1. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 An Introduction to Human Services: Policy and Practice Defining Problems §This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; Any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

2. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 Problem Resolution §The people who want to legalize marijuana have a very different view of the drug problem than those who want to jail marijuana users. §They have different views about the danger of marijuana use. §The way one defines the problem shapes the way one attacks the problem.

3. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 Child Abuse §The woman described in Chapter 5, pp. 153 – 154 disagreed with the state about whether she was abusing her children. § She argued that the behavior that the state department of child welfare considered abuse was, in her view, the healthy way to raise children. §The way that state social workers define child abuse and neglect has a profound impact on parents and children. §It is often contested by parents and advocacy groups.

4. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 Abortion §Abortion is a hotly contested issue, resulting in groups making diametrically opposite definitions of the problem. §The pro-choice faction fights to retain the right to an abortion for all women. §The anti-abortion faction works to make it illegal in the same way that murder is outlawed. §The fetal protection movement is a strategy to try to make abortions illegal.

5. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 Media Influence §When the media distort facts, people are more likely to have distorted views. §The media can demonize groups of people such as people with AIDS and welfare recipients. §Conservative think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute helped to dismantle the safety net. §A study by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) showed that press coverage of welfare in 1994 and 1995 generally favored the get tough approach.

6. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 Media Coverage §The FAIR study of media coverage of welfare showed that recipients were seldom interviewed. §The media choice of recipients to be interviewed often reinforced popular stereotypes of welfare. §Media coverage was particularly harsh on teen parents. §The media generally interviewed officials rather than research and advocacy groups.

7. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 Print Media §National magazines were slow to pay attention to AIDS. §The first coverage of AIDS focused on the homosexual life style. §This encouraged readers to think that AIDS happens to “them,” not to “us.” §When some celebrities announced they had AIDS, it began to be seen as a disease of the normal.