Social Issues : Social Problems With The LGBT
Essay On Social Problems
Social Problems Affecting Society, Big And Small
Alcoholism a Social Problem?
Social Problems Of A Social Problem
Social Problems Of A Social Problem Essay
Social Problems; Sociology of the Workplace
The Social Problems in Communities
Social Problem Of Violence Against Women
The Media As A social Problem Essay
Social Problems Essays
Social Problems : A Social Problem
Essay On Social Problems
Social Problems
The Social Problem Of Social Problems
Social Problems In Society
Sociology: Identifying Social Problems Essay
Essay about Social Issues
Social Problems
Poverty As A Social Issue Essay
Capitol Tech U Doctoral Presentation - April 2024.pptx
Essay Social Problem
1. Social Issues : Social Problems With The LGBT
Social Problems with the LGBT
By
LaTonya Jones
Capella University
Social Problems
A social problem is normally a term used to describe problems with a particular area or group of
people in the world. Social problems often involve problems that affect real life. It also affects how
people react to certain situations. While differences in racial/ethnic prejudices have been explored
extensively in past literature (e.g. Bobo and Zubrinksy's 1996, study of differential prejudices
directed toward Hispanic and Black individuals), little U.S. research has investigated how attitudes
toward lesbians, gays, bisexual men, bisexual women, and male–to–female (MtF) and
female–to–male (FtM) transgender (henceforth "LGBT") may differ ( Marcus, 2015).
Social justice that is face among the LGBT is discrimination. Variations in family structures include
single–parent families, step families, blended families, and intergenerational families. Lesbian, gay,
and bisexual families experience a special risk of discrimination.A major problem gay people face is
homophobia–an extreme and irrational fear of lesbian and gay people simply because they are
lesbian and gay. LGB people are one of the primary groups at risk of discrimination and oppression
(Kirst–Ashman, 2013).
Assess the needs of LGBT Community
Board members need to be educated regarding the issues and needs of lesbian and gay people.
Perhaps other board members are more knowledgeable and enlightened, and
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2. Essay On Social Problems
What is a Social Problem Throughout society there are a multitude of social problems ranging
from micro to macro scales. Social problems are considered something that negatively affects an
individual's state of being in a society. Unfortunately, there are a wide range of social problems
that effect such a magtiude of people. Some examples of nationwide social problems: LGBT
adoption rights, abortion, planned parenthood funding, transgender soldiers, death penalty, and
many others. Some of the most pressing social problems in my community are racism, transgender
acceptance, and abortion. These problems have always been in existence throughout society on a
macro scale. My community has marches throughout the town to spread the word that abortion is
not okay. Abortion in my opinion will never be settled due to the multitude of arguments that
could be presented to make abortion widely accepted or denied. Transgender acceptance has
become an issue due to the fact that we have an older gentleman that cross dresses and is in the
middle of transitioning to a woman and wants to use the lady's restroom. Being from a small town
and having kept the standards from ancestors we do not accept what he is trying to do. Currently
we are trying to resolve the issue by compromising with the individual by just allowing him to use
the family restroom. Finally, racism is especially a problem throughout our community. A lot of
individuals are racist towards black individuals and will not
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3. Social Problems Affecting Society, Big And Small
Social problems affect every society, big and small. When social problems are mentioned they
tend to refer to the problems that affect people living together in a society. The list of social
problems is huge and not identical from area to area. In the U.S., social issues include the growing
divide between the rich and poor, domestic violence, unemployment, racism, and many others.
Sometimes social issues arise when people hold very different opinions about how to handle certain
situations. Strong disagreements on how to solve problems create divides in social groups. Social
problems, eventually lead to social change. Social change refers to any significant alteration over
time in behavior patterns and cultural values and norms. Poverty is a major social problem, which
seems to be a natural condition that cannot be eliminated, at least in some areas of the world.
Some social theorists believe that poverty is necessary either because no economic system can be
perfectly just or because certain individuals are unable or unwilling to support themselves.
