SOCS 325 Week 4 Midterm- Correct Answers 100%

SOCS 325 Week 4 Midterm Grade Details - All Questions Points Received: 5 of 5 Comments: explanations of social life. Which o f the following distinguishes a constructionist perspective on environment problems? Student Answer: Environmental problems need to be understood in terms of the threats posed by society's current ecological relations. There is no difference between the realist & constructionist approaches to environmental problems-they are in agreement. The way we conceptualize & define environmental problems is a key focus. Constructionists do not believe that we have environmental problems, rather the concerns are all constructed by alarmists. Instructor Explanation: Chapter 1, pages 3-4. Points Received: 0 of 5 Comments: Question 3. Question : (TCO 3) The 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three scientists whose work led to discovery of the causes for the thinning of the earth's atmosphere by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Which of the following was NOT one of these scientists? Student Answer: Mario Molina Paul Crutzen Sherwood Rowland Aldo Leopold Instructor Explanation: Chapter 1, page 24. Points Received: 5 of 5 Comments: Question 4. Question : (TCO 4) Who is/was the "original affluent society" according to Marshall Sahlins? Student Answer: Hunter gatherers Agrarian pastoralists The aristocracy of Europe & Asia Wealthy Western capitalists Instructor Explanation: Chapter 2, pages 38-39. Points Received: 5 of 5 Comments: Question 5. Question : (TCO 5) The hau of material objects refers to: Student Answer: superstitious belief in animate objects. the utility of material objects that serve our interests. sentimental connections & social relationships embodied in things. the respect we have for tools & technologies created by humans. Instructor Explanation: Chapter 2, pages 46-47. Points Received: 0 of 5 Comments: Question 6. Question : (TCO 6) What has been the result of air quality from strict emission controls? Student Answer: Strict emission controls have resulted in a dramatic improvement in air quality. Strict emission controls are largely ignored thus air quality has dramatically decreased. Strict emission controls have led industrialists to be contrite & to stop polluting. The growth in use of automobiles andtrucks have wiped out much of the gain from emission controls. Instructor Explanation: Chapter 3, page 77. Points Received: 5 of 5 Comments: Question 7. Question : (TCO 7) According to Malthus, population grows: Student Answer: incrementally, in fits & starts. at a steady, measured pace. arithmetically. exponentially. Instructor Explanation: Chapter 4, page 86. Points Received: 5 of 5 Comments: Question 8. Question : (TCO 7) Which of the following does Sen claim will NOT insure food availability? Student Answer: Dependable food imports Land reform Steady employment Democracy Instructor Explanation: Chapter 4, pages 97-98. Points Received: 5 of 5 Comments: Question 9. Question : (TCO 3) What percentage of the world's original forests remain? Student Answer: 100% 68% 50% 0% Instructor Explanation: Chapter 1, Pages 15-16 Points Received: 5 of 5 Comments: Question 10. Question : (TCO 5) According to your text, what is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for individuals between the ages of 1 & 35? Student Answer: AIDS Youth-on-youth violence Traffic accidents Environmental exposure to toxins Instructor Explanation: Chapter 3, Pages 76-77 Points Received: 5 of 5 Comments: Grading Summary Question Type: # Of Questions: # Correct: Multiple Choice 10 8 Essay 5 N/A Grade Details - All Questions Page: 12 Question Question : (TCO 1) Define environmental sociology & what 1. environmental sociologists study. If you were an environmental sociologist, explain your daily day. Compare & contrast how environmental sociologists differ from other types of sociologists. Student Answer: Environmental sociology is typically defined as the sociological study of societal-environmental interactions, although this definition immediately presents the problem of integrating human cultures with the rest of the environment. Although the focus of the field is the relationship between society & environment in general, environmental sociologists typically place special emphasis on studying the social factors that cause environmental problems, the societal impacts of those problems, & efforts to solve the problems. In addition, considerable attention is paid to the social processes by which certain environmental conditions become socially defined as problems. Although there was sometimes acrimonious debate between the constructivist & realist "camps" within environmental sociology in the 1990s, the two sides have found considerable common ground as both increasingly accept that while most environmental problems have a material reality they nonetheless become known only via human processes such as scientific knowledge, activists' efforts, & media attention. In other words, most environmental problems have a real ontological status despite our knowledge/awareness of them stemming from social processes, processes by which various conditions are constructed as problems by scientists, activists, media & other social actors. Correspondingly, environmental problems must all be understood via