ABSTRACT
Of course, these problems weigh unevenly across the U.S. population. Individuals are affected more or less by them because of their economic position, ethnicity, race, sexuality, and gender. People also reside in places that vary in terms of culture, economic resources, and potentials. Together, a person’s individual attributes and how these are interpreted, along with family background, and the political, social, and economic contexts in which people reside, affect their specific attitudes, orientation to life, and their chances for decent and satisfactory lives. Consider your own situation. Imagine that you had come from a family of noticeably different wealth or from a different region or nationality, or that you were of a different race or sex, or that you were disabled. How would your experiences, perceptions, and opportunities be different?