Poverty is widespread due to a lack of resources needed to develop the society, as well as
individuals take most of the wealth of a country for themselves by corruption and force. Congo is
an example of this political condition making for widespread poverty in a society. Issues like
hunger, illness and thirst are causes and effects of poverty. For instance, not having water can mean
you 're poor, but being poor also means you
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4. Alcoholism a Social Problem?
The Social Problem The social problem that was identified in the helping relationship is a return to
alcohol use or relapse. The participant in the helping project admitted she had been in substance
abuse treatment twice, but was unable to remain abstinent from alcohol use. This, according to her
is a relapse, however, Miller (1996) identifies relapse as a return to alcohol and/or drug dependent
behavior in a person who has previously achieved and maintained abstinence for a significant period
of time beyond withdrawal. Unfortunately, the participant was unable to remain abstinent for any
significant period of time, therefore does not meet the definition of relapse. Hence, we will discuss
relapse, but the core social problem...show more content...
Milam and Ketcham (1983) report that in 1804, Thomas Trotter wrote a paper that first introduced
the concept of alcoholism as a disease. The essay was very controversial at that time in history and
the controversy continues to this day. Trotters' paper not only challenged the popular Christian
church opinion that the alcoholic is sinful and depraved, but he implied that the alcoholic is not
responsible for his behavior and should not be judged but treated. Trotter also managed to upset the
medical profession by implying that they were now to assume responsibility for treating more than
just the physical ailments that accompany alcohol abuse. The disease concept of alcoholism was met
with such disapproval by the church and a complete lack of professional cooperation that the concept
eventually faded into oblivion. Unfortunately for the alcoholics, they continued to be relegated to the
same institutions that housed the insane and feeble minded, Milam and Ketcham (1983). This
treatment continued until AA entered the dark world of the alcoholic. While there were religious
groups like the Oxford Group, which was an evangelistic Christian movement from the 1920s, where
alcoholics were told they lacked moral principals, along with other forms of treatment which used
barbiturates and belladonna, but nothing to provide the alcoholic with hope for a sober future. Agency
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5. Social Problems Of A Social Problem
A social problem is a condition that at least some people in a community views as being
undesirable. Everyone would agree about some social problems, such as murders and DWI traffic
deaths. Other social problems may be viewed as such by certain groups of people. Teenagers who
play loud music is a public park obviously do not view as a problem, but some other people may
consider it an undesirable social condition. Some nonsmoker views smoking as an undesirable social
condition that should be banned in public buildings.
Social problems are the general factors that affect and damage society. A social problem is
normally a term used to describe problems with a particular area or group of people in the world.
Social problems often involve problems that affect real life. It also affects how people react to
certain situations. Examples can include:
Sexual transmitted desease
Anti social behavior
poverty
Drug abuse
Prostitution
Alchohal abuse
Economic Deprivation
Unemployment
Sexual abuse
Rape
Early pregnancy
Female genital mutilation
A social problem is any condition or behavior that has negative consequences for large numbers of
people and that is generally recognized as a condition or behavior that needs to be addressed.
Social issue is a problem that influences a considerable number of the individuals within a society. It
is often the consequence of factors extending beyond an individual's social issue is the source of a
conflicting opinion on the
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6. Social Problems Of A Social Problem Essay
Social Problem a)What is a Social Problem? My understanding of a social problem is that a
substantial group of individuals consider an issue to be problematic and that the matter in
question does not reconcile itself between the good of the group and what has been done for
society. Although the issue can be advantageous for some members of a culture or community, it
can be detrimental to others and therefore must be examined. b)What are some social problems
that currently exist in society? Problems that occur recycle themselves over time in a society. As
an example, in the 1950's many people believed that there could be a nuclear war at any time.
