Soc 200
Review Sheet for Exam #2

Chapter 5: Poverty
Explain the differences between absolute and relative deprivation.
What is "culture of poverty?" Why do some sociologists reject this idea?
How is poverty said to be "relational" in the text?
Why is the largest total ethnic group of those living in poverty "white?" Why do ethnic groups have more poverty in their populations proportional to the total USA population?
What are the three myths of poverty we discussed in class? What is the reality of these situations?
What are the functional, conflict, and interactionist perspectives on poverty? Does each one see poverty as irreversible and unavoidable? Explain.
Why is full employment a good idea but in truth unworkable?
Explain the way various "income maintenance" programs work that were given in the text and lecture.
Why is education the best weapon against poverty in the United States today?
What is collective action? How can it be used against poverty? What are some problems with it?

Chapter 6: Race and Ethnic Relations
What are minority groups, ethnic groups, and racial groups?
What are prejudice, discrimination, and racism?
What role do ethnocentrism and competition play in producing prejudice?
What have African Americans found great difficulty in improving their economic position?
According to the text, what are some forms of relationship that can exist between minority and majority groups?
What kind of programs have been attempted to reduce discrimination and segregation?
What is affirmative action? What have the effects of affirmative action been?

Chapter 11: Pornography, Prostitution, and Sexual Deviance
What is sexuality? Is there a "normal" type of sexuality? Why or why not? What differences would a functionalist and a constructionist see in sexuality?
What is secularization? How has it affected the way sexuality is seen in the United States?
Define prostitution. What is the extent of prostitution in the United States? What are three types of prostitutes we discussed in class?
What is an argument for the legalization of prostitution? What functions does it serve in the United States? What is an argument for keeping prostitution illegal?
What is "pornography?" What does it have to do with "obscenity?" Is porn technically illegal?
If so, why are laws against it unenforced?
Does pornography cause sexual violence? How is it seen as harmful to society in other ways?
What is censorship? Should pornography be censored? Can the "adult entertainment" market regulate itself, or is this a real social problem?
What is being done to control porn and prostitution in the United States today? Is it working?

Chapter 12: Populations and Urbanization
Define "fertility," "fecundity," and "mortality."
How do we calculate the crude birth and death rates, the infant mortality rate, and life expectancy?
What is demographic transition? What are the stages of it?
Describe the patterns of urbanization in the USA. What social forces have propelled and altered these patterns?
What are the functionalist, conflict, and interactionist perspectives on population and urban problems?
What are some consequences of population growth?
What are some worldwide attempts to control population growth? What is the United States doing to control its growth?
In what way is growth occurring in the United States population?
What have the government and the private sector been doing to solve urban problems?