Heather Long shows the inequalities in American society that start during the formative years of an individual

Heather Long's essay reveals the differences that occur during an individual's formative years in American society. Heather Long points out that children of wealthy and low-income families vary in pre-school lives. Early in life, many children of affluent families attend costly schools. However, children from families on low incomes join informal nurseries and nurseries because of financial constraints. In certain cases, family members can also be left with limited possibilities for early-life skills. The inequality that poor children face in their early lives has a significant impact on their lives when they become adults. Besides, it has an impact on the society making it a social problem. This problem is greater in the United States compared to other developed nations (Long).

Most of the people are showing concern about the inequality faced by some of the preschool children from low-income families in the United States. Limited resources committed to kids at this age also contribute to the problem. Therefore, there are needs for changes that would ensure that kids from poor backgrounds enroll in formal preschools and daycare. Such a move will ensure that the United States compete with other developed nations in providing necessary resources for the kids under the age of five years. Many people including president trump are already taking initiatives to solve the problem that includes increasing resources for preschool children. Some people even opting for universal pre-K and family leave as the way of solving the issue. Solving the problem will need to provide all the children between the age of 3 and four years with the opportunity to develop required early life skills (Long, 1).

Sociological Concept

Subjectivism considers an issue to be a social problem if the people consider it to be one of the social problems and try to find a solution. Thus, the social problem is idea people use in defining a condition that is a problem (Thio and Taylor 8). Such a viewpoint is contrary to objectivism that considers the condition itself as the social problem. The reaction of people to a condition is what makes it become a social problem rather than the condition itself. Thus, we can define social problems as efforts to arouse concern about conditions within society (Best). It requires individuals to consider how and why the condition is a problem. The subjectivist outlook starts from the moment individuals make claims and grievances. These claims need to make sense in the surrounding to convince people and may use a variety of evidence. Without these claims, the situation is not considered a social problem. Therefore, the same issue may not be considered as a social problem in other regions that consider the condition to be normal.

Media coverage follows claims when they are successful in convincing people that there is a social problem. The stage involves people who spread the information about the condition that affects lives of people. The reaction of the public follows that shows the attitude of people towards the issue in the society. Policymaking follows as a way of addressing the issue. These policies will require implementation by people who are responsible for addressing specific issues. Finally, there is need to consider the success of implementing the policies in finding a solution to the condition. Therefore, subjectivism perspective considers the reaction of people to a condition in identifying and determining social problems.

Connection

The inequality in access to quality formal preschools and daycare by American children below five years on became a social problem after people made claims about the condition. The difference in the quality of education that kids below five years get is a regular occurrence in some developing nations. Moreover, regions in the world that do not value education will not consider the condition as a social problem as it may not apply to them. Besides, before the claims, people in the American societies did not consider inequality in accessing early education as one of the social problems. The condition is receiving increasing attention due to the perception of people about the possible effects of the condition in the American society. Most of the people analyzing the situation propose that the affected children may be disadvantaged in the lives even after becoming adults.

The inequality in accessing preschool and daycare among children from rich and poor backgrounds is receiving increasing attention. People are trying to find ways of solving the problem. The president of the United States is one of the people that have to ensure that there are funds for necessary programs. These funds will ensure that there is universal access to the formal preschools and daycare. Such action will also eliminate disparities that originate from varied backgrounds of American children. Implementation will involve those working in preschools and daycares by ensuring all kids receive necessary services. The results from the implementation of the required strategy will be the last stage in measuring the success of dealing with the social problem and make it fade away.

Works Cited

Best, Joel. Social Problems. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2017. Print.

Long, Heather. “Analysis | By Age 3, Inequality Is Clear: Rich Kids Attend School. Poor Kids Stay with a Grandparent.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 26 Sept. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/09/26/by-age-3-inequality-is-clear-rich-kids-attend-school-poor-kids-stay-with-a-grandparent/?utm_term=.fe4fa2a94f20.

Thio, Alex, and Jimmy D. Taylor. Social Problems. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2012. Print.