Question

What do you think that Guthman means when she says that the facts of the environmental degradation are socially constructed?

a) Environmental degradation is a subjective concept influenced by societal beliefs
b) Environmental degradation is an objective reality unaffected by social perspectives
c) Facts about environmental degradation are universal and unchanging
d) The term socially constructed is not applicable to environmental degradation

Answer 1

Guthman implies that our understanding of environmental degradation is shaped by societal beliefs, making it a subjective concept influenced by social construction.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Guthman says that the facts of environmental degradation are socially constructed, she means that environmental degradation is a subjective concept influenced by societal beliefs (option a).

This interpretation suggests that while environmental degradation is a real and observable phenomenon, our understanding, and therefore the facts we recognize about it, are shaped by sociocultural perspectives, values, and beliefs. This is consistent with the broader sociological perspective that our reality, including how we perceive and respond to environmental issues, is constructed through social interactions.