Social Studies Handout

Name: ____________________________ Date: ________________

Theme: Individual, Family and Society
Topics: Contemporary Social Issues Affecting Caribbean Family Life

Specific Objectives: At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define the term social issues

2. List at least six social issues that are affecting Caribbean families
3. Explain how these social issues have been affecting Caribbean families
4. List characteristics of different social issues
5. Identify the causes of the various social issues
6. State reasons why families may be affected by contemporary social issues
7. Outlines measures that government in the Caribbean have put in place to reduce/solve these social issues.
8. Explain why contemporary social issues must be taken seriously by governments, groups and individuals
9. Discuss the effects of different social issues
10. Formulate strategies for dealing with contemporary social issues that influence Caribbean family life
11. Willingly participate in class discussion and activities

Content Summary

What are contemporary social issues?

A social issue is one that affects a considerable number of individuals within the society. Contemporary social issues refer to any
undesirable condition that is either opposed by the whole society or by a section of the society.

What are social issues?

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Social Issues refer to problems which exist in the society; this includes bhaviour which a number of persons believe is unacceptable.
Below are examples of social issues that exist in the Caribbean society and which affect families directly or indirectly.

Contemporary Social Issues

• Juvenile delinquency • Teenage pregnancy • Suicide • Desertion • Divorce • Promiscuity • Inadequate care and concern for the
elderly and those with special needs • Homelessness • Incest • Domestic violence • Child Abuse • Sexually Transmitted Infections,
including diseases such as HIV/AIDS • Poverty • Drug/Substance Abuse * Human Trafficking

Ways in which Contemporary Social Issues affect the Caribbean Family

 The health of some family members may be affected; which in turn may also cause financial and emotional strain on the
family.
 Problems and/or issues such as domestic violence, incest or promiscuity may affect family relationships and may lead to the
breakup of the family.
 Sometimes the family will have to use its financial resources to take care of issues such as drug/substance abuse.
 Social issues such as HIV/AIDS may result in family members becoming alienated not only by its members but by society.
 Some children may lose their parents as a result of one or both parents dying from AIDS or suicide.

Strategies used by the Government to deal with Contemporary Social Issues

 Employment opportunities: Creating more employment opportunities for individuals to help to reduce the level of crime.
 Education: Educating the society on the causes and effects of various contemporary social issues
 Penalties: Having stiffer penalties to serve as a deterrent to persons who may want to get involved in issues such as crime and
violence and child abuse.

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  Welfare programmes: Providing welfare (e.g. PATH benefits) and shelters for persons who are homeless, suffering from
diseases such as AIDs, or women/men who are victims of domestic violence.
 Support for NGOs: Provision of financial assistance and human resources to non-governmental organizations that assist in
helping the society to deal with social issues (e.g. diseases and homelessness).

List of Contemporary Social Issues

Social issue Definition Causes Effects Suggested solutions

Teenage The is an occurrence  Lack of religious and moral  Jeopardizing educational  Educate teenagers
pregnancy where a female below education. growth and success. about the negative
the age of 20  Broken homes where  Continuation of the consequence of
becomes pregnant children are not well poverty cycle as engaging is
socialized. teenagers are not premarital sexual
 Influence of the mass media equipped with the activities.
where T.V. shows, financial resources to  Encourage the use
magazines and the content maintain a child. of condoms for
of music project sexual  Pressure is put on the those who are
license and liberty. society to care for sexually active
 Peer pressure. offspring through welfare and find it
 Poor role models in society. programmes. difficult to
 Individuals with poor self-  Health of mothers can be abstain.
esteem try to prove their jeopardized if pregnancy  Encourage
manhood or womanhood by occurs in early teens. teenagers to
engaging in sexual activity.  Children suffer various abstain from
short comings when born sexual activities.
into single parent  Educate teenagers
families if parents do not about
form a permanent union. contraceptive and
 Poor socialization of how to properly

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 children as teenagers lack use them.
the social and
psychological maturity to
raise children.

Street These are children  Abandonment by parents  Street children are faced  Introduction of
children who are homeless  Some children are rebellious with several intensive family
and decide to run away from demoralizing situations planning
home. e.g. becoming prostitutes, programmes.
 Poverty forces some begging, selling drugs,  Religious, moral
children to leave their home becoming sexually active and family life
and fend for themselves on at a tender age, stealing education must
the streets. from pedestrians and become
 Some children are orphans. vendors. compulsory in
 Some parents are kicked out schools and the
of their homes by parents general society.
due to the occurrence of  The government
pregnancy or because their must address
parents are drug addicts. issues of poverty
 Some children resort to the and
streets as a result of abuse unemployment.
that they face at home e.g.  Provision of
sexual or physical abuse. foster homes for
orphans and
abandoned
children.
 Universal
education
especially for the
poor and
disadvantaged
with the provision

