Compare the number and quality of public facilities such as playgrounds and libraries in various parts of your community. How is the distribution of public facilities related to the socioeconomic status of neighborhoods? Why does this relationship exist?

Locate webcams in your region or community by searching http://www.webcamsearch.com. Who has set up these webcams? For what purposes? How might they be used to strengthen ties among family members, friendship networks, special-interest groups, and so forth?

1. Do you think the promise of freedom and equality will be realized in the 21st century? Why or why not? 2. Is a science of society possible? If you agree that such a science is possible, what are its advantages over common sense? What are its limitations?

Do you think different theories are useful in explaining different types of deviance and crime? Or do you think that one or two theories explain all types of deviance and crime, whereas other theories are not very illuminating? Justify your answer using logic and evidence.

1. What is the connection between objectivity and subjectivity in sociological research? 2. What criteria do sociologists apply to select one method of data collection over another? 3. What are the methodological strengths and weaknesses of various methods of data collection?

Are you a feminist? If so, which of the types of feminism discussed in this chapter do you find most appealing? Why? If not, what do you find objectionable about feminism? In either case, what is the ideal form of gender relations in your opinion? Why do you think this form is ideal?

1. Is it accurate to say that people always act selfishly to maximize their rewards and minimize their losses? Why or why not? 2. In what sense (if any) is it reasonable to claim that all of social life consists of role acting and that we have no true self, just an ensemble of roles?

In your opinion, how meritocratic were the schools you attended? Did the most talented students tend to perform best? Did material advantages and parental support help the best students? Did material disadvantages and lack of parental support hinder the achievements of weaker students?

1. Analyze any recent election. What issues distinguish the competing parties or candidates? What categories of the voting population are attracted by each party or candidate? Why? 2. Younger people are less likely to vote than older people. How would power resource theory explain this?

Does the sociological study of religion undermine ones religious faith, make ones religious faith stronger, or have no necessary implications for ones religious faith? On what do you base your opinion? What does your opinion imply about the connection between religion and science in general?

1. Has this chapter changed your view of criminals and the criminal justice system? If so, how? If not, why? 2. Do TV crime shows and crime movies give a different picture of crime in the United States than this chapter gives? What are the major differences? Which picture do you think is more accurate? Why?

Do you think the United States will become a more democratic country in the next 25 years? Will a larger percentage of the population vote? Will class and racial inequalities in political participation decline? Will public policy more accurately reflect the interests of the entire population? Why or why not?

1. How has globalization affected your life, family, and town? What would life be like in a place that has not been affected by globalization? 2. Should Americans do anything to alleviate global poverty? Why or why not? If you think Americans should be doing something to help end global poverty, then what should we do?

1. What are the main environmental problems in your community? How are they connected to global environmental issues? (See Recommended Websites, following, for useful leads.) 2. Take an inventory of your environmentally friendly and environmentally dangerous habits. In what ways can you act in a more environmentally friendly way?

Women are entering the labor force at a faster rate than men. Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and African Americans are entering the labor force at a much faster rate than whites. What policies must companies adopt if they hope to see women and members of ethnic and racial minorities achieve workplace equality with white men?

What influence did religion have on politics in the 2004 U.S. presidential election? Specifically, how influential was the religious right in influencing the platform of the Republican Party and attracting voters to that party? For information on this subject, use the CNN and Time search engines at http://www.cnn.com and http://www.time.com/time, respectively.

1. In your own case, rank the relative importance of your family, your schools, and the mass media in your gender socialization. What criteria do you use to judge the importance of each socialization agent? 2. Systematically note the roles played by women and men on TV programs and ads one evening. Is there a gender division of labor on TV? If so, describe it.

What generation do you belong to? What is the age range of people in your generation? What are some of the defining historical events that have taken place in your generation? How strongly do you identify with your generation? Ask the same questions of someone of a different race, gender, or class. How do these variables influence the experience of a generation?

How would you try to solve the problem of unequal access to education? Do you favor any of the older approaches, such as busing children from poor districts to wealthier districts or greater federal control over education budgets? What do you think about the solutions to the school crisis discussed at the end of this chapter? Do you have some suggestions of your own?

Think of a commodity you consume or use every day bananas, coffee, shoes, cell phones, and so forthand find out where and how it was manufactured, transported, and marketed. How does your consumption of the commodity tie you into a global commodity chain? How does your consumption of the commodity affect other people in other parts of the world in significant ways?