"[C]onsists of fourteen case studies of contemporary problems, ranging from pet grief to teen suicide to natural disasters to our current financial crisis. Introductory and concluding chapters outline the constructionists perspective and explain its strengths and weaknesses."--P. ix. Includes bibliographical references (p. 295-329) and index.
Contents:
Preface -- Introduction -- Studying the construction of social problems / Scott R. Harris -- pt. 1, The nature of claims: Teen suicide : a tale of two communities / Marguerite L. O'Leary and Joel Best -- Cell phone use while driving : claimsmaking in the media / Peter F. Parilla -- pt. 2, Claimsmakers: The pet grief industry : framing the problem of pet death / Nancy Berns -- The movement linking vaccines to autism : parents and the internet / Victor W. Perez -- Old skeletons, pagans, and museums : why ancient human remains are a bone of contention / Tiffany Jenkins -- pt. 3, Questioning experts: Wankers, inverts, and addicts : the scientific construction of sexuality as a social problem / Liahna E. Gordon -- Murdered mothers : the social construction of troubling statistics / Keith Roberts Johnson -- Prophets in the wilderness : predicting financial collapse / John Barnshaw -- pt. 4, The role of the media: Abortion and adoption : "choosing life" and the problem of regret / Jennifer L. Dunn -- The evolution of internet addiction / David Schweingruber and Michelle Horstmeier -- Breaking news on "Nancy Grace" : violent crime in the media / Brian A. Monahan and R.J. Maratea -- pt. 5, Policy outcomes: In the shadow of saturated fat : the struggle to get trans fats noticed / Rachel J. Bacon -- Casinos and smoke-free legislation : claimsmaking about policy outcomes / Jenine K. Harris -- Global policy outcomes : comparing reactions to post-tsunami aid / Lynn Letukas -- pt.6, Afterword: Three questions for constructionism / Scott R. Harris and Joel Best.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.