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Drug abuse The excessive,  Peer pressure
indiscriminate, and  Curiosity and
inappropriate use of experimentation.
drugs.  Persuasive advertisement.
 Enhancement of
performance in sports.
 To assist in coping with
life’s problems.
 To camouflage personal
weaknesses.
 track, bronchitis.
Sexually These are diseases  Having multiple sex
Transmitted transmitted during partners.
Diseases sexual intercourse  HIV(breastfeeding from
(STDs) from one infected mother to child, blood
transfusion with
partner to another e.g.
contaminated blood,
of free books,
meals, uniform
and transport.
 Tobacco damages the  Education
taste buds and tongue, programmes
causes heart disease, about the dangers
cancer of the mouth, of drugs, this
lungs and throat. might serve as a
 Marijuana causes loss of deterrent to
memory, coordination individuals.
and concentration as is  Juveniles being
affects the brain, leads to prohibited by the
cancer or the respiratory law from being
sold legal drugs
 Cocaine causes e.g. alcohol.
depression, overdose can  Laws with severe
lead to respiratory failure penalties for the
and death, damages the trafficking or
septum in the nose possession of
through sniffing, causes illegal drugs.
loss of appetite,  Compulsory
malnutrition and warning about the
hallucinations. dangers of
smoking on
cigarette boxes.
 Rehabilitation
institutions.
 HIV/AIDs-Death,  Abstain from
decrease in productivity s sexual activities.
infected persons are  Have one faithful,
incapable of performing uninfected
effectively at work, the partner.
cost of treating victims is  Desist from
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 gonorrhoea, syphilis, injection with an infected exorbitant, and this intravenous drug
HIV/AIDS, needle, during pregnancy money could be put to use.
chlamydia, genetial from mother to child). alternative use.  Education of the
herpes and hepatitis  Having unprotected sexual  Chlamydia- sterility. proper way to use
intercourse.  Gonorrhoea- blockage of condoms.
B.
urinary tract with pus,  Have both
sterility, babies can partners tested
contract this disease for before engaging
their mothers during birth in sexual
if the bacteria enters the activities.
eyes of the child- this
leads to blindness.
 Syphilis- loss of brain
functions, blindness,
heart disease, death,
mothers can transfer
disease to their babies
during pregnancy.
 Genital herpes- death,
damage to the liver,
cirrhosis.
Poverty The inability of  Unemployment  Child labour  Vigorous pursue
people to provide for  Lack of education or skills.  Domestic violence of education to
themselves the basic  Retired people who live on  Engagement in illegal break the poverty
needs of food, shelter a fixed income which is activities e.g. stealing or cycle.
eroded by inflation. selling illegal drugs.  Provision of more
clothing, shelter,
skill training and
education and educational
medical care. opportunities at a
Individuals and very affordable
families in such cost.
situation are said to  Increase practice
be living below the of family

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 poverty line. planning.

Child abuse Physical  Lack of parental  Death of children.  Children should

maltreatment or supervision.
sexual molestation of  Parents or guardians who
a child. lack parenting skills might
abuse children physically
when attempting to
discipline them.
 Having parents or guardians
who are drug addicts.
 Development of low self- be educated about
esteem. their right and
 Victims of child abuse how to get
might become abusers assistance if their
themselves. rights are being
violated.
 Parents should
establish a good
relationship with
their children
where children
are able to
comfortably
communicate
with their parents
about issues
affecting them.
 Implementation
of laws with
harsh penalties
for individuals
found guilty of
abusing children.

The  Disability in persons stem  Alzheimer’s – loss of  Provision of

disabled from number of factors e.g. memory braille for the
some children are born with  Down syndrome- mental visually impaired.
birth defects such as retardation  Provision of

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 cerebral palsy, down  Cerebral palsy- loss of parking spaces for
syndrome etc. others mobility. the disabled.
become disabled due to  Many employers are  Provision of
accidents or mishaps. Some unwilling to hire people public
elderly people develop with disabilities transportation for
Alzheimer’s disease. regardless of their people with
qualification, this results special needs.
in may disabled people  Educating the
being unemployed hence public about
poverty arises. treatment of the
 The disable suffer a lack disabled as an
of facilities to access attempt to
public buildings and eradicate
transportation. discrimination.
 Lack of concern by the
government to provide
adequate housing and
appropriate education for
the disabled.
Human This is a situation in  Potential causes of human  Victims of human  Preventing
Trafficking which an individual trafficking are: trafficking are exposed human
is abducted or  Poverty to several dangerous trafficking
kidnapped and taken  Lack of education situations or activities  Individuals must
 High unemployment rate. such as: be cautious of
form their usual place
 being forced into strangers who
of residence to
marriage or domestic make attractive
another where they labour offers as not
are sold and forced to  prostitution everyone is
perform menial or  selling or transportation genuine.
degrading activities. of drugs  The government
 Children of both sexes should create
are coerced into slave laws with severe

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 labour and/or used in the penalties to serve
production of as a deterrent to
pornographic materials. criminals.
 Immigration
workers should be
trained in
identifying
fraudulent travel
documents.
 Citizens should
have a watchful
eye in order to
detect abnormal
activities in their
community and
report it to the
relevant
authorities e.g.
the police.
 Greater
surveillance or
territorial
boundaries to
prevent illegal
entry and exit in a
country.

