The following are learning resources related to social problems.
What are social problems?
Social problems are the general factors that affect and damage society. Also known as social issues sometimes. 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 the real world. It also affects how people react to certain situations. Examples can include:
- Anti social behavior
- Poverty
- Drug abuse
- Prostitution
- Racial discrimination
- Alcohol abuse
- Economic Deprivation
- Political Corruption
- Unemployment
- Sexual abuse
- stress
- Rape
- Early pregnancy
- Female genital mutilation
- Animal abuse
- The shortage of schools
- The lack of infrastructure
- Bullying
- Obesity
- High crime rate
Marlow is officially the most deprived and worst place of living in the United Kingdom due to its social problems and factors of life. The town was given this particular position because of its frequent social problems, including: High levels of crime, high levels of unemployment, high levels of urban poverty, high levels of drug abuse and the lowest income on average in the country.
In 2009, Adair County had 137 DUI arrests, 160 liquor law violations, 131 drug arrests and 24 methamphetamine laboratory seizures in 2009 (Behavioral Health Profile for Adair County, 2011, p. 1). The manufacture of methamphetamine has been particularly problematic for rural Missouri. Missouri is the number one state in the country for methamphetamine trafficking. In 2002, one of every six methamphetamine labs confiscated in the United States was Missouri (Gundy, 2006, p. 7). According to the Kirksville Police Department, methamphetamine is their number one crime problem. This high prevalence of methamphetamine abuse leads to 40% of school dropouts in Adair County (Gundy, 2006, p. 7).
The main cause of social problems is because of unemployment, which is also a social problem itself. Many industrial towns in england were booming in the mid 20th century because of their shipbuilding and mining industries. When these places were shut down in the 1980's the unemployment rate reached its highest point in English history. The lack of money in these areas attracted other social problems and therefore social and economic development in these areas was stunted.
Discussion questions
- What are some of the most prevalent social problems that exist?
- What are some examples of "problems in living", and how does these relate to social problems?
- How can people work together to remedy social problems?