Social Welfare Within Global Cultures, Essay Example

Social welfare and social justice are two terms which are liberally interpreted throughout the world. Many societies and cultures offer an extremely rigid structure for how these are to be implemented in society through caste systems; others take a more communal approach in terms of community equality and still others take an approach specific to the individual.

Societies with caste systems like India have set a particularly structured path as to how people are to be handled and what their roles will be in the community. Higher castes typically dictate how the rest of society is to be treated whether through healthcare practices (“The Caste System of India”, 2000) and the ability to refuse treatment, or by setting a standard for the acceptance of practices such as bride burning (“Indian Dowry”, 2004).

Other approaches like some of the Native American tribes of North America look at welfare in the context of the community. This can be observed through how they respond to crime or how they work together to provide financial and general economic support to every tribal member. A social system which is in complete contrast to a structured system of castes is the flexible system of accountability; typically seen in more developed countries.  Urbanized countries emphasize the role of the individual alone. In this type of environment, the individual is typically the one in possession and determination of path they take in society.

Societies such as ones found in socially advanced countries which possess emphasis around the individual rather than communal or caste responsibility typically find more success in their progressive growth and development. Repressing a person within society due to rank or gender perpetuates a cycle of exclusivity. This results in brain drain of free thinking intellectuals, keeps the country in the cycle of poverty and causes stagnation of development.

On a daily basis human rights and society perceptions are constantly changing within global communities. With the onslaught of technology starting to make its reach around the world, social development and progress has now become visible on a global platform. It is hoped that the spread of technology will also enable an improvement in the approach to basic human rights throughout the world’s developing countries.

References

(2000). The caste system of India. Indian Child. http://www.indianchild.com/caste_system_in_india.htm

(2004). Dowry in India. Indian Child. http://www.indianchild.com/dowry_in_india.htm

Kuiper, K. (2011). Native American culture. The Native American sourcebook. Pg. 152-156. Britannica Educational Publishing.

Murthy, J.S. (August, 1999). Restorative justice and India’s caste system. http://gbgm-umc.org/nwo/99ja/india.html

Spicker, P. An introduction to social policy. http://www2.rgu.ac.uk/publicpolicy/introduction/society.htm