Sociology

Introduction

Societies both traditional and modern have been assigning roles to men and women based on their gender. However, these gender roles are just but perceived behavioral norms that a given social group or society assigns to males or females (Jacobson & Mazur, 1995). This concept is more pronounced in the form of division of labor by gender. This is instilled by socialization agents who include families, friends, teachers, mass media, and leaders in the society such that the result is that young boys and girls grow up having their gender roles defined for them. In essence, gender roles come into being when biological sexuality is transformed into products of human activity in the society for instance in decision making, education, child care, and lastly professions (Miller 61).

Examples of how these gender roles are pronounced are highlighted briefly below using Talcott Parson’s model (Jacobson 45). With the issue of decision making, men are deemed the best in decision making locking out women in this issue. Secondly, education is considered the primary requirement for men resulting in a lower education enrolment rate for women. Thirdly childcare and domestic chores are considered the primary roles for women thus locking out men in child support and care including their participation in domestic chores and other obligations (Jacobson 46).

Lastly, concerning the profession, high professional qualification is considered only for the man. In reality, the above extremes may not be found but serve to highlight the presence of such gender roles especially in traditional patriarchal societies. These gender roles can sometimes be linked to stereotypes whereby masculinity is associated with power, dominance, and control. However, with modernization and necessary legislation these gender roles are slowly disappearing (Steinem 87).

Role of Women

The contribution of women in the US revolutionary war was a great step in achieving gender equality. Women’s roles were mainly domesticated as housewives. In contemporary society, however, gender inequality in the labor force is still in existence with other disheartening aspects of ethnicity. Women continue to be paid less for the equal work done by men.

The restructuring of the labor force in contemporary society has motivated women to work equally hard and women unlike before have been motivated to acquire power. Power mandates women to take control over resources and hence determine the structure of the labor force. The inclusion of women in political systems influences the paid work (Miller 89).

The changes in the paid work facilitate the decision of many individuals in career choice and venture into high-risk investment. This has also helped in the acquisition of high-paid work within the labor market in that, the production rate is not the same. This however depends on the economic development of a country. Paid work differs from one country to another with gender inequality being more evident in third world countries.

The labor force is the major determinant of gender equality. Women need to be appreciated in modern society for their contributions to the capital market. The girl child needs education in the growing global village (Strathern, 29).

Since time immemorial child care and obligations around it have been done by women all over the world. This is conspicuous in everyday child care at homes, elementary schools, and other daycare institutions. The fact is that fathers rarely participate in child care and housework (Steinem 34). This is so especially in this modern society where human rights and equality are constantly fought for and upheld…

Works Cited

Jacobson, Fred. Sexism and sexuality in advertising. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1995.

Miller, Kate. Male and Female Roles; Opposing Viewpoints. New York: Greenhaven Press, 2009.

Steinem, George. Outrageous acts and everyday rebellions: Owlet Book. South Australia: H. Holt Press, 2007.

Strathern, Martin. Women in between; female roles in a male world: Classics in anthropology. New Guinea Rowman & Littlefield Press, 2008.

Teens experience a lot of biological changes in their lives. It is during teenage period that individuals develop strong desire to have sex. Without adequate information on reproductive health, many teens have ended up with unplanned pregnancies. This paper discusses suggestive measures that can be enforced to reduce teen pregnancies. It further examines the reasons why it is appropriate to reduce the teen pregnancies.

Various measures can be used to reduce teenage pregnancies. Most teenage girls lack proper information on reproductive health. As a result, they may not know the dangers of engaging in premarital sex. Creating proper awareness on the dangers of premarital sex to the adolescents may help in preventing teen pregnancies. In some societies, it is a taboo for a parent to discuss sexual matters with his or her children. This is dangerous since the teens may get wrong information elsewhere concerning sexual matters. Education on safe sex should be intensified. It is imperative to include topics on reproductive health in schools to enlighten the teens on the risks of premarital sex. The sex-education topics should encourage abstinence and contraception.

Though some will argue that giving teenagers condoms and other contraceptives will encourage them to indulge in sex, there is no doubt that the contraceptives can be crucial in reducing teenage pregnancies. Given contraceptives or not, teens will still engage in sex. The teenagers should be well educated on safe-sex methods that incorporate safe contraceptive use. Any method that can help prevent unplanned pregnancies should be embraced when preventing teenage pregnancies. Teaching the teens on effective contraceptive use can also be pivotal in reducing teen pregnancies. Parents have always encouraged the teens to abstain. However, abstinence alone has failed. The teens still engage in sex. Instructing them on effective use of contraceptives may prove crucial in controlling the pregnancies.

Intensive engagement of the teens during non-school days in various tasks may also be crucial in reducing teen pregnancies (Sawhill, 56). It is usually idleness that leads the youth into engaging in sexual and immoral acts. Keeping them occupied may help in reducing teenage pregnancies among them. The teens can be encouraged to engage in alternative productive activities during their free times. This will keep them off risky behaviors that may jeopardize their lives. They can also be encouraged to indulge in charity works, and community service programs during their leisure times. Sawhill asserts that the introduction of after school programs may also protect the teens from corrupt influences (57).