Today, even though we have disarmed many nuclear warheads, the threat of a war is still a
concern from nations who desire to use nuclear power as a weapon. Another concern is economic
stability. During the "Great Depression" many people were out of work and families stood in
soup lines to be fed. Today our economic situation is still a concern and we have shelters and
foundations to feed and care for those unable to find work. Our government has also provided
programs whereby individual and families can obtain food and shelter while trying to find work. I
also recognize that many have given up the quest to find employment. Some other social concerns
in society are: education, wage equality, and human trafficking only to name a few in the mountain
of issues we face today. c)How do sociologists define a social
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7. Social Problems; Sociology of the Workplace
Full name SOC–220 Social Problems October 21, 2011 Instructor name Sociology of the Workplace
We might have been equal around 200B.C. but those days are over. Political control, unequal income
and unequal status changed the way American families had to break away for economic
independency due to the massive industrialization. Jobs and careers are a core value in American
society (Macionis 2008). Two revolutions, Industrial and Information, changed the workplace for
most Americans, creating a new status quo for them and their families. With the new modern
economy, the quality of life can only be improved. Structural–functional, social conflict, and
symbolic interaction are the three major approaches in sociology that guides thinking...show more
content...
I have seen in the retail business that the managers don't have to leave the stores anymore to
attend a meeting. They simply now have to make a phone call, enter a code, and they are in a
"conference call" allowing them to still manage their stores. There are telecommunicating jobs that
now allow workers to stay at home and earn income. The social ramifications to this new way of
work have changed people for the good and some for the bad. While moms can now stay at home
with their children while working and earning income; this saves them the expenses from traveling.
The negative impact on this is that stay–home–jobs isolate the person from the outside world that
they once had. It is harder to get a promotion and adds to the gender inequality in the workplace
(Macionis, 2008). I just purchased a home and never saw my loan officer; she worked out of
California from her office and home. I liked the convenience of the process because I was able to
retrieve my emails from her and resend them on my free time. The personal contact has diminished,
resulting in some sort of isolation. Society is created by ongoing social conflict between the more
powerful groups who exploit groups with lesser power. There was a fine line between work and
home which now has been blurred from the stay–home–jobs (Macionis, 2008). The pressure of work
that used to just fill the office now is taken home, so where do you find the balance again for this new
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8. The Social Problems in Communities
Introduction Social problems are undesirable conditions that relate to the way in which a
majority of people in society perceive certain issues. Social problems may also be referred to
social ills or issues. People from diverse communities may perceive social problems differently
and have varied solutions to these issues (Stark, 2007). Social problems differ from personal
problems where issues are dealt with at an individual level. On the other hand, social problems may
destroy values held collectively in a society. Social problems that occur in different societies
include; inequality, unemployment, crime, poverty, drugs and substance abuse, illiteracy, religious
extremism, immigration, political related violence and overpopulation. The investigations of social
problems in the society often lead to sociological findings. The investigation and research results
provide a better understanding of the society that one lives in and develop ways to deal with social
problems. The social problems in communities may lead to conflict, which results to hostility
between different individuals within a community or groups with other groups in a similar society.
The problems destruct the values that held the community or society together. People who were
previously united may create gaps between the due to social problems. For instance, those with low
income may be termed as poor while the well up in the community will be considered rich. This is
why social problems should be dealt with
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9. Social Problem Of Violence Against Women
Violence against women is huge social problem. It is not just a women's problem but also a men's
problem. Violence against women is seen everywhere in the world, especial those who live in more
patriarchal society. We are in a world where we see violence against women as a big issue but we
have done very little to dissolve it. Violence against women is everywhere, at home, at the
workplace, and even outside, in the places in between. Violence against women does not
discriminate, it touches every race and at every age. Many violence against women are left without
punishment. No matter how small or how big the violence is, it needs to be addressed. Violence
against women is very much workplace as any other place. Violence against women is mostly seen
when the person initiating violence is in a higher position then a women. This leads to many acts of
violence left unpunished or resolved. Because those initiating the violence is mostly male who are
the boss or the manager, females do not speak up and report it. Females will most likely not
report it because they will not like to lose their job, they would believe no one will believe them,
and it would cost to much drama and talk in the workplace. Just a slap or a push is left unreported
because females believes they are minor things compared to other things. Plus, females in the
workplace still have to deal with sexual harassment. So, most little things are left unreported
because, even though, we believe we live in a more
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10. The Media As A social Problem Essay
The Media as a Social Problem
The mass media plays a large role in modern society. Indeed,
many have argued that people spend more time in "mass–mediated" interaction than in actual human
interaction. The mass media, then, would seemingly be an excellent position to initiate social
change, positively affect social problems, and help combat social ills that are considered normal
patterns of behavior. Yet, the mass media has largely failed in addressing and helping to solve
social problems. As seen through its presentation of the three major variables of race, class, and
gender, the mass media has actually served to contribute to the social problems it covers, reinforcing
...show more content...
