Social Problems in Pakistan

• Social Problems can be defined as a social situation that affects or is thought to

be affecting a significant number of people.

• Social Problems are objective and subjective in nature

• A social problem is any condition that has negative consequences for large
number of people

• The objective component of social problems involves empirical evidence of the

negative consequences (crime rate)

• The subjective component involves the perception that the condition or behavior
is indeed a problem that needs to be addressed (Out of wed-lock sexual
relationship, divorce, homosexuality)
How to attempt question of social problem?
• Collection of Statistics (PBS website, recent census, UNDP and WB
reports)

• Application of theoretical perspective (Functionalism, conflict

perspective, symbolic interactionism)

• Use of jargon of sociology (Not a current affairs question)

Functionalist Perspective on Social Problems
• Social problems weaken a society’s stability but do not reflect
fundamental flaws in the way society is structural

• Solutions to social problems should take the form of gradual social

reforms rather than sudden and radical changes

• Despite their negative effects, social problems also serve important

functions in a society
 Conflict Perspective on Social Problem
• Social problems arise from the fundamental flaws in the way society
is structured

• Social problems reflect and reinforce inequalities based on class,

gender, race and other dimensions of identity

• Solutions to social problems must involve a radical transformation of

society’s structure
 Symbolic Interactionism
• Social problems arise from the interactions of individuals and the
shared meanings they assign to social phenomena

• People who engage in socially problematic behaviors often learn

them from other people

• Individuals also learn their perceptions of social problems from other

people (Crime can also be a learned behavior)
 High Population Growth Rate
• Introduction

• Socialization and over population (Gender Socialization: desire for male child,
Family planning, religion)

• Conflict perspective (Patriarchal society, man has more access to resources,

children seen as economic assets, child labor, old age social security)

• Rural – Urban Societies

• Effects, solutions
 Extremism

• Socialization : Education (Curriculum), Religion, Family

• Conflict Perspective

• Effects, solutions
• Question: Education is an important social institution. How conflict and
functionalist perspectives view education as institutionalized activity? Which of
these approaches can best describe the system of education in Pakistan and
how? (CSS 2023)