Peer pressure is one of the key factors that influence teens into engaging in premarital sex. Parents should direct their children in choosing close friends and avoiding villainous company. In the peer groups, the teens may also be introduced to drugs. Under the influence of drugs, the teens are more likely to engage in unsafe sex that may result to pregnancies. Parents should educate their teens and encourage them to live positive lifestyles. They should be properly educated on the dangers of drugs early on in life so that they avoid them. Keeping teens off drugs and immoral influences may significantly lower pregnancy cases among them.

Efforts should also be made to stump out rape cases in the society. Recent studies indicate that most teen pregnancies result from rape cases. Rapists should be punished heavily to reduce rape incidents in the future. Providing sufficient support to teenage mothers can also be helpful in reducing teen pregnancy cases. This is much applicable in developing countries, where teenage mothers have forced their daughters into prostitution because of the tough economic conditions.

Studies also indicate that education can be effective in reducing teen pregnancies (cherry, 8). Uneducated teenage girls are much likely to become pregnant as compared to the educated ones. Parents should ensure proper education of their teens.

Teen pregnancies are often unplanned, and as a result, they affect the lives of the mothers and the born children. Issue of teens becoming pregnant is, therefore, an issue of social concern that requires careful consideration. Most teens do lack not only the basic knowledge on child bearing, but also lack resources to support children. This may lead to a lot of developmental problems in their children. Besides, the teen mothers undergo a lot of social stigmatization. In addition, their bodies are not fully developed for pregnancies. Their delivery is usually through the caesarian way which may put their lives at risk.

Teenage pregnancies cause a lot of psychological effects on the teen mothers. Most societies disregard girls who become pregnant before marriage. Such teens are viewed as irresponsible individuals who lack self control. They usually undergo depression which poses even more health risks to them. It also lowers the teens’ self esteem and image. The teen mothers will always bear a sense of guilt, and this may interfere with their development. They may also have feelings of frustration. These feelings may force the teen mothers into dangerous practices such as alcohol abuse and smoking activities. Childbearing has also forced several teens to drop out of school.

Works Cited

Cherry, Andrew. Teenage Pregnancy: a global view. Santa Barbara: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2001.

Sawhill, Isabel. One percent for the kids: new policies, brighter futures for America’s children. Washington, D.C: Brookings Institution Press, 2003.

Gambling can be defined as money wagering or just something else that is of value materially on the outcome of a certain uncertain event with major goal or a hopeful intent of becoming a winner of more goods or some additional cash. Gaming on the other hand is a word that is mostly used to refer to a form of gambling that has been legalized obviously depending on the country in question. They may also often be controlled by a board to check its gaming activities e.g. the Control Board of Nevada. However, in other places e.g. the United Kingdom the regulator of all activities involving gambling is named Gambling Commission. Gambling has risen to become a big activity in the commercial world. With estimates running into 335 billions of dollars just in 2009 of all legalized gambling, it looks like it has become a major stake in the economy.

Since the 1970’s, gambling has been on a general growth around the world. Many factors can attribute to this increase in gambling for example the desire for social mobility, the continuously loosening morality amongst many nations and many other reasons. However, it should be noted that the single most important factor contributing to the vats expansion of the gambling industry since 1970’s is definitely the legalization of gambling which has led to exploitation of legislative loopholes within it.

A Marxist approach in perspective is used in a certain selection of the final section of the book of the reader by Nibert. He argues that through the use of lottery as a form of gambling, systemic conditions constraining the lives of the poor persons in a community tend to be forgotten just little bit. This is because they tend to divert all of their livelihood associated problems and concentrate on the now legal gambling (Cosgrave, 128). With legalization of the gambling business, there has been emergence of state lottery which encourages more people to join openly without any fear of reprehension. This thus encourages the growth of the gambling business.

Indeed since it eventual legalization in parts of the world for example the Northern America has certainly caused an upsurge in gambling activities. This has been coupled with reported cases of increase in gambling addictions. It is no wonder that many people are contemplating on suing the government for legalizing gambling since it has led to destruction of many lives. One such example is Sylvia who is in deep financial problems due to his husbands gambling addiction. His husband of 30 years is said to have been involved in massive counts of bank fraud so as to fund his ever loosing spree while gambling. She thinks that someone ought to make the industry of gambling and the government accountable for their sinister moves towards ensuring that ambling is here to stay and it is legal (Peele, 1).

The arguments that by instituting gambling that is legal would eventually lead to driving out of illegal forms of gambling is just not holding. By the government stating that it has instituted legal channels to ensure that all gamblers are going to have indiscriminate equal winning chances, then there will certainly be an increase in gambling. This is because even those people who would not dare to gable become enticed by the notion of fairness in the gamble that has been introduced by the legal channels. Thus this leads to an increase in gambling

On the other hand, statistically, legalization of gambling in any place would eventually lead to an increase in illegal gambling in that particular place. In United State for example, since the start of legalization of gambling, it has been noticed that in those particular states where gambling has been legalized, there has been a sharp increase in illegal gambling and hence a general increase in gambling as compared to those states where gambling is yet to be legalized (Kerby, 1).

If gambling is uncontrolled, then people are most likely to loose their valued assets and money just for a mere hop of making it big. The gambling seems to have taken to dangerous heights where people could gamble even against all that thy have in their bank accounts. This is especially vivid in the “Brothers Karamazov”, where it becomes a norm for them to even gamble against their bank accounts (Dostoevsky, 401). Should legislations have existed t counter this form of gambling, then perhaps few people would have thought of doing so.

