A social Issue:

A social issue (also called a social problem, social conflict, or social illness) refers to any
undesirable condition that is opposed either by the whole society or by a section of the society. It
is an unwanted social condition, often objectionable, the continuance of which is harmful for the
society.

According to Thomas Paine the individual's duty is to "allow the same rights to others as we
allow ourselves". The failure to do so causes the birth of a social issue.
Types of Social Issues:

Here are some generic types of social issues:

Social stratification: Social stratification is a society's categorization of people

into socioeconomic strata, based upon their occupation and income, wealth and social status, or
derived power (social and political) social stratification typically is distinguished as three social
classes: (i) the upper class, (ii) the middle class, and (iii) the lower class.

The caste system in India resulted in the oppression of those referred to as Untouchables for the
past 3,000 years.The caste system was recently banned by theUnited Kingdom and the United
States is also planning to ban it.

Economic issues:

Unemployment rates vary by region, gender, educational attainment, and ethnic group.

Social disorganization:

Life is a process of continuous adjustment and readjustment. The social organism is always
undergoing a change necessitating adjustment of its different parts.

When the various parts of society are properly adjusted, we have social order and a well
organized society, but when they fail to adjust themselves to the changing conditions, the result
is social disequilibrium or disorganization leading to social problems.

Public health:

Widespread health conditions (often characterized as epidemics or pandemics) are of concern to

society as a whole. They can harm quality of life and the ability of people to contribute to society
and to work, and most problematically result in death.

Infectious diseases are often public health concerns because they can spread quickly and easily,
affecting large numbers of numbers. The World Health Organization has an acute interest in
combatting infectious disease outbreaks by minimizing their geographic and numerical spread
and treating the affected. Other conditions for which there is not yet a cure or even effective
treatment, such as dementia, can be viewed as public health concerns in the long run.

Age and the life course:

Throughout the life course, there are social problems associated with different ages. One such
social problem is age discrimination. An example of age discrimination is when a particular
person is not allowed to do something or is treated differently based on age.

Inequality:

Inequality is "the state or quality of being unequal". Inequality is the root of a number of social
problems that occur when things such as gender, disability, race, and age may affect the way a
person is treated

Education:

Education is arguably the most important factor in a person's success in society.

Work and occupations:

Social problems in the workplace include occupational stress, theft, sexual harassment, wage
inequality, gender inequality, racial inequality, health care disparities, and many more.

Environmental racism:

Environmental racism exists when a particular place or town is subject to problematic

environmental practices due to the racial and class components of that space. In general, the
place or town is representative of lower income and minority groups. Often, there is more
pollution, factories, dumping, etc. that produce environmental hazards and health risks which are
not seen in more affluent cities.

Abortion:

Abortion is split between individuals who are either pro-choice or pro-life. Pro-choice people
believe that abortion is a right. They believe that women have that right and shouldn't be
prevented from exercising that right by governments. The pro-life belief centers on the argument
that an embryo is a human, regardless of developmental status, and therefore should have a
minimum of human rights.

Crime and the justice system:

The prison system has been unable to keep up with the steady increase of inmates over the past
few years, causing major overcrowding.

Hate crimes:

Hate crimes are a social problem because they directly marginalize and target specific groups of
people or specific communities based on their identities. Hate crimes can be committed as the
result of hate-motivated behavior, prejudice, and intolerance due to sexual orientation, gender
expression, biological sex, ethnicity, race, religion, disability, or any other identity.

Hunger:

Hunger is a fairly obvious Social Issue. Many people around the globe, especially in countries
such as Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Zambia, experience malnutrition and undernourishment.

Alcohol and other drugs:

Drugs are at times the cause of social problems. Drugs such as cocaine and opiates are addictive
for some users. A minority of users of such drugs may commit crimes in order to obtain more
drugs. In some individuals, drugs such as methamphetamine have been known to contribute to
violent behavior, which would be considered a social problem.

Social issues in India:

Over Population: The population of India is an estimated 1.27 billion. Though India ranks
second in population, it ranks 33 in population density.

Caste system: Caste system is a system of defining class or assigning status to individuals from
the time of birth. In India, the caste system is mainly profession based. India has been a victim of
caste system since ages.

Poverty: It refers to a situation when peoples basic needs are not fulfilled. When people doesnt
have the necessary food to eat or clothes to wear or shelter to stay then its called poverty. Life
becomes very difficult for people with income are below the poverty line (BPL).

Child labor: Child labor is a system of involving children in any economic activity. Children at
the age of playing engage themselves into economic activity for their family. Child labor can be
seen throughout the country in a wide way.

Child Marriage: Child marriage refers to the marriage of individuals below the prescribed limit
of age. Marriage is to be considered legal as per the Indian Law, when the grooms age is 21 and
above and brides age is 18 and above.

