Socio-Political Knowledge: Social Problems Introduction

Socio-political knowledge Theme 1: Social problems Week 2: Introduction to the concept of social problems What is a social problem? A condition that: affects large numbers of people in a society, and is generally recognised to be harmful or undesirable. What implicit claims are...

Socio-political knowledge Theme 1: Social problems Week 2: Introduction to the concept of social problems What is a social problem? A condition that: affects large numbers of people in a society, and is generally recognised to be harmful or undesirable. What implicit claims are made when we say that something is a social problem? Something is fundamentally wrong It affects a large number of people The situation can be changed through human intervention Someone should intervene to change the situation Give some examples of social problems commonly studied by sociologists. Poverty and inequality Crime and anti-social behaviour Domestic violence and sexual abuse Addictions (alcoholism, drug addiction etc.) Discrimination (by gender, ethnicity, religion etc.) What is the objectivist approach to social problems? The primary focus is to identify and analyse the conditions that constitute the social problem. What are some key research questions that objectivist approaches to social problems try to answer? What causes X? Who is harmed by X? What harm do they suffer? What can be done to reduce X? What is the social constructionist approach to social problems? The social constructivist approach states that a condition only becomes a social problem when it is defined as one by society. Social constructivists examine the social processes by which certain conditions come to be regarded as social problems. They consider why some conditions and not others get defined as social problems. Which two sociologists gave the classic statement of social constructionism in their book Constructing Social Problems (1977)? Malcom Spector and John Kitsuse What are some key research questions that social constructionist approaches to social problems try to answer? How did X come to be defined as a social problem? Why was X defined as a social problem at a certain time – why not earlier/later? Who were the main actors pushing for X to be defined as a social problem? Why were they successful? What do claims-makers do? What types of societal actors act as claims-makers? Claims-makers are individuals or groups who actively work to define a condition as a social problem. Common examples of claims-makers: Social movement activists Scientists (including social scientists) The mass media Politicians How can culture affect perceptions and definitions of social problems? Differences between collectivist and individualist societies E.g. in an individualist society poverty might be seen as the individual’s own fault/responsibility, and therefore might not be perceived as a social problem. Cultural norms affect whether something is seen as a problem E.g. Excessive alcohol consumption – can be seen as socially acceptable behaviour or deviant behaviour depending on the culture. E.g. In patriarchal societies discrimination or violence against women might be seen as acceptable. Why is it important to take account of the local culture when designing and implementing policy interventions to address social problems? Policy interventions will not be effective if they do not take account of people’s culturally-determined values, norms and beliefs. Policy interventions try to get people to change their behaviour, but this is only possible if we take account of their cultural mindset. If the policy intervention clashes with local cultural norms or values, people will resist it. Solutions that work in one cultural context may not be appropriate or accepted in another. Explain what is meant by ‘problematisation’. How objective conditions are said by claims-makers to represent a social problem. WHY do they consider it to be a problem? FOR WHOM is it a problem? IN WHAT RESPECTS is it a problem? E.g. smoking could be problematised in different ways: Smokers get ill and die (bad for the smokers) Passive smoking causes illness in non-smokers (bad for non-smokers) The state will have to spend more money on healthcare for ill smokers (bad for the state) What (in your opinion) are the most serious social problems in Kazakhstan? (Your subjective opinion, but give reasons) Think of as many different ways as possible that high alcohol consumption in a society could be problematised. Public health problem (alcohol causes health problems) Law and order problem (drunk people commit more crimes) Poverty problem (people spend money on alcohol instead of essentials) Economic problem (drunk/hungover people miss work and are less productive) Road safety problem (drink driving) Child neglect problem (drunk parents neglect their children)