There will always be people who love to gamble away their properties and money. Some of these people do make a fortune out of it but some are usually not so lucky. They do end up with a lot of frustrations, dissolution in families due to the financial mess that some of these most depended upon members do end up in. The legalization of gambling has certainly encouraged the use of loopholes that exist to further ensure that more people are drawn to it. Gambling has certainly greatly grown: mostly due to this single factor.

Works Cited

Cosgrave, James. The Sociology of Risk and Gambling Reader. New York: Routledge, 2006.

Dostoevsky, Fyodor. The Brothers Karamazov. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvanian State University, 2000.

Kerby, Anderson. Gambling. 2002.

Peele, Stanton. Wife Of A Pathological Gambler Seeks To Eliminate Gambling. 2010.

The last decade has seen an exponential increase in the number of video and computer games, and there are clear signs that this trend is not about to change in the near future. This has made computer and video games part of most teenager’s daily lives as the number of those playing these games for various reasons such as competition, entertainment, to release stress and avoid boredom among other others gradually increases. A 2001 report by the National Institute on Media and Family indicated that internet and computer or video games have become ingrained features in most households around the world. Computer use, previously limited to office work, has found its way in various homes as the primary source of entertainment and fun. Griffiths (3) states that the current mushrooming of video and computer games in the market coupled with advancements in the game sophistication and complexity have made video and computer games gain wide-spread popularity in most countries across the globe. As with any new technology or media, specifically those aimed at teenagers and children; however some fears have been voiced on the potential detrimental social, psychological and physical effects of regular participation and, in some instances, a noxious level of pre-occupation with video and computer games; there is increased concern on the potential psychological and social effects that can result from this vital technology. The question that everybody is asking is whether it is possible for individuals to be addicted to games like drugs and other addictive behaviours. This question has generated opposing opinions among various stake holders. To answer this question one must first of all understand the meaning of term addiction.

The term addiction refers to personality disorders, which encompasses drug abuse and alcoholism in addition to ‘impulse control’ and ‘substance related’ disorders, including eleven forms of drug or alcohol substances besides behavioural patterns like stealing (Kleptomania), pathological gambling etc (Griffiths 2). Most proponents of the game addiction concept argue that excessive game playing is addicting like other forms of addiction and therefore leading to the disturbance of an individual’s life and lives of those close to him. (Griffiths 8)argues that teenage game addiction should be considered a form of psychophysiological disorder as it may lead to tolerance, affective disturbance (irritability and depression), withdrawal symptoms (moodiness, tremors and anxiety) and disruption of social relationships. The opponents of this concept argue that obtaining pleasure by playing games cannot be compared with obtaining pleasure from drugs like heroin, cocaine and Bhang. Despite the controversies, most studies carried out on computer or video game addiction have indicated that overplaying of games has negative effects on an individual’s well being. Griffiths (6) points out that the more an individual plays video or computer games, the less likely they were to socialize with their household members; furthermore, the social circles were like to decline, and they suffered from loneliness and increased depression. When time spent on playing computer or video games or surfing the internet reaches a level that it hurts an adult or child’s social and family relationships, disrupts work or school life, that individual may find himself or herself in a sequence of addiction (TechAddiction 11).

To evaluate the potential effects of playing video and computer games on school performance, health, psychopathology, eye-hand co-ordination patterns of daily activities, personality and prosocial applications. a 2009 national study by Douglas Gentile, among United States children aged between ages of 8 to 18 years old indicated that more than 8 % of those taking part in computer and video games could be classified as game addicts based on the DSM criteria used for diagnosing addiction in gambling to (Iowa State University 1). In this study Gentile discovered that most pathological players spent more than twenty fours per week before computers or videos playing games are relative those normal players who were shown to spend half of this time. Others studies employed same DSM criteria as the one employed in studying other forms of addiction like pathological gambling, drug addiction among others. Researchers like Gentile (5), defend the employment of DSM criteria employed in studying addictive gambling by pointing out that computer or video game addiction resemble gambling in that they are both categorized as behavioural addictions and that they both fall in category of gaming industry; are primarily designed for entertainment purposes and are accompanied with either a negative or positive emotional feeling. For Gentile (6) computer or video games are only doomed addictive if they destroy several levels of functioning, like psychological , school, family, occupational and social functioning. Gentile (2) also pointed out that his study elucidated that more than 8 percent of individuals between 8 and 18 years taking part in playing games, were diagnosed with six or more pathological patterns contained in the DSM manual for diagnosing psychological disorders. In this study he found out that most of the addicted game players have spent many years playing, spent most of their time playing games at frequent intervals, were well conversant with rules and rating symbols, were found to have numerous attention problems in school, diagnosed with health problems, most of them reported having computer or video game platforms in their bedrooms, performed poorly academically, associated with individuals who were also pathological gamers and acknowledged to be addicted to games. Another important discovery of this study that has also been demonstrated by other studies is the fact that most individuals addicted to computer or video games were found to exhibit symptoms of attention problems like those exhibited by individuals AD/HD children.

