Question 1

How might someone analyze suicide through a symbolic interactionist lens? Use two examples to illustrate the ways in which societal norms influence the interpretation of suicide.

Accepted Answer

The ideal answer should include:
• Explain that symbolic interactionism argues for the social construction of reality.
• Examples might include if a Japanese warrior dies of suicide after losing a battle, there are symbols to interpret the individual's death in honorable terms. In the United States, there are no symbols for someone to die by suicide as honorable. 
• Apply symbolic interactionist theory.

Question 2

In the Newman family, the men have all the power. The women dutifully submit to their fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons. This is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   patriarchy
B)   feminism
C)   capitalism
D)   labeling A

Question 3

The elderly became a political force when they were organized into a collective group. Which of the following individuals organized them as a political force?

Accepted Answer

A)   Susan B. Anthony
B)   Dr. Tyler Smith
C)   Dr. Francis Everett Townsend
D)   Karl Marx C

Question 4

Lola saw her teacher scolding another student, Wanda. Lola imagines how Wanda must be feeling and concludes that Wanda probably feels embarrassed. As Lola empathizes with Wanda, she is __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   using the looking-glass self
B)   employing the sociological imagination
C)   taking the role of the other
D)   being a feminist

Question 5

Marco is looking for a framework for organizing the facts that he has learned about academic success and parental income. Marco is pursuing a __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   theory
B)   latent function
C)   manifest function
D)   dysfunction

Question 6

Reggie is in prison serving 20 years for a crime that he did not commit. Reggie understands his circumstances to be God's will. This illustrates the __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   looking-glass self
B)   generalized other
C)   sociological imagination
D)   social construction of reality

Question 7

The Human Resources Officer denied Mrs. Merkel employment because she believes that, at 62 years of age, Mrs. Merkel is too old to start a new career. This is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   gerontology
B)   conflict
C)   ageism
D)   labeling

Question 8

Ophelia points out that our society rewards those who perform in the workplace, not in the home. She goes on to say that women's traditional work in the home is not respected because it often produces intangibles. Ophelia holds the viewpoints of __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   liberal feminism
B)   radical feminism
C)   cultural feminism
D)   socialist feminism

Question 9

What are the problems associated with Social Security that create a conflict between the young and the old? How could these problems be ameliorated? What would be the long-term effects of doing nothing?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the problems associated with Social...

Question 10

Ann is an executive and Doug works as Ann's assistant. In the relationship between Ann and Doug, Ann is the __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   subordinate
B)   capitalist
C)   functionalist
D)   superordinate

Question 11

Marsha is the president of a group aiming to free both men and women of rigid gender roles and expectations by raging war against patriarchy. As such, Marsha is a(n) __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   liberal feminist
B)   radical feminist
C)   cultural feminist
D)   ecofeminist

Question 12

Antonia believes that if women ruled the world, patriarchy, oppression, and capitalism would not exist, and the world would be a better place. As such, Antonia holds the viewpoints of __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   liberal feminism
B)   radical feminism
C)   cultural feminism
D)   socialist feminism

Question 13

What are the unintended consequences of people's actions that disrupt a system's equilibrium?

Accepted Answer

A)   Latent functions
B)   Latent dysfunctions
C)   Symbols
D)   Manifest functions

Question 14

Which strain of feminism argues that there are biological differences between men and women and that these differences should be appreciated?

Accepted Answer

A)   Liberal feminism
B)   Radical feminism
C)   Cultural feminism
D)   Ecofeminism

Question 15

Which theory suggests that nursing homes were developed to replace care that occurred in the home, especially as more women went into the workforce and were unable to care for their aging family members?

Accepted Answer

A)   Functionalism
B)   Conflict theory
C)   Symbolic interactionism
D)   Ecofeminism

Question 16

Mildred is a 74-year-old woman in good health. When asked whom she expects to take care of her when she can no longer care for herself, Mildred (like most elderly Americans) expects that she will be taken care of by her __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   son
B)   daughter
C)   nurse
D)   husband

Question 17

Which term is used to denote a society ruled by men?

Accepted Answer

A)   Patriarchy
B)   Feminism
C)   Capitalism
D)   Labeling

Question 18

The sexual division of labor defines caring for elderly parents as __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   patriarchy
B)   women's work
C)   feminism
D)   labeling

Question 19

Early in our history, problems of old age were considered to be __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   conflictual problems
B)   family problems
C)   personal problems
D)   social problems

Question 20

The early days of the Chicago School focused on __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   functionalism
B)   conflict theory
C)   symbolic interactionism
D)   feminism

Exam 2: Interpreting Social Problems: Aging