Chapter 2: Understanding And Defining Social Problems By Stuart Isaacs

From the key text book, ‘Social Problem in the UK: An Introduction’, Isaacs, et.al. 2014, please select ONE chapter to review. Do not choose the introduction or conclusion, or chapter 3 which is about literature searches. You will need to read your chosen chapter several times. Take careful notes.

The review should be totally in your own words. You may NOT use any quotes. The idea is not to repeat or merely summarise but to explain and breakdown the chapter in the following ways.

1. What is the context of the chapter? How does it fit into the whole book? You might want to read the Introduction to help you with this aspect.
2. What question (s) does the chapter seek to answer?
3. How is the methodology of social construction applied to the social problem at hand?
4. What are the arguments and viewpoints of the author?
5. Evaluate the chapter. What are its strengths and weakness? You can bring in other texts at this point to critically assess the chapter. This is a vital skill for the rest of your studies and one you need to develop. More marks will be achieved through proper critical assessment. This means using the works of other academic authors, not your own ‘common sense’ evaluation. 

Introduction to the book Social Problems in the UK: An Introduction

In order to understand social problems in the modern context, one has to comprehend the meaning of social problems. An analysis of the book Social Problem in the UK: An Introduction authored by Isaacs et.al. (2014), presents the reader with an opportunity to understand the different perceptions of the social problems prevailing in UK.

The present paper reviews the Chapter 2: Understanding and defining social problemsby Stuart Isaacs from the aforementioned book and tries to provide solution to the various queries related to social problems in the country. The chapter deals mostly with the definitions of social problems and its understanding. The authors have introduced the chapter by mentioning that engaging with social problems meant the decision taken by individuals to ponder upon the issues that concern millions of others. Issues become social when it affects not just one individual but the entire society or the nation. However, social problems have a close association with political and economic problems as well. Mostly, people tend to associate social problems with political problems. It is but true that many times, economic and political issues result in the inception of social problems. Poverty is a good example. However, it is not always the case. The authors have very clearly demarcated between political, economic and social issues. The argument put forward by them holds a strong position as it is backed up by strong and valid points. For example, the authors have argued that finding a perfect economic model would be futile to resolve issues like poverty, illness or crime. The chapter acts as the doorway to the entire book and provides a clear idea to the readers about the different definitions of social problems perceived through the eyes of the common and elite. According to the authors, the book was written for enabling the readers, especially the students to locate social problems within the context of broader topics of sociology, criminology and social policy. The chapter in review thus acts as an elaborated preface to the entire book. It allows the readers to comprehend social problems from the perspective of the society as a whole. 

The chapter, as stated by the authors, seeks to provide different approaches to the theories and methodologies that help in explaining the social problems prevailing in the UK. However, they have also made it clear that the chapter does not aim to explain the methodologies and theories as tools to understand social problems rather it points out the significance of using theoretical and methodological tools to understand social problems. The chapter primarily tries to provide solutions to all the associated topics of sociology in order to conclude to the main discussion that is the inception and explanation of social problems. The chapter follows a systematic method to define various terms and concepts. The first is the evaluation and explanation of the concepts of private and public sphere. The author refers the work of the great social and political thinker C. Wright Mills to define social problems by demarcating the two concepts. The discussion on these concepts leads to the question of how social problems emerge. In this regard, the author has presented a detailed description of what can and cannot be considered reasons for social problems. Further, the chapter comprises the answers to the questions of what constitutes the society. While answering this question, the author has delved upon the concept of social institutions and the social structures. The author manages to maintain the smooth flow of the topic and as readers, students can easily relate to each topic without any ambiguity. One of the most important queries that the chapter tries to address is the use of methodologies like social construction to understand the different perceptions of people regarding social problems. In addition, the chapter provides answers as to how students can understand the prevailing social problems in the British society with the help of certain theories. Theories have been given prominence in the chapter, as the author believes that theories help in decoding the intricacies of the social problems and the way those are perceived. 