But Wood (3), points out that various authorities have not accepted the definition of video game addiction as a form of mental disorder. According to him the using the criteria for diagnosing pathological gambling in diagnosing game addiction among teenagers is not acceptable since the two have significant qualitative variability between the two entities. To defend his stand, Wood Points out that pathological gambler take part in gambling because of monetary related issues including escape from their financial difficulties. He also points out computer or video games do not have same outcomes like those of other forms of addictions like illegal activities, health complications and monetary debts (Wetzstein 5). He also argues that determines of either positive or negative effects of games on other areas of one’s life is an individual perspective hence should be employed as criteria for categorizing games as a form of addiction. Commenting on the use of inability of gamers to control time they spend before computers playing games as criteria for diagnosing game addiction, he argues that there are numerous behaviours that have become people’s habits that cannot be controlled but yet have not been considered addictive (Orzack 4). He also points out that recent media reports on the detrimental effects of video or computer games have made society see virtual problems. Most individuals take part in computer or video games as a means of coping with their problems therefore any excessive game playing should be viewed as a symptom of an underlying problem and not cause. Wood (7) points out that since there are no studies showing game addiction among teenagers or individuals who are not having other problems, or indicating that video games have resulted in new problems that never existed in the society it is wrong to claim that video game addiction exists. Hence before people start pointing fingers at video games as the primary cause of problems among their teenagers and children, they should have should focus on wider emotional complications that may be pushing these children to excessive gaming.

On countering Wood’s claim against use of gambling criteria as a means for diagnosing teenage game addiction, Griffiths (9) points out that both pathological game playing and impulsive gambling share a lot of characteristics hence justifying the use of DMS criteria in game addiction context. He also argues against Wood’s claim that there is no clear correlation between game addiction and detrimental effects, by pointing out that numerous physical complications resulting from excessive gaming have been recognized including obesity as well as tenosynovitis. For him, spending a lot of time playing games is a clear indicator of addiction. TechAddiction (16) points out that numerous studies have indicated online video games that have no clearly cut finish points have the greatest potential of addiction. On Wood’s claim that game addition among individuals should be viewed as a symptom of other fundamental problems, Griffiths (14) points out all other forms of addiction like drug addiction and excessive and addictive alcohol consumption are also symptoms of other fundamental psychological problems. For Griffiths (17) any form of addiction should be defined not on theoretical context but on behavioural context. Game addiction is a reality since it meets basic definition of addiction for instance it offers a prospective for either a negative as well as negative rewards (TechAddiction 21). This article also points out Wood’s claim that game addiction is not a psychological disorder since it does not affect a large number of people taking part in playing is unacceptable because alcohol and gambling do not affect majority of their victims, yet are considered disorders. Another characteristic of video or computer games that permit their consideration as addictive, is the inability of those addicted to control urge to play i.e. they cannot stop taking part in these games despite their efforts to do so.

On commenting the group or gender that is most affected by game addiction Battaglia (3) states teenage boys are the highest risk of being addicted to games when compared to their female counterparts. This is attributed to the fact that most games are tailored towards boys. She also points that some of the common symptoms exhibited by teenagers include anxiety on when then next opportunity to take part in game playing comes, becoming annoyed when stopped from taking part in these games intensive strategizing on how to play the next game among others.

Whether teenage game is addicting or not it is affecting people’s everyday lives. For instance children are spending more time playing computer or video games at the expense of other important activities like education, house chores among others. It is also important to note most of the games in the currently in the market glorify violence as there central theme which in turn may influence the behaviour of those playing. There is need for more research in this field so as to develop a comprehensive treatment approach.

Works cited

Battaglia, Emily. “About video games addiction.” n.d. 2010. Web.

Clark, Army S. “Detox for Video Game Addiction?”2006. Web.

Gentile, Douglas A. “Pathological video game use among youth 8 to 18: A national study.” Psychological Science, 20 (2009): 594-602. 2009. Web.

Griffiths, M. “Video game addiction: Further thoughts and observations.” International Journal of Mental Health Addiction, 6 (2008):182 –185. Print.

Iowa State University. “ISU’s Gentile authors study finding nearly 1 in 10 youth gamers addicted to video games.” 2009. Web.

Orzack. “Computer addiction services” 1997.

TechAddiction. “Video Game Addiction: is it a “real” disorder?” 2010.

Wetzstein. “are you addicted to video games?”.  2010.

Wood, R. “Problems with the concept of video game ‘addiction’: Some case study examples.” International Journal of Mental Health Addiction, 6 (2008):169 – 178. Print.

Introduction

This is a very essential tool for the social scientist as they relate to historical events and debates which are valid and reliable. Most of the social theories are objective, descriptive and scientific. Other theories are referred to as conflictive because they tend to challenge the norms which have been in existence before and do not go with the conventional way of thinking. Most of the social theories are thought to have originated from the ancient Greek and spread to the rest of the world. Currently, social theories are not just used in the explanations of phenomena in the social sciences only but also in the political science, economics and other many discipline (PEET, 1998, 98).

Social theories attempt to derive and explain the laws of nature in a society. They make a natural phenomenon be understood in the context of a social phenomenon. Thus, the social theories make the natural phenomena be understood by the human beings in their own context. It is the use of the social theories which brings about understanding of these natural phenomena without which, the human beings will find it hard to explain. Thus, the social theories can be said to be important in the explanation of the natural phenomena in the context of a social phenomenon.

Role of theory in Social sciences

The social theories provide some explanation of the occurrence of particular social phenomena. They help the social scientist in understanding of why the things happen the way they happen. Thus, they are a framework on which the social scientists can evaluate the various things which happen. Social theories therefore help the people to understand various phenomena which occur in their social context. Without the social theories, there cannot be explanation of the natural phenomena in scientific terms and thus, the social sciences would not make sense at all (Bell, 2009, 67).

