Reference no: EM133258125

In addition to the core theoretical perspectives, sociological theory helps us explain how social problems come to be socially defined as problems. In other words, how do social groups decide what is wrong in a situation? Barkan refers to this as the claims-making process. Think about some responses to COVID-19 and the social problems we're facing in the pandemic. Give an example of how you see COVID-19 defined or constructed as a social problem. What claims-making processes do you see at work? Do you think the interventions focus more on individuals/groups or structures/systems? How does COVID fit with the subjective/objective divide? Does your example focus on "blaming the system" or "blaming the victim"?

Barkan tells us that our claims about problems matter as much as the negative consequences of problems themselves. If we define or construct an individual or group as the problem, we tend to focus our solutions on the individual. If we define social structures as the problem, we tend to focus on changing laws, institutions, policies or social norms. In short, responses to social problems depend on how we define who or what is problematic. Watch the short video on Sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois, and think about his question: "How does it feel to be a problem?" What do you think it means to "be a problem"? Give an example of an individual or group who is defined as a social problem.