Understanding Social Problems essay PDF

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Unemployment and Conflict Theory Unemployment in Australia is a social problem that affects 5.0% of the population. The size of the workforce is growing faster than opportunities available, with 680, 000 Australians unemployed (ABS, 2019). Conflict theorists state that social problems occur in society because a small portion of the population with power and money inflict their interests over the powerless. Those in power have the means and ability to shape social policy around unemployment and change the way in which Australians live. This paper will firstly discuss unemployment and the nature and extent in Australia. Secondly it will define why unemployment is a social problem and thirdly, conflict theory and how it applies to unemployment within Australia.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics defines unemployment as people who are of an age to be working but are not employed (ABS, 2018). They are persons who actively seek employment but have not been given a job opportunity (ABS, 2018). The Australian Bureau of statistics documented the latest unemployment rate at 5.0% (ABS, 2019). This 5.0% rate can be perceived as being low however people with limited skills or who have been unemployed for a long period of time have difficultly entering the work force. (ACOSS, 2019) It is estimated that for every job vacancy there will be seventeen applications, from unemployed or underemployed persons looking for more hours. (ACOSS, 2019). Underemployment is a term given to those who are currently employed, however full-time work is unavailable. In 2016, 20% of workers in the 15 to 24 year age group were underemployed, showing that the willingness to work if the opportunities existed (Gilfillian, 2016). An individual who has been unemployed for 12months or more is classified as long-term unemployed Gilfillian (2016) and research shows that individuals unemployed today are most likely to be unemployed

tomorrow (Mavromaras, Sloane & Wei, 2015). Statistic from June 2016 shows long term unemployment affected approximately 166,660 people, this represents 22.9% of unemployed individuals, a 10.1% increase from 2009 (Gilfillian, 2016). Unemployment is categorised into three main types which have been defined as structural, frictional and cyclical (Burrows & Obrien, 2016). Additional sub categories exist such as seasonal unemployment and classical unemployment, however the foremost classifications of unemployment in Australia are identified in these three categories (Burrows & O’Brien, 2016). Even in a flourishing economy a degree of unemployment will still exist however, natural unemployment is primarily subject to frictional and structural unemployment (Burrows & O’Brien, 2016). Frictional unemployment encompasses the time between jobs. It includes mothers returning to the work force, students looking for their first job and people between jobs (Burrows, & O’Brien, 2016). Structural unemployment refers to the mismatch between jobs and skills employers are looking for and the types of trained persons looking for jobs (Burrows, & O’Brien, 2016). The third most prominent category of unemployment in Australia is cyclical and is not essentially part of natural unemployment. Cyclical unemployment occurs due to the demands of businesses and their products or services. This phase can potentially cause employers lay off their workers due to lack of demand and thus overstaffing (Burrows, & O’Brien, 2016). Addressing the previous identification that unemployment is defined as the group of people who are actively seeking employment, this emphasises a cause of concern and places the question as to whether unemployment in Australia has become a social problem. A social problem is defined as a social condition involving a large enough section of society whose view is that the situation is harmful to members of society and in need of remedy (E. Sargeant, 1008CCJ lecture notes, 2019 ). A social problem is described as having two parts – the objective which refers to the identification of a social problem through media and life

experience as well as education. The subjective part refers to the belief that a social condition is harmful to society and needs to be changed (Blumer, 1971). Unemployment as an objective social problem has links to some of society’s most debilitating mental health illnesses such as depression, anxiety and suicide (Bartley, 1994). Further evidence shows that most mental health patients entering hospital emergency departments are unemployed. (Bidargaddi et al., 2015). Objectively, there are strong relationships between poverty and unemployment. Australians main source of income is from selling their labour for a wage with 77% accounting for household income (Saunders, Bradbury & Wong, 2018) however these earnings vary significantly across society, with the highest earnings of a small group being paid three times the average wage. This shows the disparity with 13.3% of Australians living below the poverty line. (Davison, Saunders, Bradbury & Wong, 2018). It also affects remote communities and Indigenous Australians as they do not have the same opportunities which contributes to their unemployment rates. Poverty in remote communities is at 54% comparted to cities at 24% (Davidson et al., 2018) During the period of 20152016, 67.8% of unemployed Australians were living below the poverty line, with the cost of living outweighing the income received.

