Discussion Questions

Name

Institution

Discussion Questions and Obesity

DQ1

Obesity can be classified as a social problem due to the fact that it not only affects a considerable number of people, challenges the accepted social norms, and negatively impacts those in power, but it is also socially created. A number of societies despise obese individuals, with the majority considering overweight people lazy and greedy. Further, statistics indicates that indeed obesity has become a significant problem, as it affects quite a solid part of the population, making the issue in question be regarded as more that a problem of one individual. Further, obesity based on its distribution, can be alleged to be socially created, partly due to the culture of eating junk food as well as shunning exercise. Individually, poor diets as well as overeating are usually the common causes of obesity (Loseke, 2004). Societal factors include popularization of unhealthy food, as well as the creation of a situation, whereby the benefits of exercise are downplayed immensely. Not addressing the problem directly implies the emergence of other diseases such as diabetes, and cardiovascular illnesses among others. For the society, it leads to huge medical expenditures, while at the same time depriving society of an able-bodied workforce.

Conflict theorists would argue that obesity arises as a result of the class differences that exist within the society, especially considering that this problem mostly affects the affluent. Functionalists, on the other hand, would view obesity as a failure of a particular social institution or social institutions. Indeed a functionalist would perhaps view the issue in question as the consequence of the missteps of the public health system. Symbolic interactionists may posit that obesity is an outcome of misunderstandings referred to the symbols and means of communication. As such, a symbolic interactionist would argue that the illness under consideration is, for instance, the product of the creation of a mass culture by the media (Wyatt, Winters, & Dubbert, 2006). Personally I do agree with the symbolic interactionist perspective, as the media has played the key role in promoting unhealthy lifestyles and eating. As such, obesity should be solved as a social problem.

DQ2

Homelessness can be considered as a societal problem based on the fact that its doers meet the four conditions with regard to social problems. It violates the core values of the society, affects quite a significant number of people, negatively impacts on those in power, as well as comes about as a result of societal failures. The establishment of dwellings for the homeless is, in my opinion, an appropriate use of public funds. Not only would society be erradicating a social problem that has arisen due to the capitalistic nature of society, but it would also entail a rerouting of resources that would otherwise simply be spent on processing of the homeless through the justice system. In addition, the overriding consideration when spending public funds must achieve the greatest degree of utility. Providing the roofless with homes would without any doubt offer the best opportunity to realize the greatest amount of happiness for those involved, as well as the homeless (Anderson, 2009).

The only concern I have with regard to these policies, is that they could possibly lead to the society that encourages laziness, and seemingly punishes hard work. It could lead to a situation where individuals abhor hard work and simply wait to be rewarded for rendering themselves homeless. It would challenge the very pillar of capitalistic societies, namely hard work. In order to resolve the problem of homelessness, there is no doubt that some a certain degree of help must be offered, but any policy must embrace and highlight the importance of hard work. Any solution must, therefore, involve hard work on the part of the homeless, perhaps even employment to offer them a way of compensating for the homes they have been given.

DQ3

Education indeed offers the best opportunity to create an equitable society, as it suggests the best possible system to reward hard work. It is essentially the only way of creating equal opportunities for all, more so if everyone has equal access to education opportunities. Not only does education provide individuals with the chance to compete for plum employment possibilities, but it also serves to enlighten those involved as with reference to their rights, and hence, it helps foster a sense of equality that might not be present within the illiterate society (O’leary, 1993).

However, the biggest challenge for most governments and societies is usually the creation of equal education opportunities, and this is primarily due to the prior inequalities that continue skewing the system in favor of previously dominant groups. For instance, within the United States, the education system, despite government efforts to rectify the problems, remains in favor of the rich, mostly owing to the commercialization of education. The existing system has further perpetrated the inequalities that existed, as the quality of education is increasingly being linked to costs, and, in practice, the higher the cost, the better the education. This essentially gives individuals coming from well-off families an undue advantage not just when it comes to education, but also in terms of employment opportunities. The government must therefore take deliberate steps to benefit those that come from disadvantaged communities to level the playing field and make equal educational opportunities available for all citizens.

References

Anderson, M.L. & Taylor, H.F. (2009). Sociology: The Essentials. Belmont, CA: ThomsonWadsworth.

Loseke, D. (2004). Through A Sociological Lens.

O’Leary, D. K. (1993). Through a psychological lens: Personality traits, personality disorders,and levels of violence. In R. J. Gelles & D. R. Loseke (Eds.), Current controversies onfamily violence. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Wyatt, S., Winters, K., & Dubbert, P. (2006). Overweight and Obesity: Prevalence,Consequences, and Causes of a Growing Public Health Problem. American Journal of theMedical Sciences