Inequality & Violence in the United States: Casualties of Capitalism

Why are we in the United States so concerned with street violence and murder and so unconcerned about the many untimely deaths resulting from the routine workings of our society? Far more people die because of occupational illness than are violently murdered and 18,000 die annually because they cannot afford adequate health care. We are outraged and indignant when one child is murdered, but remain silent as thousands of infants die as a result of poverty.

In this fully revised, updated edition of her widely adopted textbook, sociologist Barbara Chasin examines both the interpersonal violence with which the news media keep us familiar, and the less visible, but more costly, structural violence, which the media practically ignore. Dr. Chasin points out that interpersonal violence is inflicted on its victims by identifiable others and is emphasized by the media. By contrast, organizational and structural violence primarily affects the poor, the working class, and people of color. This kind of violence is a result of decisions made by society's elite. It is practically ignored by the media and is rarely prosecuted with sincerity or vigor.

Throughout this thoroughly researched work, the author stresses the connections between violence and economic, ethnic, and gender inequalities. She convincingly links violence to profit seeking and militarism. Written for the college student, this revealing book is thoroughly documented and includes recent statistics and tables, plus new material on the 2003 U.S. war with Iraq and terrorism. This book also explores the interconnections among the media, guns, and violence. While remaining academically rigorous, Chasin makes compelling use of individual experiences to illustrate theoretical points.