A social phenomenon usually breaks out when people feel oppressed.
A social phenomenon is a fact generated by human beings . It arises from the conscious actions of a person or a group of individuals in the face of some daily event.
Many times social phenomena arise due to factors that oppress or limit the subjects . Due to discontent , social phenomena occur that aim to promote a change in existing conditions .
The social phenomenon as a request for changes
The beginning of a social phenomenon, in this sense, points towards a specific objective . The phenomenon may consist of a demonstration to request a modification in a government 's economic policy, for example, or the declaration of a strike to improve a labor situation.
In its broadest meaning, it can be said that a social phenomenon is a reaction or an event that occurs within a community , whether driven by a small group or by society in general. The manifestation of a phenomenon of this type takes place through collective changes in behavior.
Returning to public demonstrations and strikes, it is important to mention that social phenomena of this type are not always well regarded by the majority; In fact, they are never accepted by one hundred percent of the population. As happens in any other area, human beings have different tastes and needs, we cannot agree on everything. Even when the central issue is a problem such as unfair pay or insecurity on the streets, there will always be a group that opposes the demand for measures.
However, these types of social phenomena can have very favorable results . For example, in some cities, public transportation strikes can extend indefinitely, until the government responds with the changes that employees demand. Not all citizens empathize with them, given that many suffer the interruption of their only way to travel to work, but if the authorities respond, the country moves towards a better, more evolved phase , and that benefits everyone.
concrete examples
Beyond the examples studied above, we can distinguish some that occur in many parts of the world in a more defined and broad way. For example, the exodus , that is, the abandonment of a region by a considerable part of the population. The reasons for such migration are usually political or economic and, like any social phenomenon, can result in undeniable large- scale change. Something similar occurs with immigration , since a country receives a volume of people from different nations looking for a better life.
Art and fashion trends can also represent authentic social phenomena if they are imposed on a large percentage of the population to the point of becoming the norm . A regrettable social phenomenon is poverty , and in many parts of the world it reaches too high levels; Although no one should be in inferior conditions, when the percentage of people without homes or resources reaches double figures it becomes especially worrying.
Social phenomena are observable and exceed the individual.
The view of sociology
For sociology , social phenomena are external constructions that have an impact on people's lives. If their effects are negative, they become social problems .
It is important to indicate that social phenomena subsist beyond the manifestations of individuals . That is why they are social: they exceed the subject and are observable (they have exteriority ). As they are caused by humans, they differ substantially from natural phenomena that occur in the environment (such as an earthquake or the eruption of a volcano).