Conflict theory takes a macro view on society and sees society in a constant struggle of over limited resources, particularly resources associated with money and power. A conflict theorist would say this struggle results in classes and creates a hierarchy in society based on conflict, not consensus. This structure creates an unequal system where a small percentage of society hold power and determines the rules for those below them. From this position those in power will do whatever it takes to keep that control and influence society to not only maximise their personal benefits but to suppresses the poor and powerless. With the rise of capitalism, Karl

Marx a nineteenth century sociologist focused on this conflict and identified two types of classes and classified them the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. The bourgeoisie, the rich upper class, usually the business owners who sold what they produced and the working class or proletariats who only had their labour to sell for a wage provided by the bourgeoisie (Dillon, 2014). Another theorist Max Weber agreed with Marx, but also included that people have social status and political power which can also influence their social position (Mooney, Knox & Schact, 2017). An individual’s ability to grow capital can also influence their social position, this was conceptualised by Pierre Bourdieu in his concept of ‘capital’ including cultural, economic, social and political.

Conflict theory states that those in power dictate the distribution of wealth and employment This introduces the subject of stratification, which is the way in which society classifies its people. The social hierarchy of ranked statuses organises the population according to class (Mooney et al, 2017). The sociological imagination, within the pattern of stratification, highlights the idea that inequality is a representation of the power and social relationships in society. It dismisses the general viewpoint that reflects that some people work harder or are simply smarter, therefore can obtain, better employment. This stratification creates inequality within society, highlighting the fact that those without economic influence for education are kept in the under privileged class. Those living in this class struggle to find employment and have less opportunity making them dependant of the Australian Government, who decides what opportunities they have. At the same time the wealthy get tax benefits. The politicians chose where the nations resources go and can be influenced by those who have the money, power and prestige. Additional influences determining the ability to gain employment can be related to the amount of capital an individual possess. Whether that be cultural capital, referring to those with access to a better education and university, economic capital, in the

form of wealth, social capital encompasses networks and relationships and political capital, knowing people in power. Unemployed Australians who receive the government benefit or other social security payments have difficulty accessing appropriate resources with 34.5% living below the poverty line (Saunders et al., 2018). This raises questions about what Australian Government is doing to protect the unemployed Australians from living without basic needs, and what level of poverty we will accept as a society (Saunders et al., 2018). They have the money and the power, whilst a portion of Australians are competing over resources.

This essay has succeeded in showing that those with wealth and power including the government and politicians determine the 5.0% unemployment rates. This elite group can be influenced to create policies and funding to accommodate their own lifestyles thus disregarding the disadvantaged social groups. Unemployment needs to be addressed by politicians to correct the inequalities within the economy creating and rectifying the vast disparities between the groups. To close the gap the government needs to pursue an agenda of economic growth and equality focusing on employment and poverty reduction.

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Dillion, M. (2014). Introduction to sociological theory: Theorists, concepts, and their applicability to the twenty-first century. John Wiley & Sons. Gilfillian, G. (2016). Employment Australia: Statistics and mapping. Canberra, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved from: https://www.aph.gov.au/About _Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BriefingBook4 5p/EmploymentAustralia Mavromaras, K., Sloane, R. & Wei, Z. (2015). The scarring effects of unemployment, low payand skills under-utilization in Australian compared. Applied Economics, 47(23), 2413-2429. doi:10.1080/00036846.2015.1008762 Mooney, L., Knox, D., & Schacht, C. (2017). Understanding social problems. Nelson Education. Saunders, P., Bradbury, B. and Wong, M. (2018). Inequality in australia 2018 supplementary report: The Causes and Profile of Inequality. ACOSS/UNSW Poverty and Inequality Partnership Report. Sydney: ACOSS...