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Discussion Questions and Obesity
Discussion Questions
Name
Institution
Discussion Questions and Obesity
DQ1
Obesity can be classified as a social problem due to the fact that it not only affects a considerable number of people, challenges the accepted social norms, and negatively impacts those in power, but it is also socially created. A number of societies despise obese individuals, with the majority considering overweight people lazy and greedy. Further, statistics indicates that indeed obesity has become a significant problem, as it affects quite a solid part of the population, making the issue in question be regarded as more that a problem of one individual. Further, obesity based on its distribution, can be alleged to be socially created, partly due to the culture of eating junk food as well as shunning exercise. Individually, poor diets as well as overeating are usually the common causes of obesity (Loseke, 2004). Societal factors include popularization of unhealthy food, as well as the creation of a situation, whereby the benefits of exercise are downplayed immensely. Not addressing the problem directly implies the emergence of other diseases such as diabetes, and cardiovascular illnesses among others. For the society, it leads to huge medical expenditures, while at the same time depriving society of an able-bodied workforce.
Conflict theorists would argue that obesity arises as a result of the class differences that exist within the society, especially considering that this problem mostly affects the affluent. Functionalists, on the other hand, would view obesity as a failure of a particular social institution or social institutions. Indeed a functionalist would perhaps view the issue in question as the consequence of the missteps of the public health system. Symbolic interactionists may posit that obesity is an outcome of misunderstandings referred to the symbols and means of communication. As such, a symbolic interactionist would argue that the illness under consideration is, for instance, the product of the creation of a mass culture by the media (Wyatt, Winters, & Dubbert, 2006). Personally I do agree with the symbolic interactionist perspective, as the media has played the key role in promoting unhealthy lifestyles and eating. As such, obesity should be solved as a social problem.
DQ2
Homelessness can be considered as a societal problem based on the fact that its doers meet the four conditions with regard to social problems. It violates the core values of the society, affects quite a significant number of people, negatively impacts on those in power, as well as comes about as a result of societal failures. The establishment of dwellings for the homeless is, in my opinion, an appropriate use of public funds. Not only would society be erradicating a social problem that has arisen due to the capitalistic nature of society, but it would also entail a rerouting of resources that would otherwise simply be spent on processing of the homeless through the justice system. In addition, the overriding consideration when spending public funds must achieve the greatest degree of utility. Providing the roofless with homes would without any doubt offer the best opportunity to realize the greatest amount of happiness for those involved, as well as the homeless (Anderson, 2009).
The only concern I have with regard to these policies, is that they could possibly lead to the society that encourages laziness, and seemingly punishes hard work. It could lead to a situation where individuals abhor hard work and simply wait to be rewarded for rendering themselves homeless. It would challenge the very pillar of capitalistic societies, namely hard work. In order to resolve the problem of homelessness, there is no doubt that some a certain degree of help must be offered, but any policy must embrace and highlight the importance of hard work. Any solution must, therefore, involve hard work on the part of the homeless, perhaps even employment to offer them a way of compensating for the homes they have been given.
DQ3
Education indeed offers the best opportunity to create an equitable society, as it suggests the best possible system to reward hard work. It is essentially the only way of creating equal opportunities for all, more so if everyone has equal access to education opportunities. Not only does education provide individuals with the chance to compete for plum employment possibilities, but it also serves to enlighten those involved as with reference to their rights, and hence, it helps foster a sense of equality that might not be present within the illiterate society (O’leary, 1993).
However, the biggest challenge for most governments and societies is usually the creation of equal education opportunities, and this is primarily due to the prior inequalities that continue skewing the system in favor of previously dominant groups. For instance, within the United States, the education system, despite government efforts to rectify the problems, remains in favor of the rich, mostly owing to the commercialization of education. The existing system has further perpetrated the inequalities that existed, as the quality of education is increasingly being linked to costs, and, in practice, the higher the cost, the better the education. This essentially gives individuals coming from well-off families an undue advantage not just when it comes to education, but also in terms of employment opportunities. The government must therefore take deliberate steps to benefit those that come from disadvantaged communities to level the playing field and make equal educational opportunities available for all citizens.
References
Anderson, M.L. & Taylor, H.F. (2009). Sociology: The Essentials. Belmont, CA: ThomsonWadsworth.
Loseke, D. (2004). Through A Sociological Lens.
