The role of Social Science

in the real world in

addressing social issues
(Gender Equality, Racial
Discrimination,
Terrorism, and Social
Inequality)

P R E PA R E D B Y:

D E O B E L A F U L O - F O RT E S
Learning Objectives:
determine how Social Science can be used
to address social concerns.
Role of Social Sciences in
Addressing Social Issues
Gender Inequality
which refers to the differences between men and women
that systematically favor one group, which is the result of
distinct roles and behaviors that a particular society
considers appropriate for men and women.
Gender Inequality
Gender ideology promotes sexism, or the belief that there exist
natural psychological, behavioral, and intellectual differences
between men and women and that these differences justify the
superiority of one group over another, and it is usually the women
who are considered the inferior group.
Approaches in Social to be used
in the issue of Gender Equality:
Different Feminist Theories
can be used to analyze the issue of gender
inequality. All espousing the critical perspective that
by exposing hidden structures, we can change the
world.
Feminist Moral Psychology

Feminist moral psychology deals with what

feminists, in particular, have contributed to the field
of moral psychology, or the ways in which their
approach to these issues is motivated by feminist
concerns, especially in connection to understanding
and attempting to end women’s oppression. 
Different Feminist Theories
Gender ideology dictates that men are the breadwinners in the family
therefore they should have all the chances they could get to land a
job, and getting a degree is seen as a guarantee of landing a job; while
educating women is seen as futile endeavor since women, even after
earning a degree, are expected to stay at home and take care of their
family.
Liberal Feminism
argues that women are oppressed in society due to the belief that they are not
rational beings. In fact, if we take a look at how women were viewed in ancient
literature they were often portrayed as irrational beings. For Liberal Feminism,
women should be given the right to education for only through education can
women prove their rationality. Women should also be treated equally in laws and
should be given the right to vote as well as the right to be elected in public office.
Liberal Feminism
Liberal Feminism operates on the idea that women are
rational, too, hence women should be given equal;
opportunities and rights with men by virtue of that
rationality. Therefore, it is important that women be granted
the right to be educated because only through education can
women prove their rationality.
Symbolic interactionism
can also be used to analyze gender inequality. In
symbolic interactionism, people assign symbols to
things and concepts as they encounter and interact
with them.
Symbolic interactionism
Symbolic interactionism is also at play when women are paid less
than their male counterparts for the same work, or when women are not
allowed to cross the glass ceiling in big companies where only men
have the opportunity to become chief executive officers. Symbolic
interactionism states that the people construct symbols and meaning
which are shared when they interact with each other. The social
construct of women may be one of the reasons why people create
symbols that signify this belief.
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Racial discrimination
It refers to the actions, behavior or treatment based on
prejudice or hatred against person based on their race.
It involves narrowmindedness and discrimination against people
who are thought to be inferior to other people based on the color of
their skin. Racial Discrimination may be in the form of social acts,
customs or beliefs. It is also be described as an unfair treatment of a
person or group on the basis of prejudice.
Approaches in Social to be used in
the issue of Racial Discrimination:
Conflict Theory
can be used to analyze the issue regarding racial discrimination,
specifically Marxism. Classical Marxism asserts that class oppression
is the result of the division of capitalist society into the bourgeoisie
(middle class) and the proletariat (working class). From the lens of
Marxism, racial discrimination of white Americans against the
African Americans has been characteristics of American society.
Structural functionalism
must have played a significant role that helped to create more solidarity, at least
among the ruling class. It tends to look at the issue of racial discrimination from
the perspective of macro-level analysis, looking at the positive rather than the
negative consequence of racial discrimination. For Structural functionalism, as
long as social harmony and social equilibrium are achieved
Terrorism
is about the pursuit, acquisition, and use of power; it is about
violence or threat of violence with the goal of instilling fear beyond
the immediate victims; it targets military, government representatives,
as well as civilians, and it involves calculated or planned acts by
organizations with specific structures (Hoffman, 1998). Terrorism has
traditionally been considered as representing a mental disorder, thus it
can be analyzed using psychoanalysis.
Approaches in Social to be used
in the issue of Terrorism:
Psychoanalysis
will be used to analyze the issue in terrorism. Through psychoanalysis, the
terrorist’s psyche will be understood by removing into his/ her unconscious so
that his/ her terrorist behavior can be explained. It may not represent a mental
disorder; the hidden reasons why a terrorist engages in such acts may be
uncovered through psychoanalysis. Stuart Twemlow, a medical doctor and
professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, narrates how psychoanalysis can
offer so much help in understanding terrorism by removing into the social
context and group dynamics of terrorism, and by understanding the individual
psyche of terrorist.
Rational Choice Theory
claims that people always make logical and practical
choices that provide them with greatest benefit or
satisfaction at the lowest possible costs. Rational Choice
Theory offers an alternative to this traditional view of
terrorism for it advocates the idea that terrorist acts usually
stem from logical, intentional, and premeditated decisions.
SOCIAL INEQUALITY
Social Inequalities
occurs when there is an unequal access to the
benefits of a certain society. Some groups may have
opportunities in securing more resources than others.
These can be in the form of goods, wealth, and
rewards and can be recurrent patterns (Croosman,
2014).
Social Inequalities
If we use Pantayong Pananaw as an approach to analyze
the issue of social inequality in the Philippines, the concept
of the great cultural divide could be applied to explain why
social inequality exists.
Sikolohiyang Pilipino
can also be used to analyze social inequality. In Sikolohiyang Pilipino, the core
concept of kapwa is distinguished from its counterpart in the American English
language, which is other. Kapwa means unity of the Self and other, or extension
of the self, while “other” means a person or a thing that is different from one
already mentioned or known about. If people will treat others as they would want
themselves to be treated, resources will be equally shared among everybody and
everyone will get what they want without exploiting other people for profit
quiz
Direction: Identify what particular Social Science approach was used in the
following statements.
1. Women are oppressed in society due to the belief that they are not rational
beings.
2. The African Americans, by virtue of their skin color, were delegated to a
subordinate position especially in terms of production.
3. Terrorism can be explained by removing into the unconscious of the
terrorist to make the reasons behind his or her terrorist acts known and
understood.
4. Gender identity is an example of a social norm that is constructed by the
way people interact with each other.
5. The great cultural divide would aggravate the gap between the rich and the
poor because of the conflict between the two classes.
Thank You!
1.Extra judicial killings
2.Drugs
3.Quo warranto issued vs. the Chief Justice of the country
4.Poverty
5.Corruption as a result of #4
6.Crimes as a result of no.4
7.lack of job opportunities/meaningful employment
8.chinese occupation of the SCS
9.Political dysnasties
10.Traffic
11.Floods
12.lack of social and affordable housing
13.recounting of votes in the last VP election
14.loss of respect for authorities and other institutions
15.high cost of commodities
16.high cost of living
17.insurgency
18.killing of clergies
19.lack ofclassrooms
20.unaffordable education in private schools and universities
21.informal settlers
22.roads filled with potholes especially after the rains
23.undisciplined drivers esp. motorcycle riders
24.garbage collection
25.fake news and inept government officials and so on and so forth