Introduction China’s One-Child Policy, introduced in 1979, remains one of the most ambitious and controversial social engineering projects in modern history. Implemented to control rapid population growth after decades of high fertility rates, the policy profoundly reshaped Chinese society. While its demographic and economic consequences have been widely discussed, the social effects of the One-Child … Read more
Gender inequality has been one of the most persistent and deeply rooted social issues in the United States, shaping institutions, cultural norms, and interpersonal relations for centuries. From employment discrimination and political underrepresentation to gender violence and cultural stereotypes, inequality manifests across multiple dimensions of social life. At the same time, the United States has … Read more
Introduction on Crime and Mass Incarceration Mass incarceration is one of the most defining social issues in contemporary American society. The United States has the world’s largest prison population, with over two million people behind bars at any given moment, and millions more under probation, parole, and other forms of correctional supervision. Although crime is … Read more
Introduction on Political Polarization and Democracy Political polarization has become one of the most defining features of contemporary American society. While divisions between political parties have existed throughout U.S. history, the depth, emotional intensity, and social consequences of current polarization represent a significant departure from earlier patterns. Sociologists view polarization not merely as a political … Read more
Introduction Oceania—covering Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and thousands of Pacific Island nations—represents one of the most culturally diverse and historically layered regions in the world. Its societies embody complex interactions between Indigenous traditions, colonial histories, environmental challenges, migration patterns, and global cultural flows. From the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia … Read more
Introduction Cultural globalization—the movement, hybridization, and diffusion of cultural practices, symbols, and identities across borders—has reshaped societies around the world. In East Asia, this process has unfolded with unique characteristics due to the region’s long civilizational history, strong state structures, rapid economic development, and increasingly influential cultural industries. Countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, … Read more
The LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United States represents one of the most significant and transformative social movements of the 20th and 21st centuries. Rooted in struggles for equality, dignity, and social justice, it has reshaped cultural norms, legal frameworks, institutional practices, and the broader understanding of identity in American society. From early homophile activism … Read more
Social movements have long been central forces shaping American society, functioning as collective responses to inequality, exclusion, and contested power structures. From the mid-twentieth-century Civil Rights Movement to the contemporary Black Lives Matter Movement, the struggle for racial justice in the United States reveals how oppressed groups mobilize resources, challenge hegemonic institutions, and reshape cultural … Read more
Urban poverty and segregation have long been defining features of American cities, shaping socioeconomic experiences and life chances for millions of people. From the early industrial period to the contemporary era of globalization, American urban spaces have reflected deep inequalities rooted in class, race, housing markets, labor structures, and public policy. Sociologists approach urban poverty … Read more
Introduction on Immigration and the American Dream Immigration has long been central to the identity of the United States. From its earliest days, the nation has been shaped by waves of newcomers seeking economic opportunity, political freedom, cultural acceptance, and the promise of upward social mobility—an idea commonly summed up as the American Dream. Yet … Read more