Unemployment in Australia Through a Conflict Perspective.

1346 Words3 Pages

Unemployment is a social problem in Australia, which affects a majority of society in many ways. Not only can it cause financial debt to families, but from there it can cause family breakdowns, social isolation, shame and it can even lead to violence. The Conflict theory perspective explains how unemployment can be caused by class and power by focusing on the inequality within society. The inequality sequentially predicts that the poorer members of society struggle to find employment, to be able to get education to find suitable employment and are.
A social problem is an issue that is defined by society to be exactly that; an issue. This can range from issues such as murder; which is commonly agreed on in Australia, or to issues such as smoking or loud music being played in parks, where only certain individuals in society see it as a problem. Unemployment in Australia is considered to be a social problem, due to it affecting around 6 percent of Australia’s population (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2014). If unemployment only affected a few people then it could be said that those individuals being lazy or could not hold down a job, but due to it affecting a majority of society it then becomes a social problem.

Unemployment can affect families drastically from suicidal tendencies, marriage breakdowns, alcohol and drug abuse and even family violence (Broman, Hamilton & Hoffman, 1996; House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Workplace Relations, 2000). For many individuals work provides them with a place to social network and it gives them self-esteem and the loss of both when unemployment hits, creates isolation which happens quickly. However, unemployment does not just affect the individual famil...

... middle of paper ...

...ommittees/house_of_representatives_committees?url=ewr/owk/report/index.htm
Johns, G. (2012). Paved with good intentions: The road home and the irreducible minimum of homelessness in Australia. Agenda : A Journal of Policy Analysis and Reform, 19(1), 41-59. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/docview/1032658396?accountid=14543
Magdoff, F., & Magdoff, H. (2004). Disposable workers: Today's reserve army of labor. Monthly Review, 55(11), 18-35. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/docview/213209994?accountid=14543
Temkin, G. (1998). Karl Marx and the economics of communism: Anniversary recollections. Communist and Post-Communist Studies, 31(4), 303–328. doi:10.1016/S0967-067X(98)00014-2
Thio, A., & Taylor, J. D. (2011). Social Problems. Retrieved from http://www.jblearning.com/catalog/9780763793098/

Show More
Related

  • The Problem of Homelessness of Young People in Australia

    641 Words  | 2 Pages

    This moves away from the ‘traditional’ definition of homelessness, which can be referred to as primary homelessness, or homeless without shelter. A broader definition is now considered, which also includes secondary homelessness, moving frequently between forms of temporary accommodation, and tertiary homeless ness, living long term in accommodation that falls below community standards for housing (Chamberlain & MacKenzie 2008). The inclusion of varying types of homelessness highlights the understanding of homelessness to be considered without a ‘home’, not just without a ‘roof’ (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011).

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Karl Marx's Writing Of The Communist Manifesto

    2472 Words  | 5 Pages

    Karl Marx 's writing of ‘The Communist Manifesto’ in 1848 has been documented by a vast number of academics as one of the most influential pieces of political texts written in the modern era. Its ideologically driven ideas formed the solid foundation of the Communist movement throughout the 20th century, offering a greater alternative for those who were rapidly becoming disillusioned and frustrated with the growing wealth and social divisions created by capitalism. A feeling not just felt in by a couple of individuals in one society, but a feeling that was spreading throughout various societies worldwide. As Toma highlights in his work, Marx felt that ‘capitalism would produce a crisis-ridden, polarized society destined to be taken over by

    Read More

  • Homeless In Australia Persuasive Essay

    408 Words  | 1 Pages

    Secondly, I would like to state that the government is cutting funds each year towards helping the homeless, for example, in 2014 they cut the funding by $21.13 million. So its no wonder why we see homelessness growing all over Australia, when more and more people become homeless and the agencies that are there to help

    Read More

  • A SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS IN CANADA

    1323 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to Lee Tunstall, homelessness is a social problem that “has been growing since the 1970’s” (2009, para.1) and has caught the attention of both the Canadian government and the general public (Tunstall, 2009) . Predominantly, the homeless are individuals or families with no permanent residence who also lack the resources or abilities necessary to arrange for their own adequate housing and living (Stearman, 2010). This matter affects a diverse demographic of the Canadian public. In 2003, the Toronto report card on housing and homelessness reported that out of 32,000 people who used homeless shelters, 15% were families, 22% were youths between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four, 18% were single women and 48% were single men (2003).

    Read More

  • Communism in the American Education System

    2386 Words  | 5 Pages

    At the time of Marx, communism stiff fell under the category of socialism. During the last twenty-five years of the nineteenth century, there was a split in the Socialist Party, and communism began to be recognized as a movement of its own. The original Communists were small extremist grou...

    Read More

  • The Australian Labour Market

    776 Words  | 2 Pages

    Changes in unemployment in Australia is a key issue in this news article. In the last twelve months, unemployment in Australia has dropped from 5.6 per cent to 5.1 per cent which is described as ‘a puzzle’ in the news article. Looking closer, there are some possible explanations for this change in statistics. Previously, unemployment in Australia increased in the time of the recent global economic downturn, although didn’t suffer as poorly as other countries according to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. However, while unemployment rose, so too did the number of people in other forms of underemployment such as part-time and casual work (OECD, 2010). According to Sappey et. al., the status of employment requires workers to only work one hour per week and so therefore many underemployed workers receive the same employed status in this data as full-time workers (Sappey et. al., 2010, p. 111). According to the OECD, under-employment increased significantly during the downturn, rather than unemployment. Unemployment has dropped in the last twelve months but that does not mean that those who have obtained work have gained full-time employment. In fact, according to the Australia labour market trends of the last twelve months, it is more than likely that those who have become an ‘employed’ statistic rather than ‘unemployed’ have not gained full-time work. This news article quotes figures fro...