Illiteracy: Illiteracy refers to the inability to read and/or write. The problem of illiteracy is a
major social issue in India. The problem has spread through-out the country in a wide way. It is
one of the most dangerous obstacles in the economys growth.

Low status of women: It refers to the inferior position of women (in comparison to men) in the
society. This reflects the narrow mindset of the society. It is seen all over the country, but widely
prevalent in the backward areas.

Gender inequality at work: Inequality at work refers to any type of discrimination in working
environment based on caste, gender, race, color, etc. But gender inequality at work means
discrimination or unequal treatment between male and female workers.
Dowry system: Dowry is one of the most evil practices that are prevalent in the Indian society.
Dowry system is actually the transfer of money, property and other valuable assets of brides
family to the grooms family on the eve of marriage.

Alcoholism: Alcoholism is also known as Alcohol-use-disorder. It is a general term for the

problems of uncontrollable consumption of alcohol. It deteriorates the health of the drinker and
in medical term, it is considered a disease.

Superstition: Superstition refers to the irrational beliefs of supernatural forces. Superstition is

one of the major social issues affecting the entire country.

Its a belief of human beings that there are some supernatural causes behind the bad events.
Science doesnt believe in this type of supernatural causality because science always tries to give
scientific explanation for every event. But, deep down inside human beings have their own
belief.

Sanitation and cleanliness: It is a basic problem and one of the important social issues of our
country. People should clean their areas and take care of personal hygiene to stay healthy and
away from any diseases.

People should clean the areas of keeping food; clean their area of staying to promote cleanliness.
People should maintain adequate sewage disposal system so that the public health is not put at
risk.

Religious conflicts: Religious conflicts are the most harmful social issues of today. Sometimes
violence, war, conflict, etc. arises because of religious fanaticism. Sometimes conflicts between
communities lead to violence and crimes. People become fearful and it affects the overall
progress of the country. The lack of communal harmony in society leads to disunity

Beggary: It is another social problem in our country. People who are in extreme situation of
need and poverty are called beggars. The state of being a beggar is called beggary.

Juvenile delinquency: Juvenile delinquency is also termed as Teenage Crime. Basically,

juvenile delinquency refers to the crimes committed by minors. The crimes by teenage boys or
girls are generally done without having proper knowledge of it as they know very little about the
world.

Social issues and mental illness:

A person's mental health and many common mental disorders are shaped by various social,
economic, and physical environments operating at different stages of life. Risk factors for many
common mental disorders are heavily associated with social inequalities. The poor and
disadvantaged suffer disproportionately but those in the middle of the social gradient are also
affected. It is necessary to take action for improving the conditions of people in everyday life.
Mental illness begin before birth and progressing into early childhood, older childhood and
adolescence, during family building and working ages, and through to older age.
Urban Mental Health in India
Mental Health as an issue is neglected in Urban India. According to a survey conducted by
ICMR, every 10th person in urban India suffers from psychiatric illnesses such as depression,
anxiety and schizophrenia.
According to ICMR survey only 10-20% mentally ill people seek medical help. There are
numerous cases where mentally ill people suffered depression, self confined or starved
themselves leading to death. These are not cases of the destitute mentally ill but educated people
living in middle class or affluent pockets.
In most cases patients turn reclusive and often starve themselves to death while neighbors prefer
to look the other way. Many undiagnosed patients belonging to different social strata continue to
live in self-denial and let their illness become severe when it is completely curable.
The doctors blame that the stigma attached to mental illnesses for 80%patients not getting proper
care and treatment. In most cases even if family senses there is something wrong they are
reluctant to take the patient to a mental health professional. There is also misconception that once
someone is mentally ill, he or she will remain so forever.

Social Change:
Social change refers to an alteration in the social order of a society. Social change may include
changes in nature, social institutions, social behaviors, or social relations.

Definition given by different people:

Ginsberg: By social change I understand a change in the social structure.

Kingsley Doris: "By social change is meant only such alternations as occur in social
organization i.e. the structure & functions of society".

Merril & Elbridge: "Social change means, that large no. of persons are engaging in activities
that differ from those which they or their immediate fore-fathers engaged in some time before."

Gillin & Gillin: "Social changes are variations from the accepted mode of life, whether due to
alteration in geographical condition, in cultural equipment, composition of the population. Or
ideologies & whether brought about by diffusion or inventions within the group."

Jones: "Social change is a term used to describe variations in or modification of any aspect of
social process, social patterns, social interaction or social organization."

M.D.Jenson: Social change as "modification in ways of doing & thinking of people."

Characteristics of Social change:

(1) Change is Social:
Social change means a change in the system of social relationship. Social relationship is understood in
terms of social process, social interactions and social organizations. So in any variation of social process,
social interactions and social organizations social change-takes place.
 (2) Universal:
Social change is universal. Because it is present in all societies and at all times. No society remains
completely static. The society may be primitive or modern, rural or urban, simple or complex, agrarian or
industrial, it is constantly undergoing change. The rate or the degree of change may vary from society to
society from time to time but every society keeps on changing. A changeless society is an unreality.

