The Structure/Agency debate: unemployment
What is the ‘structure/agency’ debate in sociology? Illustrate your answer with a discussion of the cultural and social structural processes that shape individual experiences of unemployments.
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The ‘structure/agency’ debate is the sociological analysis of the extent to which human behaviour is influenced by social structural processes or individual experiences. The issue of unemployment in
Australia illustrates this debate, as many consider unemployment a result of individual lack of motivation or habit. However, it can arguably be ascribed to a lack of social structural support, gradually shaped by government decisions and welfare policies. Patterns of unemployment also depend on social mobility, class and the socio-economic status of individuals and groups. Similarly, cultural factors tend to impact unemployment rates, as seen with the Australian Aboriginal community. There is clearly a link between lack of education and opportunities and unemployment in disadvantaged communities. These structural and cultural processes shape individual experiences of unemployment in an age of increasing individualism and inherent social isolation, where the ideology of individualism facilitates victim blaming, rather than considering the dual influences of both structure and agency.
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Government decisions and welfare policy are key social structural factors that have lead to an increase in unemployment in Australia. Youth unemployment is currently at a twelve-year high and the general participation rate is beginning to decline, possibly as those from the Baby Boomer generation retire (McGrath 2014). Victim blaming is a major societal issue currently imbedded in government policy that has fuelled these problems. Willis (1995: 85) argues that addressing the problem of increasingly limited job opportunities cannot be adequately solved by focusing on the individual and their skills and employability. Victim blaming ideology is closely linked to the idea
!
The ‘structure/agency’ debate is the sociological analysis of the extent to which human behaviour is influenced by social structural processes or individual experiences. The issue of unemployment in
Australia illustrates this debate, as many consider unemployment a result of individual lack of motivation or habit. However, it can arguably be ascribed to a lack of social structural support, gradually shaped by government decisions and welfare policies. Patterns of unemployment also depend on social mobility, class and the socio-economic status of individuals and groups. Similarly, cultural factors tend to impact unemployment rates, as seen with the Australian Aboriginal community. There is clearly a link between lack of education and opportunities and unemployment in disadvantaged communities. These structural and cultural processes shape individual experiences of unemployment in an age of increasing individualism and inherent social isolation, where the ideology of individualism facilitates victim blaming, rather than considering the dual influences of both structure and agency.
!
Government decisions and welfare policy are key social structural factors that have lead to an increase in unemployment in Australia. Youth unemployment is currently at a twelve-year high and the general participation rate is beginning to decline, possibly as those from the Baby Boomer generation retire (McGrath 2014). Victim blaming is a major societal issue currently imbedded in government policy that has fuelled these problems. