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Worldbuilding Guide: Social Problems

There is no such thing as a Utopia. Every place has its problems. Social problems are any issues that have a negative effect on the population, and are often problems which are actively being tackled by the government or a point of anger for the population which they want their leaders to fix. Social problems can fall under the umbrella of the political, economical, cultural and environmental. Social problems add a layer of realism to your worldbuilding, offering your characters something to fight against, struggle against and draw opinion on - adding complexity to both your cast of characters and the world that they inhabit.

Poverty

Poverty is defined by people having a deficit of financial resources which prevents them from accessing proper food, housing, resources and healthcare. Poverty can be caused by low wages, high inflation, inability to access the appropriate resources or unemployment. Poverty can effect the population as a whole, leading to a heavier demand on some resources and aid offered or a character alone, who has to struggle to survive.

What is the leading cause of poverty in your world?

What are some of the consequences of poverty?

How does poverty effect the population?

Where are areas where poverty is more of a problem than others?

Can somebody access aid to help them out of poverty? If so, what sort of aid? Was it available for everybody?

Unemployment

Unemployment is when there is a high number of jobless people within the population. This can lead to other issues such as a strain on resources without a return to the state or other social problems such as crime as people struggle to support themselves and survive. High rates of unemployment often reflects a deeper issues within the state itself.

What is the main cause of unemployment in your world?

Are there some areas where unemployment is more of a problem?

What do the unemployed blame for the reason they are unemployed?

How does employment effect the population?

Is there competition to gain employment?

What are some factors that might bar somebody from obtaining employment?

What are the government doing to solve the problem?

Environment

The environment is another problem often effecting society as a whole. Whether it is air pollution or rising water levels or even urban sprawl, environment often effects how a society and a settlement thrives - either by the spending of money for preventative measures or the effects on the health of the population as a whole. Of course, most governments see environment as a small issue, especially if the problems are long in effecting them personally or to tackle them would have an effect on profit and business.

What are some resources that are very scarce?

How is the land itself effected by changes to the environment?

What are some effects on resources? Such as pollution or deforestation?

How does an effected environment effect every day life?

Does impacted environment have an effect on wildlife? On crops?

What are some health problems caused by poor care for the environment?

Is the environment a pressing issue?

Crime & Violence

Crime, violence and anti-social behaviour effect the population. Crime rates often have overreaching effects: high crime rates leads to an increased police presence, more surveillance on the population and stricter laws which often develop a population who may grow disenfranchised with the government and country they live in. High crime rates often effect property prices and economic growth, with areas of high crime often falling below market value and businesses wary to move to those areas. Crime and criminal activity often leads to people feeling isolated, especially if the area is written off as a 'bad' area, with people leaving the area when they can for safer areas. Crime might also effect children and young people if grow up with an exposure to violent behaviour, with a higher chance of them being victims or future preparators of crime.

Is the law fair? Does it apply to everybody equally?

What is the rate of violent crime?

What is the rate of petty crime?

Are punishments for crime seen as just?

What rights does a prisoner have once arrested? If any?

What crimes have a higher rate of occurrence? Why is this?

How is crime combated? Is it effective?

What evidence does law enforcement need to arrest somebody?

Is a prisoner entitled to legal representation?

How is crime combatted?

Is law enforcement corrupted by crime? How common is bribery?

How is justice obtained?

Are any crimes taboo?

What crimes are considered acceptable and in what situation?

Healthcare

Healthcare is an important factor in any thriving society. Healthcare ensures that the workforce is kept in top shape but also that those who struggled with health survived. Healthcare can often be divided by wealthy and poor, access to good if any healthcare often was restricted. Lack of healthcare can lead to high death rates, with some of the population often seeking other means for their health such as illegal practitioners or harmful home remedies.

If somebody had little or no money, could they be denied access to healthcare?

Is healthcare equal? Are there any classes who would find it harder to access healthcare?

Is healthcare a worry for the government?

Are there any alternatives for those who can't access healthcare?

Does the state provide any healthcare? If so, who can benefit?

What are some diseases that are rampant? Why?

What are mortality rates among children or infants? Why is it high/low?

Is there any care for pregnant people?

How is mental illness treated? Is there stigma around mental health?

How much would a doctor's visit cost?

Are hospitals accessible for all? What about clinics or asylums?

How effective are treatments for insanity?

