Contemporary social issues
OBJECTIVE
By the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
Formulate strategies for dealing with contemporary social issues that influence Caribbean family life.
A social issue is a problem that influences a considerable number of the individuals within a society. It is any condition that is widespread and conflicts with the norms and values of the society and which affects many people directly or indirectly.
The Caribbean is plagued with many social issues. Some of these issues the governments are having great difficulty attending to. In most cases, these issues have surfaced because of individuals’ refusal to conform to or abide by the laws of society. State three characteristics of a social issue using the definition above.
The following are examples of social issues that the syllabus looks at in our Caribbean society: 1. Child abuse 2. Domestic violence 3. Incest 4. Juvenile delinquency 5. Poverty 6. Sexually transmitted diseases 7. Street children 8. Substance abuse 9. Suicide 10. Teenage pregnancy 11. Alternative lifestyles 12. Desertion 13. Trafficking in persons 14. Care and concern of the aged and those with special needs.
Many of these social issues identified have existed for a very long time. Attempts made to solve these issues lack the human and financial resources needed to deal with them effectively.
ATTEMPTS SUCH AS:
1. The creation of employment opportunities to alleviate the scourge of poverty.
2. Advertisement using various media to educate and sensitise the citizens on the main factors contributing to social issues, such as trafficking in persons, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, child abuse, etc.
3. Requiring local and international agencies to assist financially and technically in dealing with some social problems such as trafficking in persons, and sexually transmitted infections such as AIDS.
4. Putting laws in place to punish people who engage themselves in social issues which are of an unlawful nature.
5. Offering direct help and assistance to victims through various funds and programmes.
THE FAMILY AND SOCIAL ISSUES
The family seems to be most heavily affected by the social issues we are facing daily. Every individual who is involved in the social ills of the society is a part of a family which, therefore, means that a family will undoubtedly be affected. The following are common effects on the family:
1. The family relationship will be affected – the issue may cause conflict between family members as they grapple to deal with it.
2. Alienation by other members of the society – if a member of the family suffers from a communicable disease, society may assume that the entire family is suffering from that disease and so alienate them.
3. Some families may lose important members such as parents (breadwinners), big brother/sister, etc, through the hands of crime, desertion and imprisonment.
4. Family may be forced into financial depression because of excess money spent on trying to rehabilitate one of its members.
5. Younger family members may model the behaviour of those senior members who involve themselves in undesirable behaviours.
DISCUSSION TEENAGE PREGNANCY
Teenage pregnancy and early parenthood can lead to poor educational achievement, poor physical and mental health, poverty and social isolation. Socio-economic disadvantage can be both a cause and an effect of teenage pregnancy.
WHAT, THEN, CAN WE DO?
1. Prevent unintended conceptions rather than reducing pregnancy levels through abortion.
2. There is a demand to strengthen secondary preventive efforts – education, employment and support – aimed at helping the mother and child.
3. It is also necessary that we provide sex education before young people become sexually active.
4. Help them to develop an open attitude and a positive approach to sexual health and relationships.
STREET CHILDREN
UNICEF defines ‘street children’ as boys and girls, younger than 18 years, for whom ‘the street’, which includes unoccupied dwellings and wastelands, has become home, and who are inadequately protected or supervised. These children are experiencing homelessness. Many are: 1. in serious conflict with the law. 2. abusing and trafficking in drugs. 3. involved in early unprotected sexual practices. 4. dropping out of school. 5. running away from their homes. 6. exhibiting types of behaviour that might be detrimental to their social development and health.
WHAT, THEN, CAN WE DO?
Provide children with educational opportunities through informal/non-formal education.
Provide families with ways to obtain a regular income.
Train parents on responsible parenting and family life, especially the care and protection of the young.
Provide immediate protection from all sorts of violence, health hazards and insecurities to which they are exposed, prior to any further action directed towards them.
Shelter child victims of physical and sexual violence, as well as abandoned children and runaways
Establish a children’s hotline which may serve a very important purpose – a network of children to combat violence against children.
ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE
Alternative lifestyle is anything that deviates from the expected and usual monogamous, heterosexual marriage. The variations, labels and titles are endless.
WHAT, THEN, CAN WE DO?
People need to be informed about the variations, labels and titles.
We must be tolerant; even when we are not in agreement with these lifestyles, we should not be abusive in any way. However, there is nothing wrong in letting people know how we feel in a decent and peaceful way.
Persons who practise this lifestyle must also realise that they form a subculture and their behaviour will come as a culture shock to many; they, too, must be tolerant. Do not flaunt your unusual behaviour. 1. Define the term ‘social issue’. 2. Suggest three ways in which you can decide a social issues.
3. Based on the list given above from the syllabus, identify five social issues that affect most individuals in your community. Give three reasons why you have chosen these social issues, then explain, giving examples, the effects of these social issues on the individual and society.