Contemporary Social Issues explained

Contemporary Social Issues and a closer look into its various aspects:

What does the term contemporary social issues mean?

Contemporary social issues, let’s break the term to understand its in-depth meaning.

The word Contemporary has denoted the things that are modern and relate to the present time. Thus, the term contemporary social issues denoted the issues of the present times.

There is no particular definition of the term, but these contemporary social issues could be defined as the problems that exist in present-day society. These issues are called problems because they are contrary to the norms and values that are accepted by society today.

These could be conditions, behaviors, actions, or unsaid rules that affect a certain community or society, their well-being, living, thoughts, or even their survival.

How can one distinguish if the problem is a social issue?

Here are four characteristics or checkpoints to differentiate a social issue from a problem that is more personal to an individual:

1. If the problem has negative consequences for large portions of the population, it could be considered a social issue.
2. If most people in the population recognize this issue as a significant problem that needs to be addressed, it could be considered a social issue.
3. If the problem goes against what the majority of citizens consider the values or principles of that society, it could be considered a social issue.
4. If tissue can be solved through social action, resources, or regulation, it could be considered a social issue.

If we consider some experts in the field — The distinguishing characteristic of social problems, in the exact words of Nisbet and Merton, is –

“By their close connection with moral values and social institutions, they form a type by themselves. They are social in the sense that they pertain to human relationships and to the normative contexts in which all human relationships exist. They are problems in the sense that they represent interruptions in the expected or desired scheme of things; violation of the right or the proper, as society defines these qualities; dislocation in the social patterns and relationships that society cherishes.”

Get much more information on social issue identification at TSPSC Online Coaching

What are the causes of these Social Issues?

Similar to the fact that there could be several social issues, there could also be several underlying causes. Problems in society are complex, and it’s difficult to pinpoint a single root cause, which makes solving them challenging.

Here are some common causes that seem to contribute to common social problems:

• Overpopulation and poverty
• Economic inequality and Illiteracy
• Gender/caste/community inequality
• Unemployment
• Traditionalism
• Superstitious beliefs, etc.

The root causes differ from community to community, state to state, country to country, and boxing all these causes in some strains wouldn’t be fair.

What are some of the major contemporary social issues in India today?

Here are some of the many areas of improvement in terms of social issues that we face in the present day:

• Global Pandemic & Vaccination.
• Work and Unemployment
• Gender inequality
• Racism and racial inequality
• Corruption
• Educational System
• Basic Sanitation
• Overpopulation
• Healthcare System
• Pollution
• Green Energy Conversion, etc.

Let’s reflect on one of the major contemporary social issues that align with India and are something that affects the nation as well as the youth:

Illiteracy –

In spite of significant progress made over time in improving literacy, our home country remains home to 313 million illiterates, 59 percent of whom are women.

It is estimated that the adult literacy rate in India is 73.2 percent. However, there is an enormous gap between rural and urban areas, and between male and female populations.

We could blame a multitude of issues, including the complexity of the social/economic divide, economic disparities, gender/caste discrimination, technological barriers, overpopulation, corruption, etc. But, we already have enough problem statements, what we need are solutions.

Many steps are taken with the intent of improving the situation, such as schooling for children in rural areas, awareness campaigns, dedicated campaigns to encourage girls to study, and many more.

Slowly and steadily with persistent efforts, we are moving towards a better and more literate future.

Contemporary Social Issues and it n need to be addressed

The impact of contemporary issues on people is enormous, and being aware of them results in taking proactive steps to address them. It allows society as a whole to comprehend what is going on and provides insights about issues that might not affect some individuals, but can have a major impact on others.

Awareness and addressing these issues may lead to potential solutions, which are imperative since these issues are relevant and ongoing.

What do you guys think about Contemporary Social Issues and our society’s take on addressing them?

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