It is on the social theories that case studies are based and carried out. The social theories provide the general hypothesis in the social sciences. This hypothesis is used in the formulation of a case study which will be used to test them. Thus, they provide knowledge on how the particular case studies will be carried out and the probable results. The case studies are a very important part of the social sciences. The social sciences rely on this case studies in bring the scientific understanding of the social context in which the people are living in. As mentioned above, without the social theories, the case studies will not be formed and thus it would be difficult to study the social sciences. Thus, the social sciences are useful in the formulation of case studies with which sociology can be learnt more effectively (Hubbard, et al, 2002, 211).

Social theories use historical happenings and debates to bring about the understanding of the current phenomena. By the use of the social theories, it is possible for the person to understand how a particular situation came about. The social theory will try to look into the past and then compare what has happened to the current. As a result, it will provide an accurate explanation of the current events using the past experiences. Thus, social theories usually bring about the understanding of the present things by referring to the historical events for better and easy understanding.

Social theories shed some important light on what determines the change in behavior of a person. They help people to understand the various things which lead to a change in the behavior of a person in a particular social context. The understanding of the factors leading to the change of behavior in people is useful in the planning process. During planning, the planners will consider those factors which significantly contribute to the behavior change of a person. The planners will therefore use social theories to determine these factors. Without the social theories, social planners will not be able to know the particular factors responsible for the change in the behavior of people and thus lead to difficulties in planning. However, if the social planners have the knowledge of the factors affecting the behavior of people, they will be able to address these factors in their planning which will lead to a better planning (Panelli, 2004, 98).

According to PEET (P 198), social theories form a skeleton on which newer theories are formed. They form the basis on which social scientists will base their studies and form new knowledge in the social science. The social theories will provide a skeleton of the knowledge on which the social science researchers will be able to lay their new knowledge on. Therefore, the social theories enable social science researchers to form new knowledge concerning the behavior of human beings and its evaluation of it. The social theories help in the creation of new knowledge in the social science subject without which research in the subject would be very hard and coming up with new knowledge would prove cumbersome.

The society is faced with a lot of challenges in its day to day running. However, the social theories will try to explain the origin of these challenges using the pats experiences as they try to relate them with the present. In addition, the social theories will help the social scientists understand why a particular problem is occurring in the society. With this, it will be possible to eliminate fear in the society since they understand better the origin of these challenges. By the use of social theories, social scientists are able to make sense out of the happenings in the society which would have otherwise been labeled as mysterious. They therefore attempt to make the people understand why the particular events occur in the society.

Social theories form a very important component of arriving at solutions of the problems in the society. By understanding the cause of certain problems in the society, the social theories will make the social scientist understand how to deal with a particular challenge facing the society. The social scientist will be able to arrive at solutions which he or she would not have arrived at without using the social theories. Social theories use the past happenings to form the framework on which all the solutions will be determined to any problem which is facing the society. It is this frameworks which are built by the social theories which as a pillar in the solving of society problems.

According to Bell, (99) social theories will provide the basis on which the solutions will be evaluated. Any solution to a particular problem in the society will be evaluated on the basis of its ability to concur with the social theory. Because of the frameworks which the social theories have, it is easy to evaluate the effectiveness of the various solutions which have been arrived at by a person in the process of solving problems. The social theories also help the social studies in that they will provide explanations on the solutions arrived at. The people studying social science will be able to understand why a particular solution was arrived at and why it was effective. They therefore make sense out of the solutions arrived at in the solving of social problems (Blunt, & Wills, 2000, 290).

Social theories are a source of knowledge to all people who are studying social sciences. Without carrying out case studies and determining the various aspects of social sciences, a person is able to get a lot of knowledge about the community. He or she will get this knowledge without first going into case studies. Social theories give an analysis of the historical events comparing them with the current events and thus make it possible to get the knowledge which is required. For the people who are just starting to learn social sciences, these theories are important in making them understand the society better and get knowledge on which to build on in the future (Gregory, 1994, 48).

Social theories are important in research in social sciences. These theories help researchers to come up with research problems in the society. For example, by the provision of the factors which determine the occurrence of certain behaviors in the society, social scientists are able to research on the way these factors affect behavior. The social theory provides the knowledge on the existence of these factors and thus the researcher is able to get into research and determine which aspect of the factor affects the behavior and how. If the social theory was not there, it would not be possible for the researcher to know that the factors affect the behavior. Therefore, research into the way these factors affect the social behavior of people would not be carried out. Social theory thus helps the social researchers in coming up with the topics of research with a view of making the theory more understandable and more likely to explain precisely what is happening in the social context.

Specialist in social theory is able to critically view the social theories and decide whether they are relevant or not. As stated by Panelli, (42) they use the social behaviors of the people to review these theories. Therefore, the critics of the social theories use them to bring about their point on how these theories are not effective in the determination of the behavior of the people. If the social theories were not there, the critics would not have a basis on which they will evaluate the theories and thus would not promote the understanding of the people’s behavior in a social context. Therefore, critics of the social theory will be able to make sense of the natural phenomena and compare it with the social theory so as to disapprove it. Thus, it is the social theory which provides the basis on which the events will be evaluated and the evaluation will also critically analyze the ability of the social theory to explain this happening (Kuhn, 1970, 74).

