Emerging Issues of our Society

The media has continued to play a vital role in how cultures worldwide are portrayed.  Through new forms of mass media, anyone has the ability to perceive their own views of a country, culture or ethnic group.  Civil war in Egypt erupted a few months ago and American media, particularly CNN, portrayed the self-destructing Middle Eastern country as violent, ruthless and brutal.  CNN reporter Anderson Cooper and other journalists made a bigger mess of things when they were attacked by Egyptian protesters.  As an aspiring journalist, I cannot blame Cooper for his desires to report as thoroughly as possible but when you look at the other side of the equation; I can understand the Egyptians’ reasons for not wanting their burning capital city internationally televised. 

Sociologists have come to the conclusion that the media are responsible for shaping popular culture.  Television shows continue to air male characters more than female characters and although women may appear in music videos more frequently, they are often depicted wearing skimpy clothing to appeal to a male audience.  The same cannot be said for males. 

Deviance and crime have combined to create controversy in a number of different areas.    Debate on criminal issues and controversies such as abortion, medical marijuana, the rights to possess a firearm and others has been the foundation of infinite protests throughout the past 5-10 years.  Is it fair to consider conceding a baby prior to birth an act of crime?  If medical marijuana can save a life is it criminal to purchase it? 

Terrorism, which is defined by the text as “violent action to achieve political ends” is by far the most lethal method of crime.  As one of the most, if not the most emerging issue in our day and age, terrorism is an act of violence which sociologists have studied extensively.  Terrorism is by far the most deviant of crimes and the majority of people view it as a simple act of insanity.  However, sociologists explain that to fully comprehend terrorism, it is essential to review the social structure of conflicts in which it emerges. 

Many fail to address racism, segregation and discrimination as emerging issues in the world today.  Americans consider African American segregation the only example of racism in the countries’ history.

Racism, segregation and discrimination occur worldwide as a matter of fact and a website I visited while covering Chapter 10 provided me with examples of racism in different regions of the world.  Since 2000, the rise of neo-Nazism in Europe has had an impact on a number of countries.  “Far from being a fringe activity, racism, violence and neo-nationalism have become normal in some communities. The problems need to tackled much earlier, in schools and with social programs.”

Racism in Asia takes place in a number of countries; Malaysia, Indonesia, and China to name a few.  Until 2003, Malaysia enforced discriminatory laws limiting access to university education for Chinese students who are citizens by birth of Malaysia.