social processes, despite any material basis they may have external to humans. This interactiveness is now broadly accepted, but many aspects of the debate continue in contemporary research in the field. Environmental sociology is the field of sociology DEALING with the interactions between societies & their environments. It may focus on the social dimensions of either the natural environment or the human-built environment. An environmental sociologist is a sociologist who STUDIES society-environment interactions such as the environmental movement, how people in societies perceive environmental problems, the relationships between population, health, & the environment, globalization, & the mechanisms behind environmental injustice. What Does an Environmental Sociologist Do? Environmental sociologists study such issues using standard sociological research methods. For example, they develop valid data collection instruments such as surveys & interviews. They use them to collect data about the environmental attitudes, values, & behaviors of people in groups. Alternatively, they may collect data based on observation & reviewing existing documents. They may plan & conduct research to test their theories about issues such as the valuation of nature, attitudes toward environmentalism, & belief in human- induced climate change. They then analyze the data to make conclusions about environmental behaviors, & potentially suggest ways to address problems. Sociologists generally share the results of their research by writing & publishing academic papers & submitting reports to their organizations. Many are faculty members at colleges & universities who teach sociology, in addition to conducting research. Where Does an Environmental Sociologist Work? As of 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 36% of sociologists in general were Employed at colleges & universities. Another 30% were working in research & development in the social sciences & humanities. Another 9% worked in local government, & 8% provided management, scientific, & technical consulting services. While most environmental sociologists also work for colleges & universities, many are also employed by nonprofit environmental & public policy organizations. Sociologists usually work in offices. They're generally employed full-time during standard business hours. However, they may travel occasionally to conduct interviews & observations for research, or to present their research findings at conferences. While JOBS do vary, more environmental sociologists have these roles in their job: Analyze the social processes that cause humans to label an environmental condition as a problem Study social factors that cause environmental problems Study how environmental problems impact society Study human created environmental decline Evaluate & research such topics as population control & the environment Consider how people with different wealth affect the environment Examine how gender, race, health, political, economic factors influence environmental action or inaction Consider how inequality & democracy affect the environment Evaluate how popular culture considers & enacts environmental justices Consider the social aspect of an environmental event or disaster Create, test & research hypotheses about populations, communities, & environment Conduct field, lab, & theoretical research Analyze data using statistical models. Study human & environmental characteristics over time Provide useful data & advice to internal & external parties Use modeling techniques to assess the potential impact of ecosystem changes Publish the results of studies & research within the workgroup & throughout the field Manage research projects with multiple timelines Support strategic initiatives & business development for the region in question Senior environmental sociologist jobs tend to have more managerial or administrative components. They may have the following tasks in addition to tier-one responsibilities: Supervise junior or untenured members of the team, as well as support staff Create mentorship opportunities for junior members of the team or department Communicate with clients, colleagues, government officials, & stakeholders on various issues & policy development from local to international scope Understand environmental regulations & how they may impact environmental sociology Create grant & funding proposals to finance research projects Control project budgets, timelines, tasks & benchmarks Manage & direct team communication & interaction for a positive work environment Oversee research assistants & technicians Oversee workspace, field resources, & materials procurement Participate in interdisciplinary projects Act as consultant in their field of expertise What Is the Job Demand for Environmental Sociologists? Employment of sociologists in general is expected to grow 15 percent from 2012 to 2022, which is faster than average. However, because it's a small field TO BEGIN with, this growth will only create about 400 new jobs over that period. Increased interest in sustainability, climate change, & environmental attitudes will spur job growth for environmental sociologists. However, candidates will face strong competition for a limited number of faculty positions in sociology. Candidates with bachelor's & Master's degrees are often employed in