California's social problems / edited by Charles F. Hohm, James A. Glynn.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Hohm, Charles F., 1947-

Glynn, James A.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Social problems--California.

Social problems.

Ethnic relations.

Social conditions.

California--Social conditions.

California.

California--Ethnic relations.

Physical Description:

xii, 387 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

Thousand Oaks, Calif. : Pine Forge Press, [2002]

Summary:

California. The mere mention of the name conjures up thoughts and images as diverse as the state itself. With the geographic size, population, and economy to be a thriving country, California is unique. But are its social problems unique or do they represent issues shared, today and in the future, with the other forty-nine states and the global community? The editors and authors of California's Social Problems shed light on these questions and others in their fascinating analyses of a variety of social situations, policies, and trends in the Golden State. This highly readable book is organized into four sections, each focusing on major challenges to California's communities, to its residents' sexuality and health, to its institutions, and to population growth and the resultant environmental impacts. Each section has a comprehensive introduction that sets the stage and summarizes the chapters to come. The chapter essays are consistently organized to provide a thorough overview of the social problems, along with a historical perspective for each. Incisive chapters on topics such as homelessness, the gay and lesbian movement for equal rights, race and ethnic relations, family problems, welfare reform, and natural disasters will not only inform students in California's colleges and universities, but will be of interest to others near and far. If, as some feel, a great many fads, trends, and problems originate in California, to later surface in other parts of the U.S., then this book will be of great use in helping readers to think critically about social phenomena in California that will likely have national and even global importance in coming years.

Contents:

Part I Challenges to California Communities 7

1. Homelessness / Ronald W. Fagan 15

Homelessness in the United States and California 16

Alternative Explanations for Homelessness in California 20

Future Prospects for Homelessness in California 22

Solutions to the Problem of Homelessness 23

2. Juvenile Delinquency and Urban Gangs / Anne Hendershott 35

California's Historical Roots of Juvenile Crime and Justice 42

California's Urban Youth Gangs: Social Problem or Moral Panic? 44

Theories on the Causes of California Gang Delinquency 47

Ethnicity and Juvenile Crime in California 51

Increased Minority Confinement Rates in California and the Nation 52

Solutions to the Problem of Juvenile Delinquency and Gangs 56

3. Race and Ethnic Relations / Phylis Cancilla Martinelli 63

The History of Race Relations in California 63

Race Relations in California Today 67

Race Relations in California as Compared to Those in the United States 72

California's Problem in Global Context 73

Alternative Explanations for Race Relations in California 75

Future Prospects for Race Relations in California 76

Solutions to the Problem of Race Relations 77

Part II Challenges to Sexuality and Health 85

4. Resisting Heterosexism and Homophobia: the Gay and Lesbian Movement for Equal Rights / Peter M. Nardi 91

A History of Lesbian and Gay Oppression and Resistance 92

Lesbian and Gay Oppression and Resistance in California Today 99

Lesbian and Gay Oppression and Resistance in California as Compared With the United States 103

Lesbian and Gay Issues in a Global Context 106

Alternative Explanations for Lesbian and Gay Oppression and Resistance in California 108

Future Prospects for Lesbian and Gay Oppression and Resistance in California 111

Solutions to the Problem of Lesbian and Gay Oppression and Resistance 112

5. HIV/AIDS / Kevin D. Kelley 117

The Basic Science 117

History of HIV/AIDS in California 119

Course of HIV Infection in California 120

The Problem of HIV/AIDS in California Today 122

Comparison of California's Situation to the United States 125

California's Problem in a Global Context 127

Alternative Explanations for the Spread of HIV and AIDS 129

Future Prospects: AIDS Projections in California 132

Possible Solutions to AIDS in California 133

Part III Challenges to California Institutions 139

6. Problems of Families / Robin Wolf, Robin Franck, James A. Glynn 149

The History of Family Trends in California 150

Family Trends in California Today 154

Family Trends in California as Compared to the United States 158

Alternative Explanations for Family Trends 165

The Family in Global Context 168

Future Prospects 171

Suggestions for the Future 171

7. Inequality and Poverty / Robert Enoch Buck 177

How Unequal Is It? 179

Social Classes and Inequality 183

The Causes of Poverty 192

8. Poverty and Welfare Reform / Robert Enoch Buck 203

The Welfare State 204

The Outcomes of Welfare Reform 207

Outcomes for Program Participants 215

Continuing Problems and Policy Issues 216

9. The Continuing Crisis in Higher Education: Threats to California's Master Plan / James L. Wood, Lorena T. Valenzuela 235

The Problem in California Today 238

Distance Learning as a Strategic Plan 239

Related Strategic Plans 241

Origin of the Plans: California and the United States 244

California's Problem in Global Context 253

Alternative Explanations for the Problem 254

Future Prospects: What To Do? 255

Solutions and Suggestions: Strategies for Distressed Campuses 255

Part IV Challenges to Growth and the Environment 267

10. Population Growth and Environmental Degradation / James A. Glynn, Charles F. Hohm 273

History of Population Growth and Environmental Degradation 273

The Problem in California Today 278

California's Population Compared to the United States 283

California's Problem in Global Context 286

Alternate Explanations for the Problem 288

Future Prospects 291

Solutions to the Problems 296

11. Propositions 187 and 227: a Nativist Response to Mexicans / Adalberto Aguirre, Jr. 303

History of the Problem in California 303

Nativism in California and the United States 305

Mexican Immigrants and Nativism 307

California's Immigrant Population 308

Immigrants and Work 309

Segmentation of Mexican Immigrant Workers 311

The Nativistic Context 313

12. Disasters / Harvey E. Rich, Loretta I. Winters 325

Defining Disaster 326

History of Disaster Research 329

The California Experience 330

California Disasters Compared to the United States 331

California, the Developed World, and the Developing World 332

Sociological Perspectives for Examining Disaster 334

Natural Disasters in California Today 337

Planning 339

Communication 339

The Media 342

Emergent Roles and Groups 343

Disasters and the Future 345

Coping With Disasters 346

Epilogue: Deregulating Energy in California / James A. Glynn 353

The History of the Problem 354

The Problem in California Today 355

California's Problem Compared With the United States 356

California's Problem in Global Context 357

Alternative Explanations for the Problem 359

Future Prospects 360

Solutions/Suggestions 361.

Notes:

Originally published: New York : Longman in collaboration with the California Sociological Association, c1997.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0761987134

OCLC:

47099477