As those in minority areas are portrayed and viewed negatively a flight of capital and economic
activity develops in conjunction with the stereotypes. Those with capital, typically white, avoid
neighborhoods seen as violent or dangerous, and money is not spent or invested in these
communities. Once this happens, "the catastrophe of the inner–city increasingly becomes one of
economic isolation more than simply of race". Jobs quickly disappear, and welfare reforms are
doomed to failure without hope of potential employment. Once the welfare system fails the "United
States will further divide into two societies: one multiracial and reasonably prosperous; the other,
disadvantaged and often dark skinned, living in semi–permanent poverty". As the inner–city
minority neighborhoods become increasingly poor vis–Г –vis society as a whole, it becomes
increasingly likely that the members of the television news media will not come from this area of
society and continue to promote the fixed images they have developed of these neighborhoods,
perhaps ignoring other methods to present the problems of the inner–city. Thus, the two concepts of
race and class are closely related and act to reinforce one another.
While failing to contribute to a solution to the problems of race
and class, the television news media has been much more successful in promoting gender equality.
News features often show and expose
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11. Social Problems Essays
A way of distinguishing a realist perspective between theories of social problems within is to
contrast the 'level of analysis' on which their explanations are focused. Many theories that seek to
explain social problems function at the level of the psychological or biological conditions that make
some people behave badly – discovering the gene, chromosome or mental characteristic that
separates the deviant from the normal. Such clarifications tend to operate at an individual level of
analysis, dealing with the certain characteristics of the different and deviant individual. Others
explanations tend to focus on a micro–social level, dealing with patterns of interaction between
specific individuals and groups for example peer groups. (May...show more content...
This is a classic example of social problem construction; but the official definition ignores the most
harmful drugs – tobacco and alcohol – and targets on smaller substances like crack, cocaine, most
commonly used in inner cities. (Blau 2004:7–8) But what would be the right alternative in this "war
of drugs"? The Economist suggests that, "the least bad policy is to legalise drugs. "Least bad" does
not mean good. Legalisation, though clearly better for producer countries, would bring (different)
risks to consumer countries." Right now the United States alone spends about $ 40 billion each year
on trying to eliminate the supply of drugs, but with little or no result. However, those in favour of
the legalisation of recreational drugs argue that legalisation would not only drive away the gangsters
but also transform drugs from a law–and–order problem into a public–health problem, which is how,
they argue, it ought to be treated. (The Economist 2009) The social policy to remedy this problem
emerges from this framework and social problems have been ought to fight earlier. The different
perceptions as to how to
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12. Social Problems : A Social Problem
Kennedy Baker
10–30–17
Period 2
Ms. Osterman
Abortion Paper
Social problems can encompass many things, but they all have two things in common. They are a
social state that disturbs society, and they are detrimental to society. There are four stages to a
social problem: public outcry, crafting an official response, reaction to official response, and
developing alternative strategies to solve problem. These stages run in a cycle and happen over
and over again depending upon what the public is upset about. When you have a social problem, it
affects many people in the society. Some examples of social problems are drug abuse, poverty,
world population, and suicide. All of these problems affect a mass amount of people in a grim way
therefore...show more content...
Then in 1973, the Supreme Court made the decision that abortion would be legal. The NARAL
Pro–Choice America Foundation believes, "In the years since Roe v. Wadewas decided, thousands of
American women's lives have been saved by access to legal abortion."
