Population, Urbanization, and the Environment Macionis, Sociology Chapter Twenty-two

2 Demography: The Study Of Human Population From 250,000 years ago until just 250 years ago, the human population hovered around 500 millionFrom 250,000 years ago until just 250 years ago, the human population hovered around 500 million About 1750 world population began to spikeAbout 1750 world population began to spike The world population in 2005The world population in billion persons6.5 billion persons We add about 74 million persons annuallyWe add about 74 million persons annually

3 Fertility Fertility – the incidence of childbearing in a society’s populationFertility – the incidence of childbearing in a society’s population Fecundity –the potential for childbearingFecundity –the potential for childbearing Crude birth rate – the number of live births in a given year for every thousand people in a population “Crude” because it takes into account everyone, not just women of childbearing age“Crude” because it takes into account everyone, not just women of childbearing age

4 Mortality The Incidence Of Death In A Population Crude death rateCrude death rate Number of deaths in a given year for every for every thousand people in a populationNumber of deaths in a given year for every for every thousand people in a population Infant mortality ratesInfant mortality rates Number of deaths among infants under one year for each 1,000 live birthsNumber of deaths among infants under one year for each 1,000 live births Life expectancyLife expectancy Average life span of a countries populationAverage life span of a countries population (U. S. 2000: 74.1 for males, 79.5 for females)

5 Population Composition Sex ratioSex ratio The number of males compared to the number of females In the United States there were approximately 96 males to 100 females (2004)In the United States there were approximately 96 males to 100 females (2004) In India there were approximately 106 males for every 100 females because women were more likely to abort female fetuses and parent may provide less care for female children in (2004)In India there were approximately 106 males for every 100 females because women were more likely to abort female fetuses and parent may provide less care for female children in (2004) Age-sex pyramidAge-sex pyramid A graphic representation of the age and sex of a populationA graphic representation of the age and sex of a population

Figure 22-2 (p. 578) Age-Sex Population Pyramids for the United States and Mexico, 2005 By looking at the shape of a country’s population pyramid, you can tell its level of economic development and predict future levels of population increase. Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2005).

7 Malthusian Theory Of Population Growth Thomas Robert Malthus ( ), warned of impending doom based on population projections Population growth would follow a geometric progression (e.g., 2, 4, 8, 16) but food production would increase by arithmetic progression (e.g., 2, 4, 6)Population growth would follow a geometric progression (e.g., 2, 4, 8, 16) but food production would increase by arithmetic progression (e.g., 2, 4, 6) Result: people reproducing at rates that exceeded their ability to produce sufficient food. Chaos!Result: people reproducing at rates that exceeded their ability to produce sufficient food. Chaos! Limits included artificial birth control (morally wrong) or abstinence (unlikely)Limits included artificial birth control (morally wrong) or abstinence (unlikely) Seen as “the dismal person” because war and famine were our futureSeen as “the dismal person” because war and famine were our future

8 Urban Life Urban life can be challenging and very different from early rural settingsUrban life can be challenging and very different from early rural settings Ferdinand TonniesFerdinand Tonnies Gemeinschaft – close ties through kinship and tradition Gesellschaft – social relations are based on individual self-interest Emile DurkheimEmile Durkheim Mechanical solidarity – social bonds based on common feelings and moral bondsMechanical solidarity – social bonds based on common feelings and moral bonds Organic solidarity – social bonds based on specialization and interdependenceOrganic solidarity – social bonds based on specialization and interdependence Robert Park and Louis WirthRobert Park and Louis Wirth Urban organization based on distinctive ethnic communities, commercial centers, and industrial districtsUrban organization based on distinctive ethnic communities, commercial centers, and industrial districts A human kaleidoscopeA human kaleidoscope

9 Physical Design of Cities Urban ecology – the study of the link between the physical and social dimensions of cities Park & Burgess’ concentric zonesPark & Burgess’ concentric zones Business districts ringed by factories ringed by housingBusiness districts ringed by factories ringed by housing Hoyt’s wedge-shaped sectorsHoyt’s wedge-shaped sectors Industry forms along rail lines, new fashionable areas next to old fashionable areasIndustry forms along rail lines, new fashionable areas next to old fashionable areas Harris & Ullman’s multi-centered modelHarris & Ullman’s multi-centered model Cities decentralize form many smaller centersCities decentralize form many smaller centers

10 Environment & Society Ecology – the study of the interaction of living organisms and the natural environment Natural environment – the earth’s surface and atmosphere including living organisms, air, water, soil and other resources necessary to sustain lifeNatural environment – the earth’s surface and atmosphere including living organisms, air, water, soil and other resources necessary to sustain life Ecosystem – a system composed of the interaction of all living organisms and their natural environmentEcosystem – a system composed of the interaction of all living organisms and their natural environment Environmental deficit – profound and long-term harm to the natural environment caused by humanity’s focus on short-term material affluenceEnvironmental deficit – profound and long-term harm to the natural environment caused by humanity’s focus on short-term material affluence

11 Environmental Terms Rain forest – regions of dense forestation most of which circle the globe near the equatorRain forest – regions of dense forestation most of which circle the globe near the equator Global warming – a rise in the earth’s average temperature caused by an increasing concentration of carbon dioxide and other gasses in the atmosphereGlobal warming – a rise in the earth’s average temperature caused by an increasing concentration of carbon dioxide and other gasses in the atmosphere Environmental racism – the pattern by which environmental hazards are greatest for poor people, especially minoritiesEnvironmental racism – the pattern by which environmental hazards are greatest for poor people, especially minorities Ecologically sustainable culture – a way of life that meets the needs of the current generation without threatening the environmental legacy of future generationsEcologically sustainable culture – a way of life that meets the needs of the current generation without threatening the environmental legacy of future generations

12 "Chance favors the prepared mind.“ –Louis Pasteur