Definitions and understanding of social problems

As pointed out by the author, a proper methodology is required to identify and define social problems and the perception of the people regarding these problems. In addition, methodology capacitates people to understand and evaluate the circumstances of daily life from a different point of view. The chapter identifies social construction as the ideal methodology that can be applied to social problems. Social construction explains that the continuous interaction of individuals with their surrounding results in the attainment of knowledge about the world. The surrounding here refers to the various social institutions and structures that include family and friends, schools and offices, peers, culture, sub-culture and popular culture, beliefs and so on. When this interaction goes on over a period, it forms a collective attitude of the people that can be utilized to understand social problems. The chapter presented a practical example in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the social construction methodology. Asylum seekers, who are allowed to remain in the United Kingdom, would find immigration to be a grave problem. They have to integrate into an unknown land and interact with culturally different people. Immigration becomes a social problem to the natives because they view it as a burden to the country. The natives find it a social problem because immigrants would find it difficult to adjust into the culture of Britain or due to the issue of over populating the country. In this case, social construction assists the readers in understanding the social problem of immigration from two different perspectives. These perspectives are of the asylum seekers and that of the conservative natives. The readers have to understand however, that social construction does not seek to give solutions to the social problems. Rather, social construction provides a clearer understanding that might allow social researchers and even the common public to find a solution. 

While putting forth the methodology of social construction and its application to a certain social problem, the author draws some arguments.  The author argues that social construction, as a methodology to understand social problems, does not depend on degree alone to indicate any social problem. He further points out that a social problem could be identified easily by establishing a valid argument and then carries out further investigation into it. Regarding methodology, the author brings forth the argument that methodology enables the students to think like a social thinker so that they could explain social problems without any bias. He further states that it is important to apply methodology because otherwise there would be no logical argument in learning the subject as anyone could simply imitate everything that he or she experiences. The author views that social construction does not provide remedy to social problems just as doctors or lawyers would do, but it clarifies people’s thinking and gives shape to their opinions. Social problems are formed differently by individuals who hold different positions in a society, states the author. A strong example of that is the difference of thinking between political migrants and the native citizens of UK. To the immigrants, social problem they face in UK involves racism, bullying and other prejudices while a native British would consider wastage of finance in order to take care of the immigrants as a social problem. In this matter, the author puts forward the point that quantitative and qualitative information is needed to understand the position of the political immigrants. In the author’s views, applying methodology to deconstruct the inherent problems engraved in the society, although may seem difficult at first, does prove to be effective. He lastly adds that the social construction methodology must be applied by the students in their own life in order to demonstrate an understanding of social problems especially prevailing in the UK. 

At first, the strong points of the chapter need to be highlighted in order to analyze its weaknesses clearly. It is the second chapter of the book that acts as an introduction to the rest of the chapters. Author Stuart Isaacs shows great competency as a writer as this is evident from the extensive research he has undertaken to pen this chapter. The chapter follows a chronological flow with each concept and idea being defined clearly. Practical examples have been used to identify and evaluate social problems and the methods by which these could be understood. However, the chapter lacks consistency when it comes to defining social construction as a methodology. Further, it is difficult to analyze the author’s standpoint on the issue of social problem and its deconstruction. The work by Burr (2015) can be referred to demarcate between the two books. While Burr has specifically focused on one aspect of social construction, Isaacs, on the other hand attempted to bring everything together in one chapter. This leads to deviation from the focal point of the book. In the views of Best (2017), the social construction methodology is not enough to comprehend the intricate social problems prevailing in contemporary societies thus contrasting Isaac’s work. However, it must be pointed out that the author did highlight some relevant points on social problems from the UK perspective. 

References:

Best, J., 2017. Images of issues: Typifying contemporary social problems. Routledge.

Burr, V., 2015. Social constructionism. Routledge.

Isaacs, S., Blundell, D., Foley, A., Ginsburg, N., McDonough, B., Silverstone, D. and Young, T., 2014. Social Problems in the UK: An Introduction. Routledge.