Taking sides : clashing views on social issues / selected, edited, and with introductions by Kurt Finsterbusch.

Includes bibliographical references.

Culture and values. Does the news media have a liberal bias? ; Is third world immigration a threat to America's way of life? -- Sex roles, gender, and the family. Does divorce have long-term damaging effects on children? ; Does the'mommy track' (part-time work) improve women's lives? ; Should same-sex marriages be legally recognized? -- Stratification and inequality. Is increasing economic inequality a serious problem? ; Has feminism benefited American society? ; Has affirmative action outlived its usefulness? ; Are barriers to women's success as leaders due to societal obstacles? -- Political economy and institutions. Is America dominated by big business? ; Does capitalism undermine democracy? ; Should government intervene in a capitalist economy? ; Has welfare reform benefited the poor? ; Is competition the reform that will fix education? ; Should biotechnology be used to alter and enhance humans? -- Crime and social control. Is street crime more harmful than white-collar crime? ; Should laws against drug use remain restrictive? ; Are we headed toward a nuclear 9/11? -- The future : population/environment/society. Are declining growth rates rather than rapid population growth today's major global population problem? ; Is humankind dangerously harming the environment? ; Is globalization good for humankind?