GNED 500

Social Problems Intersect with Other Issues

The module on social problems provides important context to understand social problems. We can still go deeper in thinking about them using the triangle model. As Audre Lorde says, “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.” The dimensions and impacts of social problems are vast and complex. When examining a social problem, ask yourself: What dimension of the social problem am I going to focus on? Will I explore the economic system? Will I look at institutional, social, physical, or psychological impacts?

Use the dropdown menu below to consider more in-depth aspects of social problems to explore. As you will see, the complexity and immensity of particular social problems become clear once we begin to ask critical questions. What are the impacts? Who is impacted? What are the patterns? How do the impacts differ?