related fields. For example, environmental sociologists may pursue research or advising positions in public policy, environmental advocacy, education, & other areas. Advanced degrees & strong statistical & research skills are often required for these positions, & are valuable for all sociologists. How Do I Get an Environmental Sociology Degree? Most sociology jobs require at least a master's degree. This is particularly true of positions involving sociological research. Traditional master's degree programs are designed for students planning to earn a Ph.D., usually with the intention of entering academia as faculty members. Doctoral students may also become researchers for nonprofit organizations, businesses, & government agencies. Applied, clinical, & professional programs are designed for students who plan to conduct research in the professional workplace, such as businesses in the private sector. Instructor Explanation: Environmental Sociology focuses on the interaction & intersection of the natural physical environment & social human behavior. Environmental Sociologists study the environmental & ecological issues & threats that face our society & planet today. Environmental Sociologists focus on how humans impact their environment & how they cause many of these environmental problems & issues. One of the main goals of an Environmental Sociologist is to try to come up with viable & very relevant solutions to many of these environmental problems & issues. Points Received: 0 of 30 Comments: Question 2. Question : (TCO 2) Describe the environments impact on race, poverty, & disempowerment. Explain how this impacts human inequality & how it creates a community of haves & have nots. Compare & contrast some ways you would solve some of these issues of inequality. Student Answer: The world economy is in a state of what is commonly viewed as unprecedented growth. But with this growth has come dangerous & destructive economic disparity. On the one hand, we see the "impressive" economy in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in the United States, where Silicon Valley, a region of 2.3 million people, has produced tens of thousands of millionaires, with 64 new ones every day. There are regular U.S. reports of historically low unemployment rates, labor shortages & booming economy. On the other hand, many people of color, particularly those in the Southern Hemisphere, do not have enough food to eat, resulting in malnutrition & disease. They face growing inflation while their governments, which used to subsidize some aspects of their marginal living, are urged to stop subsidies for food & adopt a more market-oriented economics. Many workers in these economies are trapped in poor working conditions with low pay. Women are often expected to do back-breaking farm & domestic WORK, with few rights or benefits. Yet many of the fiscal policies pushed onto developing countries & adopted in northern countries exacerbate the problem of the most marginal while celebrating the wealth of the rich. In the North as well, people of color often find themselves being left farther & farther behind. Even as states in the U.S. & the nation as a whole report budget surpluses, we seem unable or unwilling to provide adequate housing for the growing number of working-class & homeless families, to repair the physical structure of schools that house low-income students of color, or to provide social services or medical attention for those most in need. Sweatshops that employ people of color working as virtual slave laborers are tolerated -- even encouraged -- as part of the new world trade. The public space people of color & marginal groups are most dependent on -- whether it is public hospitals, schools, parks, or a social welfare system -- is constantly attacked as inconsistent with the needs of capital & the market. Indeed, we are encouraged to remake public space to mimic private space with a market, anti- democratic orientation where we are consumers, not citizens. How are these disparate conditions related to globalism, & why are people of color under the most severe threat from this process? Certainly, other people are also under a threat from this globalization process, & some would assert that democracy & capitalism itself may be undone by this process if it is not checked. To answer the above question & to understand why minorities & other marginal populations are most at risk, it is first necessary to better understand what globalism is, particularly the type of globalism that dominates today's markets. What Is Globalism? In the most general sense, globalism refers to the process in which goods & services, including capital, move more freely within & among nations. As globalism advances, national boundaries become more & more porous, & to some extent, less & less relevant. Since many of our early industries, such as steel, were location-sensitive, there was a natural limitation to globalization. To be sure, some things remain location-sensitive, but mobility is the trend. It is assumed that liberalizing laws & structures, so that goods & services can become more globally focused, will produce more wealth, & indeed this seems to be true. Using this general understanding of globalism & globalization, it would be accurate to say this process has been developing & growing for WELL over a