A problem is a set of conflicts or challenges in a specific area.
The Greek word problēmatikós came to late Latin as problematĭcus , which in turn came to our language as problematique . As an adjective, the term refers to that which generates problems or brings inconveniences . For example: “The relationship I had with Mirta was quite problematic from the beginning” , “Jacinto is a problematic young man, he is always fighting with his colleagues” , “The truth is that I had a problematic experience with this company” .
As a noun , meanwhile, the idea of problematic refers to the set of complications that are part of a certain issue . The concept allows us to encompass the challenges, conflicts and difficulties of something .
Social problems
Social problems , in this framework, include issues that affect a society and that demand a solution to improve the quality of life of its members. These are situations that threaten the development and well-being of a community or part of it .
Gender violence is an example of a social problem. This type of violence afflicts women and has multiple consequences: the most serious is death due to the actions of men. Since it is a public issue, the solution to social problems is the responsibility of the State . Since the motives that drive each abuser and the context from which each victim of gender violence starts may be different, solving this problem is extremely difficult.
Another problem that is part of the social problem is social stratification , a division of society into groups taking into account their employment situation, their economic income, their purchasing power and their social status, among other criteria. As with any other relatively arbitrary interpretation of reality that affects the possibilities of living beings, there are those who benefit and those who suffer all kinds of negative consequences, including contempt and discrimination, simply for being born in one environment or another. .
When talking about social problems we cannot stop talking about public health , a topic whose importance can vary unpredictably when problems such as an epidemic, a war or a natural disaster arise. A country where public health is not organized in a fair and accessible manner prevents its inhabitants from enjoying a good quality of life. This affects all aspects, from study to work, and turns against the development of the country as a whole. In a case of an infectious disease , for example, without appropriate measures the spread can be too rapid and affect a large part of the population.
Gender violence is one of the most widespread social problems.
The damage to the environment
The idea of environmental problems , on the other hand, is specifically associated with problems that threaten the environment .
Deforestation, the emission of greenhouse gases and the pollution of the oceans are some of the most serious environmental problems due to their effects and their large-scale impact. It is hard to believe that all this is a product of our way of relating to the planet, since of all the known species we are the only one that can cause damage to the environment.
The abusive consumption of resources is one of the most relevant environmental problems of recent years, since if it is not resolved in the short term we will be affected at different levels. The resources are not infinite, but although this statement is so easy to understand, we have not heard it in the media until its continuity began to be jeopardized .