Women have an abortion for many reasons. About < .5% of women have an abortion due to rape,
3% due to fetal health problems, 4% due to physical health problems, and 4% said it would
interfere with their education and/or career. Another 7% said they were not mature enough to
raise a child, 8% said they didn 't want to be a single mother, and 19% stated that they were done
having children. Two main reasons that women have an abortion is that they cannot afford to have
a baby (23%) and that they are not ready to have a child (25%). Because of women's differing
circumstances, congress made the decision to legalize abortion. They wanted all women to have a
choice when their life is at stake, they were raped, or when incest occured.
Why is This Problem a Social Problem
Abortion is a social problem because it affects many people in society. Whether you have had an
abortion yourself, a family member has, or even a friend; it affects you no matter what. Many
people care about this topic, and that also makes it a social problem. Depending on your view on
abortion, there are different opinions you could have over why this problem negatively affects
society. Andrew Napolitano (Pro–Life)
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13. Essay On Social Problems
Ellie Caylor
Miss O.
Social Problems
11/1/17
Many people wonder, what is a social problem? Social problems are all over the world and affect
many people. The definition of a social problem is an aspect of society that a large number of
people or community are concerned about. They depend on your values or if you believe
something is good or bad. There are two kinds of social problems, objective condition and
subjective concern. An objective condition is a condition within society that can be measured.
Subjective concern is an aspect of society that many people are concerned about. Social problems
are major events that affect a lot of people. The social problem I will cover is poverty.
Poverty is an extreme social problem and it means to...show more content...
Everyone put their savings into the stock market in New York City on Wall Street. Then the stock
market crashed and people were financially wiped out. Factories and businesses began firing
people and for those who still had jobs got paid barely anything. Over 12,000 Americans were
becoming unemployed every single day, this lead up to having 12 million people without jobs.
Also, the drought in the middle of the country decreased the amount of farm production. Farmers
couldn't support themselves because they couldn't grow crops. Kids couldn't go to school because
schools had to shut down due to lack of money. People couldn't even make enough money to meet
their basic needs. Then in 1932, Franklin D Roosevelt won the next election over Herbert Hoover.
This was the change the country needed in order to get back on their feet. The economy continued
to improve and the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) grew at an average rate of 9% per year. TheGreat
Depression was another historical event that put many people in poverty (Great Depression Poverty).
Throughout the years, the world have been living in poverty because of different events that occur.
Natural disasters leave many people with nothing. Hurricanes, Earthquakes, floods and other natural
disasters affect a lot of people. Every year, 26 million people are put into poverty because of a
natural disaster. The tropical Storm Agatha increased the rate of poverty by
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14. Social Problems
There have been social problems throughout history. There have been social problems in the past,
there are social problems now, and there will be social problems in the future. Each social
problem have their main statements, activists, and counterclaims. In the past, we had social
problems like women's rights, civil rights, and the AIDS epidemic. Women did not have the same
rights as men in the past, but they wanted wanted equal rights to men. The main claim for the
women's rights social movement was that women were just as capable as men and deserves the
same rights. The key players of the movement include the women leading the movement like
Susan B. Anthony. The counterclaim to this movement would be that women do not deserve the
same rights as men because they are not a capable as men. Minorities did not have the same rights
as white people, but they wanted the same rights as white people. The claim for the civil rights
social movement was that black people deserve the same rights as white people because they are
the same. The key players of this movement were the leaders of the movement like Martin Luther
King Jr., Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks. The counterclaim to this movement would be the black
people do not deserve the same rights as white people since they are not as human as white people.