hundred years. But there have been many changes in the globalization process in the last two decades that makes it distinct from earlier incarnations. The major thing being traded in today's global market is information & capital itself, rather than commodities or other products. Technological change allows capital to move almost instantaneously. Changes in monetary policies, as well as in what is being traded & the importance of capital, have created a global market distinctively different from previous eras. Earlier products & capital were more rooted to a place. Today, many of the things traded & produced in the global market, such as knowledge & computer technology, are extremely mobile or rootless. The United States has emerged as the only world superpower. This has allowed the U.S. tremendous influence in setting the terms for global trade. The style of globalism pushed by the United States has favored the free movement & protection of capital, while being at best indifferent & at worst hostile to the more place-dependent labor. It is the dual relationship of mobile capital & fixed, unorganized & unprotected labor that has created the conditions for capital to dominate. This has been greatly enhanced by the U.S. position toward organized labor & capital. While the U.S. has been aggressive in protecting capital both at home & abroad, it has encouraged both the weakening of organized labor & removing protections for workers. While both Japan & Europe have aggressively pushed for globalism, each has been more willing to protect labor, the environment & certain markets -- at least within their own borders. It is the United States that has consistently been the most radical on liberalizing capital & protecting it as it moves across boundaries, & the most hostile to protecting labor & fragile markets. Protecting labor expresses itself not only in strong unions & workers' benefits but also in a strong social welfare system. The United States has purposefully moved toward weaker labor unions, as well as an anemic social welfare system. It has used the globalism it advocates as justification for keeping workers' jobs insecure, pay & benefits relatively low. Workers are told that pushing hard for benefits will cause capital to leave to another location in the country or the world where workers are willing to work for less with fewer benefits. The United States & the international organizations over which it has substantial influence, such as the International Monetary Fund, have demanded protection of capital & encouraged or tolerated the suppression of labor & the environment in the weaker southern countries. Capital is actively being directed to markets with low wages, where workers are sometimes abused & labor organizations suppressed. The wealth this globalism is creating is being forcefully subsidized by vulnerable workers & the environment, especially in the Southern Hemisphere. This logic is then used to weaken the position of labor in the North, as we are required to compete with unorganized, suppressed labor in the South. While sweatshops & slave labor may attract capital investments, what about the futures of black welfare mothers in Detroit or the Aborigines in Australia, who need government assistance to take advantage of, say, the educational system? How or why does U.S.-style globalism affect their needs? U.S.-style globalism not only attempts to suppress labor, but also seeks to suppress social welfare systems & support for public expenditures that do not directly benefit the expansion of capital. The social welfare system & other public services, such as schools, social services in the North & food subsidies in the South, are supported through taxes, & taxes reduce short-term benefits to capital. In the North, it is women & minorities who are most dependent on the public sector. These racial & gender correlations make it all the easier to attack the legitimacy of taxation for this purpose. Taxes are seen as undesirable because they reduce profits & interfere with the market. But the public space, including the welfare system, can only be supported by the public in the form of taxes. Whether we are talking about education or other public services, we are encouraged to believe that they should be as limited as possible & made to mimic the market. Those who cannot thrive in the market environment without help, especially if they are people of color, are seen as free-loaders & illegitimate. In many ways, much of the public space in the United States becomes associated with people of color. Goodbye, Democratic Vision? Public purposes & civic goods -- to the extent they are even recognized -- are no longer to be achieved through public institutions but are to be privatized. The democratic vision associated with public functions is to be abandoned or seriously curtailed in favor of the ideal of efficiency. There is an abiding belief that democracy must be limited because it interferes with the private decisions of market experts, thereby reducing wealth & capital. & anything that is perceived as interfering with the growth of capitalism -- be it the social welfare system, labor unions, civil rights or government programs -- is being curtailed, while government policies & structures that protect capital, including the military, are enhanced. Although proponents of this