O’Leary, D. K. (1993). Through a psychological lens: Personality traits, personality disorders,and levels of violence. In R. J. Gelles & D. R. Loseke (Eds.), Current controversies onfamily violence. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Wyatt, S., Winters, K., & Dubbert, P. (2006). Overweight and Obesity: Prevalence,Consequences, and Causes of a Growing Public Health Problem. American Journal of theMedical Sciences
Discussion Post, Involvement of the community in development program
Discussion Post
Name
Institution
Discussion Post, Involvement of the community in development program
Involvement of the community in development program makes the community own the program which immensely improves the chances of success of the program. In this development program, I plan improve public sanitary facilities and clinics to improve the communities health status. I will involve the community in various ways.
First I will create linkage and alliances with existing organizations in the community. This will help build trust for joint action. Engaging the organizations will bring about a broad range of levels of participations (Calley, 2011). Linkages and alliances ensure that the community, stakeholders, and partners involved in your program’s development give their maximum support and contribution.
Capacity building is also a viable approach for involving communities in projects (Doll, 2010). With capacity building, I will impart, in to the community, the necessary skills needed to implement and manage the program. Procession of this skill will enable the community have a say in the planning and decision making. The community can further participate by providing labor for the implementation phase.
Involvement of the community in the initial planning of the project is also critical. Focus groups provide one of the best ways of involving the community concerns in the planning process. Each focus group will be handled by a facilitator and member s in the group will interact and discus their aspirations as the facilitator take detailed notes. Involving the community members in the planning will ensure that the project captures the desires of the community (Doll, 2010).
Resource identification and mapping is also critical. The community members will help in identifying the resources it owns and map them. This facilitates determination of how they will be used in the project.
In summary, I will use alliances and linkages; capacity building; resource identification and mapping; and participation in planning and decision making to ensure that the community and all other stakeholders are involved in the implementation of the health program.
References
Calley, N. G. (2011). Program development in the 21st century: an evidence-based approach to design, implementation, and evaluation. Los Angeles, Calif.: SAGE.
Doll, J. D. (2010). Program development and grant writing in occupational therapy: making the connection. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett Publishers
Discussion Post Week Three – Case Example
Discussion Post Week Three – Case Example
Name
Institution
Discussion Post Week Three – Case Example
Integrity is a critical factor in the success of any organization and consistent service delivery. The unaccountability of the funds that have gone missing at the private agency serving children in a foster care program is an indication of fraudulent undertaking in the organization. All indication points to fraudulent activities by my supervisor, a psychologist and director of the firm Dr. Lupine. The probability of fraudulent deals is a product failure of the funds used in the expenditure to reflect in the living condition of the Forster children. Furthermore, the firms expenditures are being investigate by the state departments.
Staying at the organization can easily lead to my career being stained however leaving the institution at such a moment for my career purposes would also be a selfish move. In my service, I am dedicated to offering help to people who need it when they need it. In this case, the children whose funds have been embezzled deserve my help and attention more than my career does. With so much fund missing and the director under investigations the children need a familiar face around to continue assuring them that all will be well. The director Dr. Lupine, has to step aside from his job to pave way for the investigations and only resume his position once he is exonerated or face persecution if found guilty.
In his absence, it will be difficult for the children and organization to function normally. I have duty to the children to be around when the need someone to stand for them. This is a product of a stand I develop through influence of Kant’s duty ethics. According to Kant action done for duty are moral acts done without self-interest, without inclination and without fear of the consequences (Wood, 2008). The children are part of humanity and need to be treated with respect. I am in a position to do this for the children and it is thus important that I stay around to serve these needy children irrespective of whether the director is guilty or innocent.
These are actions that any caring person would willingly do. My decision would be the same irrespective of my career level-weather I am a new in the field or a seasoned professional. I believe that this is a moral obligation that and according to Kant’s theory (Stratton-Lake, 2000) it can be referred to as an action that is universally applicable. Staying within the organization will help provide continuity of its existence and the important service it provides to the children. Therefore, unless the State authorities close the institution, I will stay around and continue providing my services to the children as well as help in the investigation the best of my ability.
References
Stratton-Lake, P. (2000). Kant, Duty and Moral Worth. London: Routledge
Wood, A. W. (2008). Kantian Ethics. New York: Cambridge University Press