The link between the social sciences and the nature is brought about by the social theories. The social theories will provide a clear explanation on why things will happen in the nature the way they happen. Without the social theory, the nature and social science would be very distinct and different entities. The social scientists would not be able to explain the various happenings in the nature and thus make it difficult to make sense in nature as stated by Duncan, Johnson, & Schein, (324). However, the social theories will try to analyze these events and make the social scientists understand the connections between the social theories and the nature which leads to an increased understanding of the nature. Previously, before the advent of the social theories, the nature sciences were viewed as very different from the social sciences. These theories however brought about the link between these two subjects making it possible for both of the subjects to be viewed as related to each other.

Social theories are used in the social science to evaluate the validity of the various methodological approaches in the research in social sciences. There are different research methodologies which can be used in the social sciences. However, their validity is what is important since unless they are proved to be valid, they cannot be used as research methodology in science. The research methodologies have to be tested first if they are valid and if they can be accepted scientifically before they can be used by that person in his or her research. They are therefore important in the determination of whether they are valid or not (Bell, 2009, 67).

Since the social theory will provide the information on the possible results which are likely to be got from a certain study, the deviation from these results on a large scale will mean that the research methodology is not appropriate, according to Garner, (34). Social theories will provide a basis on which the social scientists will review the methodologies which are proposed to serve the purpose of research in social science. They will evaluate the results which have been got from that research methodology with the theory. Thus, if the results appear to be contradictory to the social theory, there is a high likelihood that the research methodology used is not the appropriate one.

The social theories however present a challenge to the social science studies. First, most people stick to the explanations of the social theories without first proving it to be true. The social theories provide the information which would have been got from research and use of case studies. This leads to laziness in the people and they do not struggle in research to establish the various determinants of the social behavior. If the social theories were not there, social scientists would be more interested in the finding of the various factors which affect the behavior of a person. This would lead to a lot of researches and bring about new knowledge (Castree, et.al. 2005, 65).

Contexts of Theories in Social science

The social theories were designed in contexts which were different from today’s contexts. This means that these theories will not be appropriate in the explanation of the various events which occur in the day to day running of the society. Thus, the use of the social theories ion the explanation of a certain social phenomena leads to a misleading conclusion. The historical events which happened and lead to the formation of the theory are very different from the current context. Thus, social theories miss the context of the activities taking place. If the social theory is applied to the situations in which it was formed under, it would be very appropriate to use it. However, it will be hard to explain a situation in which the players are different, the environment is different and the people are different. Therefore, it may not easily interpret the various things which happen in the social context (Elliot, 2009, 201).

Social theory generalizes all the occurrences in the society as similar. This I because, the theories just provide the same framework for the interpretation of the various things which happen in the society. As a result, the social theories will provide similar explanations regardless of the context of the event which has occurred. This is in contradiction with the belief that all the events are different and that they do not occur as a result of the same factors. This shows that the social theories have a defect in explanation of the occurrences of certain events in the society. They are therefore not very good in the study of social behaviors because of their generalization of the whole society events.

Some of the social theories do not concur with the recent researches. In most of the times, critics have argued that these theories are not valid and they should not be used in the explanation of the occurrence of the social behaviors occurring in the society. Social theories sometimes go against the logic and thus lead to a contradiction between them and the happenings in the society. This is why some of the social scientist never values these theories as they are not explaining t6he exact cause of the behavior of the people. They do not explain the real origin of the personal characteristics which lies in the biological theories. Therefore, they are deficient in explaining this which makes them not appropriate for use in the social sciences (DUNCAN, JOHNSON, & SCHEIN, 2004, 44).

Conclusion

In conclusion, social theories have been in use for a long time. They have formed a very important part of the explanation of the behavior of the people in the society. They explain the factors which drive the change in behavior. Therefore social scientists studying a certain behavior in the society will find it easy for him or her to evaluate the behavior which is occurring and thus make it understandable. They also form the basis of research, whether the research is meant to advance the theory or criticize it and thus promoting the advancement of knowledge in social studies. However, these theories have been criticized for their failure to explain a particular happening in the society as an independent event. This is because they tend to generalize these events without taking into account the various factors which are coming into play in that context. They also have made some people studying social sciences lazy since they provide some explanation to most of the things happening in the society and thus make them see no need of getting into research. This leads to a deficiency in knowledge.

Reference List

BELL, D. C. 2009. Constructing social theory. Lanham, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

BLUNT, A., & WILLS, J. 2000. Dissident geographies: an introduction to radical ideas and practice. Harlow, England, Prentice Hall.

CASTREE, N., ROGERS, A., & SHERMAN, D. J. 2005. Questioning geography: fundamental debates. Malden, MA, Blackwell Pub.

DUNCAN, J. S., JOHNSON, N. C., & SCHEIN, R. H. 2004. A companion to cultural geography. Malden, MA, Blackwell Pub.

ELLIOTT, A. 2009. Contemporary social theory: an introduction. London, Routledge.

GARNER, R. 2007. Social theory: continuity and confrontation: a reader. Peterborough, Ont, Broadview Press.

GREGORY, D. 1994. Geographical imaginations. Cambridge, MA, Blackwell.

HUBBARD, P. 2002. Thinking geographically: space, theory, and contemporary human geography. London, Continuum.