style of globalism purport to support democracy, it is only in a role subservient to capital. In the United States, we are softly encouraged to vote, while being constantly reminded that in these global matters that shape our everyday life, we have no say. We are told that no city, state or nation can or should try to influence this powerful but uncontrollable process. We are reminded that one can regulate capital, & any attempt to do so will hurt the economy. The deregulation of capital is made to appear both good & natural. Our attention is drawn away from the fact that there are powerful organizations supported by the U.S. government's leadership that protect & facilitate the flow of capital. These institutions include the World Bank, International Development Association, International Finance Corporation, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization, etc. Unfortunately, there are no organizations of equal stature to protect the interests of workers, racial minorities, the environment, or women & children. There are, of course, several treaties & international instruments dealing with some of these issues, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious or Linguistic Minorities, & so forth. However, they are nearly impotent, compared with the institutions with far-reaching & substantial goals of protecting capital. When citizens try to raise such issues, it is simply asserted that making working conditions or the environment part of trade agreements would unduly interfere with free trade. American-style globalism has not just transformed the flow of capital, it has transformed the role of government & the meaning of citizenship. People are now brought together as consumers but kept apart as citizens. The transformed role of government is not to protect citizens or the precious safety net of public space but to protect & facilitate the flow of capital. So today we speak of free markets but not of free labor. We speak of an expanding global market, but a diminishing public space, & we hardly speak at all of citizen participation & justice. This is an authoritarian vision where armies police people & nations, so capital might be free. It is very doubtful that capital, despite advances in technology, would be nearly as mobile as it is without the nationally brokered agreements that have the force of law & the coercive power of the state behind them. But while capital relies on the government to do its bidding, we enjoy freedom as individuals without the power that only comes from the collective action of informed citizens. While it might be true that cities & states, & certainly private individuals, can do little to influence globalism, it is clearly false that nations, especially the United States, are powerless in the face of globalism. Undermining Social Movements During the last part of the 20th century, the Civil Rights Movement, the women's movement & the environmental movement advanced their claims for inclusion & justice. An attack on the public role of the state is a powerful strategy to limit the aspirations of these groups. They aremade impotent in a forum where wealth, not votes, dictates policies. These groups are marginalized in an economic arena that transforms the market, with decisions made behind closed doors, & not in public & civic spaces. Destruction of the public space also results in a decline of the public voice. In the United States, this decline in the role & scope of democracy in the relationship to the market occurred just when the Civil Rights Movement began to make significant gains in securing for blacks & other minorities real access to the political process. This article, then, is not an attack on globalism per se but on the excess & undemocratic nature of the U.S.-style globalism popular now, which is particularly hostile to people of color & other marginal groups. This style of globalism disempowers average Americans in every way, except as consumers. Globalization has been happening for over a century & will continue. It must be re-envisioned to appropriately protect capital, but also to protect labor, the environment & people of color. These concerns must be seen as interrelated, not as separate. Furthermore, we must create the necessary international structures with transparency & accountability in order to make this vision a reality & to develop suitable remedies for the plight of marginalized peoples. These steps should not be seen as hostile to business, but as an appropriate cost of doing business in a justice-oriented & sustainable global economy. Despite the rhetoric about the unmitigated good that can come from U.S.-style globalism, there is an increasing call to look more closely at the process as it relates to people & the environment throughout the world. Some assert that U.S.