SOC 220 Week 4 Discussion 2
answer:
Historical solutions to the problem of vulnerable populations include the following. During the early 20th century, policies that aimed to protect vulnerable populations were part of a series of reforms enacted by President Theodore Roosevelt in response to national problems such as the unsafe conditions that led to increased death rates and injuries in factories, mines, and agriculture; the incidence of drunk driving; and extreme poverty in urban areas (Noonan). The government’s attempts to reduce risks to vulnerable populations, however, have had mixed results. For example, gun control legislation aimed at reducing crime has not been very effective (DeGrowth). In contrast, social reforms passed during Roosevelt’s presidency were successful in improving the lives of vulnerable populations. For example, the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 was hailed as an important step toward reducing fraud in food labels; this Act required truthful labeling. The Meat Inspection Act that same year addressed mislabeled meats and helped mitigated food-safety concerns raised by Upton Sinclair’s influential novel “The Jungle” (O’Connell). This Act also helped increase public confidence in the U.S., especially among European immigrants who were accustomed to more governmental oversight of food quality (Kaplan). Overall, these social reforms were more successful than current gun control
For many years, social work has gone through significant changes in order to adapt to the needs of all kinds of individuals. Many of these are for the most part targeted at families with children. From institutional care, foster homes, and group homes, there have been numerous efforts to help give these people a better life , even though there have also been some unsuccessful attempts. Beginning with orphanages introduced in the sixteenth century, many of the different types of caregiving institutions were more effective than others in creating healthy social dynamics while giving children a better life. The main goal was to provide institutionalized children with food and clothing, as well as living quarters and supervision. Although nearly 90% of orphans wound up in institutional care during this period,
Throughout history, different types of people have been subject to discriminatory treatment because of their race, gender, religion or sexual orientation. The AIDS epidemic of the 1980s created a new social problem – one that had not existed in previous generations. Gay men and drug users were faced with prejudice and judgment from those who blamed them for bringing the disease into the country. Doctors were hesitant to become involved in finding solutions due to fear of being seen as encouraging homosexual behavior. However, the spread of AIDS was enormous and potentially destructive to the United States if left unchecked.
For generations, racism has been a part of society. Its symptoms have included discrimination in schools, neighborhoods, and jobs; political restrictions and barriers to naturalization; obstacles to voting; and unequal treatment under the law. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 sought to end these practices by guaranteeing that all Americans had the same rights if they were born in any state or if they moved to an area. Yet even with the passage of this bill, there were still many obstacles for African Americans. They still often faced segregation in schools, legal issues due to the lack of racial equality in hiring practices and other factors. Also, while African American athletes were beginning to be accepted in a sport previously dominated by whites-baseball-the idea of a black man winning an Olympic gold medal in track was almost unheard of at the time.
For the past ten years, Western medicine has embraced homeopathy as a remedy for many of the consumers it serves. Homeopathic medicine is based on treating symptoms as opposed to treating a disease or disorder. The most common ailments treated include arthritis and headaches. The treatment comes from a solution that has been diluted over time to the point at which there is nothing left except water.
Although the United States is often recognized as a pioneer in women’s rights and the early propelling force of a feminist movement, our country still experiences modern problems regarding gender inequality. Where men are still considered to be the primary breadwinner, women with dependent children are less likely to be given custody of their children after divorce or separation, and female victims of domestic violence have only begun to have systematic policies created for their welfare (Srebnick & Rasking 63). To this end, I believe that the passage of legislation that not only specifies citizens’ reproductive rights and comprehensive health care but also provides social services such as day care centers is essential. These day care centers should accommodate working mothers who need services to support them in the work force while meeting the needs of their children.
question:
For the vulnerable population you had to research for the assignment, describe historical solutions to social problems that have affected this population. Next, evaluate the effectiveness of these historical solutions: Have they worked? Why or why not? Finally, provide your own possible solution that might alleviate the social problem.