KUHN, T. S. 1970. The structure of scientific revolutions. Chicago, University of Chicago Press.

PANELLI, R. 2004. Social geographies: from difference to action. London, SAGE.

PEET, R. 1998. Modern geographic thought. Oxford, Blackwell Publishers.

Introduction

For decennaries, the issue of gender inequality has been in a manner accessible to or observable by the public reverberating through the formal association of people with similar interests. To date, one of the most agitating issues is the question raised for consideration or solution on gender inequality in employment. Recently, the issue of gender inequality has posited a state of difficulty and needs to be resolved.

However, to analyze the origin of the problem of gender inequality in employment, thorough investigation on this situation and the factors regarding the classification of human society that provides the generative force on issues of the origin of women having complications in taking back equal financial assistance in time of need, earnings, and the possibility of future success in employment opportunity needs to be understood. Though historically there has been a predominant influence on the society by the male counterpart, moreover, there is a reflective effect on the society with the personages who sets the plan pursued by a government or business being dominated by male. Consequently, it is imperative to scrutinize the entire distinct feature or element of this problem. Nevertheless, dealing with the problem of gender inequality in employment, the full awareness that this issue is entrenched in what determines prospective workers and the person or firm that employs workers must be understood.

Definition of gender inequality

Gender inequality denotes the observable or concealed inequality connecting human being credited to properties that distinguish organisms because of their roles.

Sexual characteristics are organized concerning society in the course of the social mutual or reciprocal act and nature through a threadlike strand of DNA in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in linear orders.

Income disparities linked to job stratification

Wage inequitable treatment which is centered on prejudice is the difference between conflicting facts of earnings involving more than one number of entities ascribable to Influences unfairly in the direction of or in opposition to an explicitly stated attribute on every other distinguishing quality of the two groups being tantamount. As a result of gender inequality, wage favoritism is present between men and women, thereby, privileging the male proportion to women who meets the proper standards and requirements and training for an office, position, or task (Durbin & Fleetwood, 2010).

The Inequality or difference in the financial gain between genders aroused or originated from a sustained phenomenon that influences the essential and distinguishing attribute of an occupation and wages linked with employments.

Gender Stereotyping

Pays related to employment will cause the existence of income disparity in the Contact established between applicants and prospective employees into precise accurate positions using personal prerequisites or stereotypical standards regarded as typical.

The appointment of an individual irrespective of gender inequality into particular classes of employment can be backed by the theories relative to the abilities and skills of any individual, especially those acquired through investment in education and training that enhances potential income-earning or the quality that permits or simplifies achievement or accomplishment related to genetic dissimilarity in both sexes. With the terms of the relation reversed, the appointment of both sexes into differing classes of employment is indicated to be induced by the position of a social hierarchy who wish to maintain their job in an organization through the appointment of individuals who are inferior in status to low paying positions (Huntington, Fronk & Chadwick, 2001).

Relationship of Human capital theories in gender employment inequalities

Human capital theories are believed to be the foundation of the biased attitude toward one gender relative to the conspicuous disparity or difference in wages; however, these hypotheses are no more the principal reason as both sexes indefinite but not specified professions incline to have comparable levels of degree in education. The current existence of women within a given line of work contributes to reduced remunerations, to a greater degree or extent once such distinguishing quality of jobs and workers are kept within certain bounds (Durbin & Fleetwood, 2010).

Population possibility is believed to be a component of this unfair treatment. Men have the belief that women joining given occupations suggest that improper, insufficiently qualified, incapable, or inefficient workers are being employed or worse still that the occupation is getting deskilled. Female-dominated occupations are always avoided by men, and they wish that women will also do the same to occupations denominated by men, but apparently, this is not the case (Brewster & Rindfuss, 2000).

Occupational isolation is also associated with the act of having and controlling property in part to the gendered financial gain. Both perpendicular and parallel act of segregating is also called occupational gender segregations which are enclosed in two factors. If we take for example horizontal sequestration, the occupational sex comes in whereby control and or ownership of the diverse physical and psychological quality of being capable both physically and intellectually are to be possessed by both men and women. Genders are always different in some particular way in the types of jobs they are suitable for, however; this is exemplified by the different potentialities. The act or process of arranging persons into classes or social strata in accordant with supremacy, authority, wages, and high standing achieved through successes are part of the perpendicular segregation contributing to segregation of women from certain professions.

Since the 1980”s occupations have been segregated basses on the number of feminists or masculinize affiliated with each occupation. Service sphere jobs are taken up at a higher rate by women as opposed to men.

Nonetheless, as soon as the issues of the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in a job and employment have been understood and described, an average percentage of the gender wage gap will continue in the same state incomprehensible.

Intrinsically, the deliberation of professional sequestration and the theories on the abilities and skills of any individual, especially those acquired through investment in education and training, which enhance potential income-earning is insufficient to comprehend the continual subsistence of gender inequality in employment.

The consequence of the upper limit based on attitudinal or organizational bias in the workforce that prevents minorities and women from advancing to leadership positions is also believed to be a positive motivational influence on gender income inequality. This result implies as a possibility that gender presents substantial difficulties about the top of employment pecking order which turns out to be worse as the employee’s profession advances.

The inequality consequences of the attitudinal or organizational bias in the workforce that prevents women from advancing to leadership positions are predominant within dynamic or high-income professions, with a smaller number of women attaining such jobs. Nevertheless, this result points out the gender discrepancy in the womenfolk about holding high-level positions and high income in their profession. Consequently, with this, there is limited opportunity for women to rise in their occupational choice (Guth, 2010).