    Read More

  • The Pros and Cons of Marxism

    1906 Words  | 4 Pages

    The word “communism” is generally linked with “Marxism”. Since Marx along with Friedrich Engels published the cutting-edge thesis, The Communist Manifesto in the middle of the 19th century, it conceived the new dimension for both politics and economics. Before turning to the principles of the Manifesto, it is useful to present the brief historical background of the era, and understand why it affected the ideology. Predominantly the Industrial Revolution (IR) and the Great Revolution in France (FR) transformed the society as follows; creation of conditions for capitalism by destroying feudalism. Period between 1820 -1840 marks the beginning of the IR, which altered the whole meantime s...

    Read More

  • The Wrapped Golf Ball: A Marxist Literary Criticism

    1261 Words  | 3 Pages

    Baggins, Brian. "Abstract from the Preface of A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy." Preface. Comp. Zodiac. A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy. By Karl Marx. Ed. R. Rojas and Matthew Carmody. Trans. S. W. Ryazanskaya. Comp. Tim Delaney and Zodiac. Moscow: Progress, 1859. Marx/Engels Internet Archive. Marx/Engels Internet Archive. Web. 8 Mar. 2012. .

    Read More

  • Dealing with Homelessness in Australia

    1406 Words  | 3 Pages

    Homelessness is all our responsibility. Waking every morning in a warm bed in a secure house for some Australians is only a dream. Every day more and more people are becoming or are at risk of becoming homeless as the global economy crumbles away and monetary resources become harder to find. What is homelessness: the Australian Government Department of Health (2005) defines homelessness as a person who is without a conventional home. Homeless Australians have become disconnected from family and friend and has few, if any resource and very little prospect of achieving financial independence without Government assistant. This assessment will talk about Australia’s history with homelessness, it will go onto to talk about the Government’s role in preventing homelessness and the AASW view on the current social problem. An example of how human service delivery organisation are impacted by current political and society’s view. Homelessness has a face and now more than ever society must ensure that the Government fulfils promise made to all of its citizens.

    Read More

  • Differentiating Marx and Rousseau

    2202 Words  | 5 Pages

    In his Manifesto of the Communist Party Karl Marx created a radical theory revolving not around the man made institution of government itself, but around the ever present guiding vice of man that is materialism and the economic classes that stemmed from it. By unfolding the relat...

    Read More

  • Marx (The Communist Manifesto) and Rousseau

    2059 Words  | 5 Pages

    Marx, Karl, Friedrich Engels, and Robert C. Tucker. The Marx-Engels reader . 2d ed. New York: Norton, 1978. Print.

    Read More

  • Rousseau and Marx: Property and Inequality

    1831 Words  | 4 Pages

    Marx, Karl, Friedrich Engels, and Robert C. Tucker. The Marx-Engels reader. 2nd ed. New York: Norton, 1978. Print.

    Read More

  • Social Problem Of Income Inequality

    1580 Words  | 4 Pages

    What is a social problem? A social problem is a problem that affects more than one person in a society. A social problem disrupts the daily life and well being of people in a society. Ryan described a social problem as a problem that affects humans. If a problem affects a human being than it is a social problem. “’What human problem is not a social problem?’” (Ryan 9). Social Problems affect a major part of many individuals’ rights. Some examples of social problems are: sexism, racism, homophobia, and income inequality. In this essay I will be focusing on income inequality and whether this issue is a social problem or an individual problem.

    Read More

  • Why Democracy is the Best Form of Government

    1173 Words  | 3 Pages

    Janos, Andrew C. “What was Communism: A Retrospective in Comparative Analysis.” Communist and Post- Communist Studies Volume 29 (1996): 1-24. Print.

    Read More

  • Unemployment and Underemployment in America

    1297 Words  | 3 Pages

    Unfortunately, there are many Americans out of work in today’s current declining economy. Unemployment can be defined as a person who is out of work involuntary, not by choice. These people are looking jobs and available to start work. Being unemployed can be disheartening and deciding what the next step is can be challenging. Underemployed can be described as being inadequately employed, such as a low-paying job that requires fewer skills than one possess. (Daly, Hobijn, and Kwok 2015) Making ends meet can be difficult for one who has been affected by this economy over the past few years. America still has a high unemployment rate since the decline of the current job market. And many Americans are struggling to establish the skills needed for employment, or the underemployed are force to lower they skill to make a profit. America’s economic status has force the underemployed and unemployed to make ends meet with the current jobs available. And last but not least some have also utilized these difficult times to venture into new discoveries to make life hassle free. So, we wonder is Americans giving up in today’s economy or do they settle for lower end job to establish a steady income to make ends.

    Read More

More about Unemployment in Australia Through a Conflict Perspective.

Open Document