Social Problems

According to Ferreira (2005:86), four elements may be discerned when attempting to define a social problem. The four elements are: a pressure (influential) group; a social condition; a set of values and norms; and collective action.

Taking these four elements as building blocks the following definition of a social problem may be arrived at: A social condition, known to a pressure group as posing a threat to current values and norms, that requires collective action to rectify (Pretorius, Le Roux, Lesufi, Liebenberg, Martin Rautenbach & Zegeye in Ferreira 2005:87).

In the sections that follow I will attempt to clarify each one of the four elements that constitute the definition of a social problem.

The crux of the matter here regards the awareness of a social condition as a problem (Ferreira 2005:87). The presence of a social condition and any possible problem associated with it is not enough to signal a social problem. Group perception of a social condition as a threat is key. That is, the consequences of a given social condition are perceived to be problematic. The interesting facet about perception is that it is subject to change and finds itself at the mercy of context. A social condition perceived to be a problem of today may have been dismissed as inconsequential a couple of centuries ago. Just as a social condition perceived as unproblematic today may be judged as problematic in the future. This is not to suggest that the awareness of a social condition as a problem only moves in one direction, indeed, what was once conceived as a social problem may later become a norm.

The discussion of pressure groups takes into consideration those who alter public perception of certain social conditions. These groups are responsibl...

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...ing a more sustainable environment. A call upon local and national government to provide adequate policy relating to urban agriculture has been made. According to Rogerson, (in Liebenberg 2005:40-43) in many parts of Africa, urban agriculture is still frowned upon by authorities but in the face of Africa’s growing poverty problem it is being reconsidered (collective solution).

Works Cited

de Beer, FC. du Plessis, MM. Liebenberg, A & Moloi,R. 2005. Only study guide for DVA 202-U. Pretoria: University of South Africa

Ferreira, R. Rabe, M & Rautenbach, E. 2005. Only study guide for SOC 206-8. Pretoria: University of South Africa

Rogerson, C. 2005. Towards “pro-poor” urban development in South Africa: the case of urban agriculture, in Perspectives on rural and urban development: reader, compiled by A Liebenberg. Pretoria: University of South Africa