Gender statistical inequity

Along with distinct or separate races, the gender remuneration gap becomes different in some particular way with its width. Researchers found that the greatest gap between genders is found among whites whereby women earn 78% of what men earn. In some cases, women earn more than men. The International Trade Union Confederation surveyed gender inequality and found out that in some countries, female workers earn 40% more than male workers (Guth, 2010).

Professional education and careers

In the mid-1960s, the gender gap appeared to narrow considerably, this was evidenced by the number of first-year female students in professional programs being about 5%. Five years later, the figure rose to 45% both in Law and Medicine whereas in dentistry and business school the figure was 30%. This clearly shows how aggressive women were in competing with the higher remunerated occupations.

Considering the doubtfulness’s on the subject of pregnancy, women with the will and intention of carrying out professional careers calling for long-term, the high-priced commitment had to pay off the penalizations before the introduction of the exceedingly effectual birth control pill.

Decisions about education and professional possibility due to a favorable combination of conditions allowed women to more easily control their procreative decision. In most senior positions in private sectors, the boards are always exceedingly underrepresented by women (Marlow, 2006).

Nevertheless, most marriages have been delayed by both women and men due to the availability of reliable birth control systems. This happened so due to the urge and desire to pursue careers. The introduction of the pill furthermore influenced women’s careers, professional degrees and prolonged the age of getting married (Marlow, 2006)

Reference List

Brewster, K. L. & Rindfuss, R. R. (2000). Fertility and Women’s Employment in Industrialized Nations, Annual Review of Sociology. Web.

Durbin, S. & Fleetwood, S. (2010) “Gender inequality in employment: Editors’ introduction”, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, Vol. 29 Iss: 3, pp.221 – 238.

Guth, J. (2010) “Jordans Employment Law Precedents”, International Journal of Law and Management, Vol. 52 Iss: 3, pp.245 – 246.

Huntington, R. L., Fronk, C. & Chadwick, B. A. (2001). Family Roles of Contemporary Palestinian Women. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 32(1), 1-19. Retrieved from SocINDEX with Full Text database.

Marlow, S. (2006) “Enterprising futures or dead-end jobs? Women, self employment and social exclusion”, International Journal of Manpower, Vol. 27 Iss: 6, pp.588 – 600.

A drug is any substance which when taken transforms the functioning of the body of the human being either positively or negatively. Drug abuse is the excessive use of drugs, whether for medicinal or for non medicinal purposes. Many youths currently take drugs to stimulate the functioning of their bodies, thus causing various harms to themselves (Siegel and Welsh 375). Alcohol lies in the same category as the drugs which when abused cause a serious harm to the young people. It is very advisable for all parents to teach their children about the negative effects of alcohol. From my own experience, I have come to know that the youth indulge in drug taking at early ages when they are in school due to peer pressure. All in all, drug abuse is detrimental to young people’s intellectual, emotional, social, and personal development because it leads to dependency.

Afterwards, they continue taking the drugs, a habit which leads to addiction. This situation makes them to be dependent to the drugs to a point that they cannot do anything without the use of the drugs (Golan 283). At this point, it becomes too hard for them to leave the habit and many become rude to everybody against their wish. They get to a point whereby they can do anything so as to secure the drug even if it brings physical harm to them. This compulsion comes because they do not understand the harm drugs causes to them. From my own understanding, drugs cause physical risks to the users whereby they negatively affect the functioning almost every body system. Continuous use of the drugs causes psychological problems which make many young users to face a high risk of contracting mental problems.

This is because drugs cause the body nerves to be excited, thus making users to always seek such pleasure due to the addictive capability of drugs. When young people lack the mechanism to get the drugs, they are forced to seek ways to satisfy their craving to satisfy this urge (Doweiko 14). After it becomes clear that it might be difficult to get money to purchase drug likes alcohol, addicts acquire mental disorders. Many youths are thus affected by depression and anxiety due to lack of the drugs. In addition, most of the school-going young people who indulge in drugs tend to lower their grades due to the dependency on drugs. This situation leads to many young people being socially affected when in class whereby they withdraw from most of the school activities.

In summary, it is a serious thing for the youth to indulge in drug abuse since the drugs are usually accessible to the young people. These circumstances make them susceptible to drugs because it has been deduced that drug tycoons tend to recruit the young people most of whom are not skilled or schooled. The youths lack money to purchase the drug thus influencing them to indulge to drug abuse. Youths should also vet the kind of people they associate with. In addition, young people can be drawn into drug abuse by their friends due to peer pressure as well as owing to weak parental guidance. This is because of the phenomenon of cheap available drugs in the market due to weak and unsuccessful laws. These laws fail to effectively track down drugs. This situation, coupled with corrupt police officials, escalates the drug problem.

Works Cited

Doweiko, Harold E. Concepts of Chemical Dependency. Florence, KY: Cengage Learning, 2008. Print.

Golan, David E. Principles of Pharmacology: the Pathophysiologic Basis of Drug Therapy. Hagerstown, Maryland: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008. Print.

Siegel, Larry J and Welsh, Siegel, Brandon C. Juvenile Delinquency: Theory, Practice, and Law. Florence, KY: Cengage Learning, 2008. Print.