Social Problems and InequalityLaajuus (3 cr)

Objective

After completing the course, you
- understand the significance of discriminatory social structures and practices that lie behind inequality
- recognise the different ways how social problems manifest themselves
- know how to act by strengthening the clients' participation and preventing exclusion
- understand the role of Social Services as advocacy work and know how to use the means of social influencing
- are able to take part in social debate in a critical manner

Content

The course discusses how social problems and inequality appears. The course addresses the discriminatory social structures and practices that lie behind inequality. The course explores how Social services operates as advocacy work and how to use the means of social influencing.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The students are able to
- know some features of the basic theory of social problems and discriminatory social structures
- name some basic approaches when promoting social participation
- explain the concepts of social exclusion and name some approaches when preventing social exclusion
- know how to share and receive the information about the topic

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The students are able to
- introduce and explain the basic theory of social problem and discriminatory social structures
- explain and make conclusions in promotion of social participation
- explain and analyze the process and concept of social exclusion and name different approaches when preventing social exclusion
- generate their knowledge by sharing and receiving the information about the topic

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The students are able to
- introduce, explain and evaluate the basic theory of social problem and discriminatory social structures
- interpret and make conclusions in promotion of social participation
- explain, analyze and evaluate the concept and process of social exclusion in different situations and propose different approaches by utilizing the theory of social problem when preventing social exclusion
- generate their knowledge by sharing and receiving the information about the topic

Materials

Liukko, E., Muurinen, H., Kokkonen, T., & Santalahti, V. (Eds.). (2022). Vaikuttava rakenteellinen sosiaalityö. Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos. Raportti / Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos, 1/2022. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-343-790-6

Niemelä, Mikko & Saari, Juha. 2013: Huono-osaisten hyvinvointi Suomessa. Tampere. Saatavissa: https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/40230/Huono-osaisten_hyvinvointi.pdf?sequence=1

Therborn, G. 2014: Eriarvoisuus tappaa. Vastapaino.

Wilkinson, Richard & Pickett, Kate: Tasa-arvo ja hyvinvointi: Miksi pienet tuloerot koituvat kaikkien hyväksi? / Wilkinson Richard & Pickett Kate 2009: The Spirit Level. Why Equality is Better for Everyone. Penguin Books.

Muut opintojakson aikana ilmoitetut artikkelit ja materiaalit.

Lisämateriaali:
Hoffler E. F. & Clark, E. J. (toim.) 2012: Social Work Matters. The Power of Linking Policy and Practice.

Execution methods

The course is implemented in the form of classroom and remote studies. You can apply for accreditation, either based on your previous studies or competence acquired in working life following the accreditation practices described in the study guide.