Hygiene

Hygiene will be an extremely important feature of any society. Lack of hygiene through clean water or proper sanitation practises can have knock on effects on health and survival. Bad housing could effect the health of tenants, with illnesses caused by cheap materials, damp, mould and other features of decay and ruin. Lack of clean water can cause epidemics of cholera, typhoid, dysentery and leptospirosis. Poor sanitation practises like lack of human waste disposal, waste management, poor drainage and sewage systems and poor hygiene facilities led to rampant disease and infection rates, along with the infestation of pests like rats and flies.

What is considered poor hygiene?

How is waste managed? Is it managed well?

If the settlement or area has poor sanitation, what does it smell like?

Are there any personal pests that are rampant? Lice? Fleas?

Are there adequate drainage and sewage systems? If not, why?

What is considered luxury in terms of washing one's self? A hot bath? Shower?

What is the air quality like? If it is bad, why? How does it effect people?

Is water clean?

How many homes have access to clean water?

Is access to clean water a right or a privilege?

Is hygiene a task that the government has to tackle?

Education

Education can either be seen as a luxury or a right, depending on how your society views it. Education is the key to social mobility and often there are barriers for the lower classes to access the education they need in order to move up in the ranks and status. An educated population is a population who questions and challenges their leaders so education may be restricted for some factions in the population. Then if education is available to all, chances are there are different access routes and levels of effectiveness - often the wealthy can afford a better level of education with better resources while the poorer classes may not be able to access the education they need or the resources.

What is the cost of a basic education?

How easy is it to access an education?

Does every settlement in your world have a school? If not, why?

What is the highest university or school one can achieve?

What is a basic education? What does it entail?

What is the rate of literacy in your world? Is literacy rates seem as a problem?

Who can access education?

Is education seen as a right? Or is it a luxury?

Are some branches of education restricted?

Homelessness

Homelessness is a social problem where there aren't enough appropriate or affordable homes for the population. Homelessness is often a result of poverty, overpopulation, personal factors such as untreated mental illness and substance abuse issues and high employment rates but also the power of the landowners and property owners, especially if they have government backing which they likely do. Homelessness is often blamed on those effected themselves but in reality, it is a reflection on the government's failures to provide alternatives or solutions to the problems that cause homelessness. Rising numbers of people without stable housing due to financial hardship or systemic failures.

How is homelessness viewed by society?

Is homelessness a problem in certain areas?

If homelessness is seen as the fault of the victim, why and how does society see it that way?

How does the government view homelessness? Is it a problem they feel they need to solve quickly?

Addiction

Addiction is a social issue that not only effects a community personally but also other factors on this list. Addiction can be substance abuse, alcohol abuse or gambling, which puts pressure on the community's ability to survive and thrive. It can also have an effect on a community's ability to work and generate wealth, pushing up crime rates.

How are sufferers of addiction viewed within society?

How does addiction effect employment and crime?

Does addiction effect both classes?

What are some things that the population are addicted to?

Is addiction a pressing issue?

Political Corruption

Abuse of power is a common theme throughout historic and modern communities. Sometimes the ability to make overreaching decisions for a population breeds greed and corruption. Bribery or blackmail might be used to sway choices. Politicians might make decisions based on personal wealth or in order to protect themselves or their incomes. Sometimes laws will be passed not for fairness but for consolidating the gap between those in power and those without.

Are elections considered fair?

How can elections be meddled with?

Are there any factions of population that are prevented from voting?

Do politicians have a reputation for accepting bribes or looking after their own interests in office?

What are some if any political scandals of recent memory?

Can politicians be prosecuted for bad behaviour?

How do the population view their leaders?

Gender Issues

Gender is an issue that effects most communities. Whether it is a pay gap between the genders or differing levels of rights or opportunities. Gender divides between men and women and non-binary individuals create levels of distrust, frustration and often danger. Gender can play into class divides, political corruption, education and crime and violence and also effect how society runs, restrictions on gender can also effect society as a whole by not allowing the whole population to be utilized as a workforce or active members of society.

What some differences in how the genders are treated by society?

If there are differences, what effect does this have within society and the fabric of your world?

Are there groups that protest against these gaps?

What are some behaviours and opportunities that are unobtainable for certain genders?

Does this effect both classes?

Overpopulation

Overpopulation is when the population is greater than the number of resources available to sustain them. Overpopulation can contribute to poverty and homelessness with too many people trying to find lodging and shelter. It can increase unemployment with people trying to access too little jobs. It can strain any healthcare providers and impact the environment. Strains on resources can often contribute rates of violence and tension.

Where does overpopulation occur?

Does overpopulation drain any resources in particular?

Is there any way for the government try combat overpopulation?

Is overpopulation caused organically or are there another factors involved?

Are there any ways to prevent or slow down growth of the population?

#writing references #worldbuilding

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