Suicide Suicide is described  Common causes of suicide Family members and friends  Assistance for
as self-abuse. It is the  Money worries- high debts people who are

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act of taking your to be paid, bankruptcy. may experience the following: suicidal
own life.  Loneliness- this can be  Seek professional
brought on by the death of a  a high level of guilt for help from a
loved one, not having a not preventing the psychologist-
sense of belonging. suicide. students must see
 Redundancy- loss of job  Confusion their guidance
with the possibility of long  Distress over unresolved counsellor at
term unemployment. issues school if they
 Divorce- loss of family,  Anger or resentment at have suicidal
break-up of relationship. the person who chose to tendencies.
 Old age- loss of physical take his or her own life  Surround yourself
and mental faculties, loss of  Suicide affects the or the individual
partners, relatives and mental health of the with positive
friends. family. Studies have people and things.
 Depression- this can be shown that children of  Engage yourself
brought on by drug or parents who committed in extra-curricular
alcohol abuse and illness. suicide are at a activities as a
 Bullying- this can be significantly increased means of
brought on by students who risk for committing illuminating
abuse others at school. suicide themselves. stress.
 Abuse- abuse of any form  Non-
can cause someone to governmental
become suicidal, for agencies have set
example victims of sexual up toll free
abuse often become numbers which
suicidal. offer 24- hour
counselling to
individuals with
suicidal
tendencies.
 Education is
schools and
through the mass

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 media on all
aspects of suicide
including
experiences of
those who have
survived the
ingestion of toxic
substances, may
serve as a
deterrent.
 Families should
introduce
offspring to
religious teaching
from an early age.
 Community
support services
and religious
establishments
should be
introduced to
provide
counselling for
the suicidal.

Domestic This refers to Causes: Effects: Actions to be

violence physical, emotional, taken:
sexual or economic  Abusers were socialized in  Death  Make a report to
homes where abuse was  Divorce or separation the police.
abuse which is
prevalent.  Depression
perpetrated by one  Call a domestic
 Use of alcohol or drugs.  Emotional trauma violence hotline
member of a family  Lack of education on the for assistance.

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 upon another. This dysfunctions of abuse.  Speak with a
includes child and /or  Inability to cope with the counsellor.
spousal abuse. stresses of modern day life.
 Lack of religious or moral
training.
 Loss of power or control
brought on by the
marginalization of the male.
Abortion The deliberate  Lack of family planning or  Women who have  Increasing family
termination of a unplanned pregnancy. abortion may have mild life education
pregnancy. - Not wanting to become to severe health risks; it programmes in
a single parent; may even lead to death. school.
- Not having adequate  Decrease in fertility rate  Increased family
financial resources to among women. planning and use
maintain a child;  Promotes casual and of contraceptives.
- Some teenagers who get promiscuous sexual  Moral and
pregnant are forced by behaviours within the religious
their parents to get an society. education of the
abortion;  population
- Having a baby interferes
with work, school or
other responsibilities.
 Lack of religious or moral
values.

Care for the Caring for the aged is There is an increase in life  Some elderly people are How to care for the
aged posing a problem for expectancy (the average number of totally dependent on aged
many Caribbean years individuals within a given other family members for
families. In many society are expected to live) due to financial support and this  Provision of
puts a strain on the senior citizens
cases younger development of healthcare facilities
family’s resources. grants or old age
members of the and programmes and healthy  In some cases relatives of pensions by the

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 family are faced with lifestyle practices such as diet, rest, elderly people have to government.
the responsibility of leisure, proper nutrition and quit their jobs in order to  Provision of free
supplying emotional exercise; therefor people are living provide needed medication for
assistance for their loved those who have
and economic needs longer.
one who may be chronic diseases.
of elderly parents or immobile.  Establishment of
grandparents. senior citizens’
homes where the
aged are well
catered to.

Juvenile Juvenile- individuals Causes of juvenile delinquency Effects of juvenile delinquency Solutions towards
Delinquency below the age of 18 juvenile delinquency
 low self-esteem  Being held in police
Delinquent-  dysfunctional families custody  Talking to a
(typically of a young  peer pressure  Dropping out of school Guidance
person) tending to  influence of the mass media.  Developing a poor Counsellor at
commit crime,  lack of parental reputation school or
particularly minor guidance/supervision  Causing serious hurt to someone else who
crime. your mental or physical you deem
health trustworthy.
 failing in  Putting stress and strain  Occupying spare
one's duty on yourself and family time wisely e.g.
Juvenile delinquents  Death by engaging in
are persons under the sporting
age of 18 who activities.
participate in  Engaging in
negative activities. extra-curricular
These include: activities at
school or within
 sexual your community.

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 permissivenes  Surrounding
s yourself with
 gambling positive people
 robbery with and things.
violence  Increase parental
 use of supervision
expletives  Having family
 drug abuse meetings
 stealing
 defacing
property
 truancy
 possession of
pornographic
materials
 fighting

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