(3) Continuous:
Social change is a continuous process but not an intermittent process. Because the changes are neither
stopped nor the societies are kept in museum to save them from change. It is an on-going process without
any break. In the process of change every society grows and decays, where it finds renewal and
accommodates itself to various changing conditions. The sources, direction, rate and forms of change may
vary time to time but it is always continuous.

(4) Inevitable:
Change is inevitable. It is the human nature that desires change and also it is his tendency to bring change
and to oppose or accept change. Human wants are unlimited which always keep on changing. To satisfy
these wants social change has become a necessity not only to him but also to the society.

(5) Temporal:
Social change is temporal. Change in anything or any object or in a situation takes place through time.
Time is the most important factor and social change denotes time-sequence. According to Maclver, It is
a becoming, not a being; a process, not a product. Innovation of new things, modification and
renovations of the existing behavior take time.

(6) Degree or rate of change is not uniform:

Though social change is an ever-present phenomenon, its degree or rate or what we call the speed is not
uniform. It varies from society to society and even in the same society from time to time. Sometimes the
degree of change is high and sometimes low depending upon the nature of society like open and close,
rural and urban and traditional and modern etc. For example, in the rural social structure the rate of
change is slower because the rate of change is not governed by any universal law, whereas it is quick in
the urban societies.

(7) Social Change may be planned or unplanned:

Social change takes place sometimes with planning and sometimes without planning. Social change
which occurs in the natural course is called the unplanned change. The unplanned changes are
spontaneous, accidental or the product of sudden decision. Usually the change resulting from natural
calamities like flood; drought, famines, volcanic eruption, etc. are the instances of unplanned changes.

Sometimes plans, programs and projects are made effective by them to bring change in the society. This
is called planned change. As it is consciously and deliberately made, there is every possibility to have
control on the speed and direction of change. For example, the five years plan made by the government.

(8) Social change is multi-causal:

A single factor may cause a particular change but it is always associated with a number of factors. The
physical, biological, demographical, cultural, technological and many other factors interact to generate
change. This is due to mutual interdependence of social phenomenon.

(9) Social change creates chain-reactions:

Social change produces not a single reaction but chain-reactions as all the parts of the society are inter-
related and interdependent. For example, the economic independence of women has brought changes not
only in their status but also a series of changes in home, family relationship and marriages etc.

(10) Prediction is uncertain:

We can see some elements for prediction in social change. But the prediction we make is uncertain. It is
because of three reasons. They are:

(a) There is no inherent law of social change.

(b) The forces of social change may not remain on the scene for all times to come.
(c) The process of social change does not remain uniform.

Apart from the above characteristic features it may be said that social change can be qualitative or
quantitative. It is a value free term as it does imply any sense of good or bad, desirable or undesirable. It
is a concept distinct from evolution, process and development which are regarded as key concepts in the
literature of social change.

Factors of Social change:

Physical Environment:

Certain geographic changes sometimes produce great social change. Climate, storms, social
erosion, earthquakes, floods, droughts etc., definitely affect social life and induce social change.
Human life is closely bound up with the geographical conditions of the earth.

Demographic (biological) Factor:

Demography is concerned with the size and structure of human population. The social structure
of a society is closely related with the changes in the size, composition and distribution of
population. The size of the population is based mainly upon three factorsbirth rate, death rate
and migration (immigration and emigration).

Cultural Factor:

All cultural changes involve social change.Social and the cultural aspects are closely interwoven.
Thus, any change in the culture (ideas, values, beliefs etc.) brings a corresponding change in the
whole social order.

Cultural change in society has two major aspects:

(a) Cultural change by discovery and invention, and

(b) Cultural change by diffusion and borrowing.

Ideational Factor:

Among the cultural factors affecting social change in modern times, the development of science
and secularisation of thought have contributed a lot to the development of the modern outlook.
Ideational changes are important contributory factors to many or most types of social change.
Ideas and ideologies together are powerful motivating forces in social change.

Economic Factor:
The economic influences, the impact of industrialization. It revolutionized the whole way of life,
institutions, organizations and community life. The impact of industrialization (science and
technology) we can easily see on Indian family.
Political Factor:
There is a direct relationship between the type of political organization and social change.
Political development in the last two or three centuries (in India especially after independence)
has certainly influenced social change as much as economic change has influenced politics.

Social Change and its effects on Mental Health:

According to P. Flanz Social Change leads to tension and these tensions took the form of
magical practices, personal conflicts, economic disturbances and health disorders. The tensions
especially occur in the family-the smallest social unit of social system and it leads to mental
illness. On the other hand the social change also brings the positive change that is economic
takeoff, abolishment of rigid hierarchies, permeability of boundaries between social classes, new
possibilities of self realization and easy access of medical facilities.