In the 1980s, AIDS started to spread and seemly was linked to gay men. The main claim about the
AIDS epidemic was that gay people were spreading AIDS. The key players were health
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15. The Social Problem Of Social Problems
1.0.0 SOCIAL PROBLEM The term "social problem" cannot be comprehensively defined without
understanding the meaning of social itself before joining problem. 1.0.1 SOCIAL The word social
comes from the Latin socius meaning "friend." When you 're being social, you 're everyone 's
friend. Go to a social, or mixer and you might make a lot of new friends. Stand in the corner
pouting, however, and you 're being anti–social. Humans are described as social being ones that tend
to move or live in groups together, Social is relating to society or it is organization, needing
companionship and therefore best suited to living in communities", relating to or designed for
activities in which people meet each other for pleasure. Cambridge dictionary defined social as
relating to activities in which you meet and spend time with other people and that happen during
the time when you are not working: 1.0.2 PROBLEM Problem is a condition of discontentment
resented by someone. But when it is resented on many people, it becomes a social problem. For a
problem to be social, it must involve a large number of people, sometimes groups and institutions
who consider a particular condition as undesirable and intolerable and want to it to be corrected
through collective effort or action. It is also a perceived gap between the existing state and a desired
state, or a deviation from a norm, standard, although many problems turn out to have several
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16. Social Problems In Society
A social problem is the condition or the behavior that have negative impact or influences for the
majority of the people in which it is generally recognized as a behavioral condition that may need
to be addressed and treated. Social problem may consist of topics such as global warming, capital
punishment or bullying that can affect a portion in society. Due to the difference of views, a social
problem may be consisting of a considerable amount of people within a society perceiving a
conflicting issue within the population as a social problem that goes against the personal morals and
societal order in which may call attention to the condition or behavior in finding a solution through
coalition for the common cause. Social injustice based upon racial segregation had always been a
never–ending concept within the American culture because it was one of the moving factor that
contribute to how the country came about in the beginning to where we stand today. As the country
evolved into an industrialized and technological dependent country, the underclass was deprived of
the opportunities that were made available to the upper class through availability successfulness of
hard work and study. While more black people are moving into the urban area of American in search
of the industrialized economy in search of a better economic life alongside the white community; it
increases the competition for employment in the fast involving economy. As black people are
increasing fighting to gain
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17. Sociology: Identifying Social Problems Essay
Identifying Social Problems
The definition of a social problem varies greatly depending on whether an objectivist approach or
a constructionist approach is taken. This is because sociologists that adopt these unique
perspectives will differ in how they view the nature of a social problem. The objectivist definition
of a social problem is perhaps more common sense because it "suggests that the essence of social
problems lies in objective social conditions and that some conditions are problems." [1] This
definition focuses around the evaluation of conditions in society to decide whether they are harmful
to either individuals or society, and then defining them as social problems. If a condition fails to
meet a given...show more content...
[4] This approach is quite unique as a social problem refers to the activities of individuals or
groups, which make assertions towards some harmful condition. The constructionists will focus on
and examine what the claimsmakers say about conditions, rather than the conditions themselves.
[5] This examination will often take the form of case studies, in which sociologists will look at
how a particular public issue is constructed. Constructionism is also interested in problem
identification, or its perception and definition. Of interest is how certain conditions come to be
defined as problems by certain groups, as this usually reflects an issue of power that this group
stands to lose or benefit from. Typification, or the characterization of a problem's nature [6] is also
important to sociologists. Typification will take the common forms of assuming a particular
orientation for a problem, in order to provide a solution, as well as using typifying examples to
capture public attention. Examples of this can be found later in this paper, in the discussion of Best's
logical structure of claimsmaking as applied to child sexual abuse. While constructionists agree that
social problems are a subjective phenomenon, there is a division among them over the nature of
constructionism, which manifests into
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18. Essay about Social Issues
Poverty, violence, crime and racism are major social problems. If we look at the definition of
what a social problem is, according to James M. Henslin,"A social problem isan aspect of society
that people are concerned about and would like changed. Social problems begin with an objective
condition, some aspect of society that can be measured or experienced...The second key element of
a social problem is subjective concern, the concern that a significant number of people (or a number
of significant people) have about the condition"(Social Problems,2003,p.3). Steinberg believes that
disengagement has what it takes to not only be a general social problem but says it is as major as
the issues I stated in the beginning. Steinberg (1996)...show more content...
