Edited by James Ciment
Includes: Topic Finder, A-Z entries, tables, figures, chronologies, glossaries, references and Internet sources, primary documents, master bibliography
Reviews:
“More than 150 key social issues confronting the United States are covered.... The set covers each topic in impressive detail.... A good buy for libraries catering to students of history and social science.” Library Journal
“[A] well-executed introduction to the political, social and economic problems facing the United States today.... This excellent tool will serve readers in high school, public and college libraries.” Gale Reference Reviews
“[P]rovides a rich source of information on social issues in American society.... The entries are clear and well written, treating each topic succinctly and at the same time giving full attention to the central concepts of the issue.... [M]akes an excellent starting point for undergraduates searching for information on social issues; they will find not only succinct summaries of the concepts, but also some important data and references to pursue for more depth. Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and general readers.” Choice
“The content of the encyclopedia is outstanding and a pleasure to read. Entries... pack a tremendous amount of information into a small number of pages. ... Social Issues in America provides the substance of an issue in an efficient and thought-provoking way. Recommended.” Reference & User Services Quarterly
“Social Issues in America: An Encyclopedia has been designed for ease of use and with the intent of being a helpful starting point for exploring high interest issues. That it succeeds so effectively is a compliment to Mr. Ciment and his collaborators. Libraries where social issues are an area of interest or a focus of student research would be well served by considering this set.” Against the Grain
Description: Comprehensive in scope, packed with information, and up-to-date in coverage, this monumental compilation is a one-source reference for anyone researching the essential terms and concepts, historical antecedents, and contemporary expressions of major issues confronting American society.
More than 170 entries cover the full range of hotly contested social issues in America today—everything from abortion, academic freedom, and affirmative action to consumer debt, homeland security, illegal immigration, poverty and wealth, reproductive rights, and terrorism. Each entry discusses the historical origins of a particular debate or controversy; the means for dealing with it in the past; current perspectives and arguments; and the implications for society in the near- and long-term future. In addition to an in-depth discussion and analysis, entries include tables and figures, a chronology, list of published references and Internet resources, glossary, and selection of pertinent primary documents. An extensive Master Bibliography provides an unparalleled research tool for further exploration.
Contents:
Abortion and Reproductive Issues
Academic Freedom
Adoption
Advertising, Children’s
Affirmative Action
Ageism
AIDS/HIV
Air Pollution
Air Travel: Safety, Security, and Service
Alcohol and Alcoholism
Animal Rights
Anti-Muslim Discrimination and Violence
Anti-Semitism
Arson
Arts Funding and Censorship
At-Risk Students: Higher Education
Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder
Autism
Automobile and Highway Safety
Bilingualism
Birth Control
Campaign Finance Reform
Cancer
Capital Punishment
Census Issues
Cheating, Academic
Child Abuse and Molestation
Child Labor
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Church-State Separation
Civil Liberties
Civil Rights
Coastal Pollution and Wetlands Protection
College Sports
Computer Crime and Hacking
Consumer Debt and Bankruptcy
Corporal Punishment
Corporate Crime
Corporate Downsizing
Crime
Criminal Rights
“Cults” and Alternative Religions
Defense Spending and Preparedness
Deforestation and Logging
Disability Rights
Divorce and Child Custody
Domestic Surveillance
Domestic Violence
Drought and Aquifer Depletion
Drug Abuse
Drugs, War on
Eating Disorders
Energy Dependency
Environmental Justice
Environmentally Induced Illnesses
Euthanasia
Evolution Education
Extinction and Species Loss: Biota Invasion and Habitat Destruction
Farm Issues
Food and Drug Safety
Foster Care
Gambling
Gangs
Gay and Lesbian Rights
Genetic Engineering
Gentrification
Global Warming
Gulf War Syndrome and Other Veterans’ Illnesses
Gun Violence and Gun Control
Hate Crimes
Hate Radio and Internet
Hate Speech
Health Care Reform
Heart Disease and Cardiology
Homelessness
Housing, Affordable
Human Experimentation
Identity Theft
Immigration Policy and Law
Immigration, Illegal
Indoor Air Pollution
Infectious Disease and Epidemics
Infrastructure Deterioration
Intellectual Property Rights
Journalistic Ethics
Judicial Reform
Juvenile Justice
Legal Services for the Poor
Literacy
Mandatory Sentencing
Marijuana
Mass Transit
Media Bias
Media Consolidation
Media Sex and Violence
Medical Malpractice Reform
Medicare and Medicaid Reform
Medicine, Complementary and Alternative
Mental Illness
Migrant Workers
Militia Movement
Minimum and Living Wages
Money Laundering
Native Americans and Government Policy
Natural Disasters and Disaster Relief
Needle Exchange Programs
Noise Pollution
Not in My Backyard (NIMBY) Issues
Nuclear Power and Waste
Nuclear Weapons
Obesity
Occupational Safety and Health
Organ and Tissue Transplants
Organic Foods
Organized Crime
Plagiarism, Literary and Artistic
Police Abuse and Corruption
Pornography
Poverty and Wealth
Prison Reform and Prisoner Rights
Privacy
Prostitution
Public Opinion Polling
Racial Profiling
Rape
Recycling and Conservation
Redlining, Loan Discrimination, and Predatory Lending
Rioting
School Standards and Testing
School Violence
School Vouchers and Privatization
Scientific Research Ethics
Secrecy, Government
Sex Education
Sexual Harassment
Single Parenting and Out-of-Wedlock Births
Social Security Reform
Space Exploration
Special Education
Stem Cell Research
Stress
Students’ Rights
Suicide
Superstores vs. Main Street
Sweatshops
Taxes and Tax Reform
Term Limits
Terrorism, Domestic
Terrorism, Foreign
Terrorism, War on
Tobacco
Tort Reform
Torture
Toxic Waste
Traffic Congestion
Unemployment
Unions
Urban Sprawl
Veterans Care and Benefits
Voluntarism and Volunteering
Voting Issues
Waste Disposal
Water Pollution
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Welfare and Welfare Reform
Wilderness Protection
Women’s Rights
Xenophobia and Nativism
