Video game violence, children's cartoons, and music lyrics have become increasingly graphic. Action films depict anatomically precise murder, rapes and assaults and video games detail bodies being blown apart, splattering blood and body parts on walls and floor."
Abstract The following paper examines arguments around the issue of the death penalty which involve cultural, economic, environmental, ethical, legal, moral, philosophical, political, practical, religious, social and sociological theories.
From the Paper "Traditional historical methods of execution included: (1) beheading or decapitation; (2) breaking on the wheel; (3) burning; (4) crucifixion; (5) drawing and quartering; (6) garroting; (7) hanging; (8) peine forte et dure; (8) shooting; and (9) stoning. Such forms of capital punishment are now regarded today as barbaric, cruel and unusual, ghastly, and unthinkable. In the United States, the death penalty is now carried out in one of five ways: (1) electrocution; (2) firing squad (rarely used, yet the law remains on the books in certain states); (3) gas chamber; (4) hanging; and (5) lethal injection. The two most commonly accepted and implemented forms of capital punishment are the gas chamber or lethal injection."
Abstract The paper discusses how the process of aging has changed. It shows how the media has influenced this change by portraying negative stereotypes of the elderly and how people are trying to stay young as long as possible by having surgery performed on them, staying active in their old age, and retiring later on in life.
From the Paper "Today, it is seen as a crime to grow old. When we think of the elderly, we no longer see the heroic image of George Washington or Ben Franklin. Instead, we see the image of a frail and weak person. "Other cultures value age and the wisdom of experience; we disparage and mock it, viewing it as a weakness, a personal misfortune" (Ross). This image is in part due to negative stereotypes of the elderly being portrayed in the media. People are afraid of becoming like this image and to prevent it, they are investing in the many anti-aging products on the market, like hair-dye and anti-aging cream. They are also being more productive in their old age. Today, men and women alike are participating in a fight against time and they are refusing to grow old."
Abstract This research paper outlines the theory of Karl Marx (1818-1884) of historical materialism, discusses the views of Max Weber (1864-1920) on the forces which shape history and compares and contrasts the views of Marx and Weber on the rise of capitalism
From the Paper "This research paper outlines the theory of Karl Marx (1818-1884) of historical materialism, discusses the views of Max Weber (1864-1920) on the forces which shape history and compares and contrasts the views of Marx and Weber on the rise of capitalism. A fundamental premise of Marx is that economic or material factors determine the course and outcome of history (historical materialism or economic determinism). Weber viewed economics as one among many important factors which contributed to the evolution of human society. He laid considerable emphasis on the importance of charismatic leadership and new ideas as determinants of historical change. He saw the rise of capitalism as the psychological product of a particular set of beliefs which he labeled the Protestant ethic."
Examines the history of fashion, psychological effects on the public, sociocultural aspects, selling of body images, impact of the industry and advertising on adolescent girls, anorexia and bulimia.
5,625 words (approx. 22.5 pages), 26 sources, 1999, $ 135.95
Abstract The purpose of this research is to examine connections between the policies, strategies, and practices of the fashion industry and the phenomenon of eating disorders. The plan of the research will be to set forth the background and context in which such connections can be credibly made and then to discuss the extent to which compelling evidence exists that there is fashion-industry culpability in the reach and severity of eating disorders.
From the Paper "The purpose of this research is to examine connections between the policies, strategies, and practices of the fashion industry and the phenomenon of eating disorders. The plan of the research will be to set forth the background and context in which such connections can be credibly made and then to discuss the extent to which compelling evidence exists that there is fashion-industry culpability in the reach and severity of eating disorders, where such disorders can be interpreted as a response of fashion-industry customers to social and cultural norms that the industry either shapes or leads.
The influence of the fashion industry on medical pathology that arises from eating pathology cannot be understood without an appreciation of the ability of cultural norms to influence a whole range of human behavior within that culture. Equally ..."
From the Paper "This study will examine the concept and the importance of religion in the perspectives of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Sigmund Freud, and Max Weber. The study will consider how each theorist views the relationship between religion and social stability, on the one hand, and religion and social change on the other, how each theorist sees the relationship between religion and modernization, and the strengths and weaknesses of each theorist's views, and will argue that Marx's views are most convincing.
Marx deals with the alienation which society produces in the individual, and argues that religion, which aims at healing this alienation, in fact masks its economic causes. The other theorists will be shown to take too lukewarm a view of the ills of society and the role religion plays in society, although..."
Abstract A culturally diverse work place is one that includes people from various cultural backgrounds. This paper examines how this difference can be beneficial in the current business environment and the criteria in order to make it succeed. It begins with an explanation of the various sources of competitive advantage related to it followed by a discussion of the characteristics of a successful multicultural organization. It concludes by evaluating the skills required of a manager in order to run a mulitcultural organization efficiently.
From the Paper "Having a multicultural workforce assists in customer focus because it helps ensure a better understanding of who the customer is. For example, a company consisting only of educated, white males would find it difficult to consider the many different types of customers they are appealing to. In contrast, a multicultural company with a mix of cultures would be better able to recognize the many different characteristics of their target customers. This applies equally within America and in regards to international business."