-style globalism threatens democracy. Others argue that this style of globalism threatens capitalism itself. We think that both claims may be right. We believe it is critical to look more closely at what globalism means for people in general & people of color in particular. Given its more recent history of developing a social compact that includes all people, the United States should A national target Setting a binding national target for reducing economic inequality, much like the recent target for reducing child poverty, would be a vital first step in defusing this effect. It would solidify government commitment to act, serve as a barometer of success and, most importantly, provide an important means for the public to hold them to account. Download the report to read more about how an economic inequality reduction target could work & the indicators we could use to measure it. The inequality hit list No one policy can single-handedly beat inequality: the roots of the problem extend into the very structure of our economy. The solution will instead require ambitious, concerted action on several fronts. Our proposals focus on five major policy areas that, targeted together, could help reverse the vicious cycle. 1. Make high-quality childcare available to all We all know how critical the first five years of a person’s life are to social & cognitive development, yet the UK still has an eye-wateringly expensive childcare system that puts high quality care out of reach to those on low incomes. Overhauling the system so that good childcare is affordable to all would help address unequal starting points & lay the foundations for a more equal society. NEF proposes state support to cap the costs of care at 15% family INCOME, & a vast improvement in the pay, working conditions, training & status of childcare workers. More about the feasibility & cost of this in NEF’s recent report, The value of childcare. Better, more affordable childcare would also have the bonus effect of giving mums & dads more choice over how to juggle their children, working lives & other important commitments – good for economy & well-being alike. 2. Tackle polarised pay The economy may be growing overall, but the share of wealth going into employee pay packets (as opposed to shareholder profits) is shrinking. Average real wages have been falling CONTINUOUSLY for decades, while executive pay rockets skyward. In-work poverty has got so bad that the largest group of people claiming benefits are from families with at least one working adult. Clearly this is not the route to a healthy, more equal economy. NEF proposes a department of labour tasked with rebuilding the link between the UKs overall economic prosperity & wages. There are plenty of places they could start: raising the minimum wage; requiring companies to publish the difference between the highest & lowest salaries they pay out; introducing pay ratios; & restoring the bargaining power of workers through embedding collective voice in the workplace. The opportunity exists for the public sector to lead the way, as spelled out in our recent report – Raising the benchmark. 3. Create good jobs around the country Our jobs market is not only geographically skewed towards London & the South East – it is hollow in the middle, as positions are increasingly divided between low-paid jobs in care, retail & hospitality & highly-paid jobs in sectors such finance, law & IT. NEF has previously called on the government to extend the mandate of the planned British Investment Bank to not only boost lending to small & medium businesses, but ensure these businesses are capable of delivering well-paid, rewarding & environmentally viable jobs around the country. 4. Transform jobs into careers with better training It is often implied that inequality is the result of the unwillingness of those at the bottom to work hard & climb the ladder. But as young people – graduates & non-graduates alike – are increasingly sucked into dead-end jobs with scant opportunity for progression, the reality is that, for many, this ladder does not exist. We need a major investment drive in training & skills development, at all levels of industry from junior to management (which the UK scores famously poorly on). This could involve promoting pooled training investment by sector & channelling state support towards apprenticeships that lead to progression. 5. Fairer taxes When you take account of direct & indirect taxes, those on low incomes in the UK are being hit too hard, while billions of pounds each year are being lost through tax avoidance & evasion at the top. Progressive tax reforms, such as a Land Value Tax, would help address inequality at root & redistribute economic power. Shifting the burden of taxes onto environmentally unfriendly activities would kill two birds with stone by relieving struggling families & speeding up the transition to a low- carbon economy, not be championing a style of globalism that is blind to the needs of some sectors. If this process continues, we are likely to permanently re-inscribe a subordinated, life-threatening status for people of color all over the globe & rationalize it with an invisible hand. We can change this by working to make the invisible visible. Instructor Explanation: Many corporations, organizations, & people make a lot of money in industry & business through activities that degrade the environment. This environmental degradation often creates a social class system where people get rich at the expense of other people who are forced to work in hazardous working conditions, become poor, & have to live in some of these environmentally polluted regions & areas. This social class system often leads to poverty & can be linked to race, social inequality, & disempowerment. This concept is often referred to as "environmental racism." Points Received: 0 of 30 Comments: parts copied from: