The Great American Recession: Sociological Insights on Blame and Pain

Abstract

The recent recession is likely to rank as the most significant financial crisis in our lifetimes, but sociologists have powerful tools for understanding this devastating development. Drawing on theoretical perspectives and empirical data, this article focuses on ordinary Americans who have suffered during trying times. First, one popular set of political narratives is shown to fit the sociological model of “blaming the victim.” Second, General Social Survey data from 1991 and 2004 are used to counter charges of widespread consumer opportunism and to expose the serious systemic vulnerabilities that existed for Americans before the recession.