Understanding Social Problems

 When we think about social problems like crime, racism, and poverty we often times assume that they are all obvious and recognized. Although, social problems must be developed and agreed upon by a majority in a society. Chapter one explains what makes an issue become seen as a social problem and how that process comes to be. It says a social problem isn’t just something harmful but it’s a situation or behavior that affects many people and is broadly accepted as needing additional attention. There are two concepts that are involved with deciding on social issues: there’s the objective component, which is the real evidence that the harm is actually happening through evidence such as data or surveys, and the subjective component, which is about how people view and react to the issue. For example, sexual violence was widespread long before the 1970s, but it wasn’t taken seriously by most of society until the women’s movement brought it into the light. The chapter also describes these issues follow a specific pattern. First, someone points out the problem and brings it to public eye, then it gains attention from the public and also government officials, groups sometimes may happen to push harder if changes are too small, and finally, when leaders don't respond or take too long to act, they come up with their own solution. The chapter shows that both actual harm and public awareness decide whether something becomes treated as a social problem. 

I find that conflict theory is the most appealing of the three major perspectives at this point in my study of social problems. Conflict theory states that society is built in ways that benefit a few at the expense of many, with emphasizing power inequalities, economic inequality, and social interests as the root of many social problems. On the other hand, functionalism is the theory that views society like the human body, is has many different parts that work together, for one common purpose, which is to maintain good health and steadiness. It focuses on what drives the industries and how disfunctions are created in those systems. Symbolic interactionism touches on the everyday social interactions, how people interpret languages and meanings, and how those interpretations shape our social reality. While functionalism explains how institutions stay in order and symbolic interactionism shows how people define problems, conflict theory best explains today’s deep inequalities in wealth, health, opportunity, and race. For example, the problem of homelessness: conflict theory shows us how homelessness is tied to power, property ownership, capital gaining, political support, therefore revealing who benefits and who is marginalized in housing policies. 

Recent Gallup data from March 3–16, 2025, shows that a large number of Americans worry “a great deal” about the economy (60%), healthcare costs (59%), inflation (56%), and the federal budget deficit (53%), with worries about Social Security, the environment, homelessness, and income inequality also ranking very high. This reflects the objective definition of social problems, which are the measurable conditions that harm many people. It also highlights the subjective definition, as these issues reveal how devoted people are to show that these issues are real and they matter. Through the social construction process, concerns from large numbers of people make this problem so important to be put on public agenda and influences how they are established. When objective harm and subjective recognition come together, it can spark joint action and push for policy change. 

The Women’s Center of Brevard helps women, men, and children who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault. Their services include counseling, victim advocacy, financial assistance, career guidance, job training, and providing emergency and transitional housing. By offering trauma‐related support and specified programs, they focus on empowering people to heal, feel secure, and regain independence. 

Contact Info for Women's Center of Brevard:

Address: 1425 Aurora Road, Melbourne, FL 32935 

Phone: (321) 242-3110 

Website: Changing Lives for the Better, Forever | Women's Center

Hotline (24/7 Domestic Violence): 321-607-6809 

Caption: This indicates the social problem of homelessness. The individual is voicing that he is homeless and starving which urges people around him to act on this issue and create change. There are hundreds of thousands of homeless people just in America. This is a serious problem that we need to address, and we can do so by encouraging these individuals to join the work force or volunteer to earn themselves security and stability.

References:

Chapter 1: Understanding Social Problems

Worry About U.S. Economy, Healthcare, Social Security Surges