The data states,"At the elementary and middle school levels,American student achievement is as
uniformly low and stagnant as it is at the high school level(p.34). The NAEP also presents the trend
of "achievement scores broken down by type of community"(p.34) and from what Steinberg says,
based on the data, there is no way we can fool ourselves into thinking that our "educational problems
are limited to poor, minority youngsters attending inner–city schools" (p.35).
According to Steinberg, todays students don't know as much, and can't do as much as could their
counterparts 25 years ago (p.183). This fact alone puts us in jeopardy, for as the success of
America's economy will more and more come to depend upon highly skilled employees, our
competitiveness will be linked more to our ability to bring forth a highly educated work force
(p.38). Because of this disengagement problem, America will fall behind on the international level
because our students are ill–equipped. "Analysts agree today that America will not be able to
compete successfully in the international marketplace without substantially increasing the skill level
and knowledge of its labor force"(p.38).
It's no question that the economic costs to our economy will be greatly due to this trend of declining
achievement. According to Steinberg there are already "immediate costs to American
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19. Social Problems
According to Ferreira (2005:86), four elements may be discerned when attempting to define a social
problem. The four elements are: a pressure (influential) group; a social condition; a set of values and
norms; and collective action.
Taking these four elements as building blocks the following definition of a social problem may be
arrived at: A social condition, known to a pressure group as posing a threat to current values and
norms, that requires collective action to rectify (Pretorius, Le Roux, Lesufi, Liebenberg, Martin
Rautenbach & Zegeye in Ferreira 2005:87).
In the sections that follow I will attempt to clarify each one of the four elements that constitute the
definition of a social problem.
The crux of the matter here regards...show more content...
Today,Africa's rate of urbanization is second to none (Tibaijuka in de Beer, du Plessis, Liebenberg
& Moloi 2005:116). At the eve of independence, during the 60's for a handful of African countries,
urbanization, in most cases, was well sought after (social condition). Western powers had developed
following paths of industrialization and urbanization and the same was thought possible in Africa
(pressure groups). The basic tenants of this assumption went as follows: Capital distributed from the
West to Africa was to be invested in industrial enterprises in centers that wielded political power.
This newly found industry would promote manufacturing and encourage domestic savings. Jobs
would be created and the capital accumulated reinvested in development projects (de Beer et al
2005: 115–125). And thus, by following this path Africa would become self–sufficient (values and
norms).
However, five decades later Africa has failed to develop as rapidly or to the extent to which the
West has. Urban poverty escalates daily. A handful of problems face the African city: insufficient
provision of jobs, poorly delivered public services, a weakening revenue base, and escalating
pollution levels. According to de Beer et al. (2005:116–117), it is projected that by 2030 half of
Africa's population will have become urbanized, most of whom will live in poverty (social problem).
There are some solutions on offer. Urban agriculture, albeit somewhat controversial, has
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20. Poverty As A Social Issue Essay
Imagine having to work seven days a week, putting in more than forty hours, only to come back to
an unstable living situation and still have barely enough to get by. For many people, they remain in
this cycle of poverty for the rest of their lives. There is no light at the end of their tunnel, but instead
more obstacles that they must overcome. Poverty, like other social divisions, is something that
continues to plague society, and while it is most likely impossible to completely eradicate it,
certain actions on the part of people who are not in poverty can be done in order to elevate those
who within that state of poverty, and therefore improve the overall happiness. Poverty, as a social
issue, needs to be embraced and accepted in order for its debilitating effects to be minimized,
therefore improving the quality of life for all people.
In Ascher's piece, the author doesn't necessarily highlight the experience of poverty, but more so
how people who are not in those kinds of conditions respond to it, as evidenced by the two
particular encounters that the author illustrates. There are two responses in dealing with those who
are impoverished. One revolves the idea of isolation, in that people do whatever it takes in order to
remove themselves from the presence of these individuals, and attempt to push these people out of
society. The other response revolves around acceptance, in which case these people who are not
well off are recognized, and treated well out of compassion
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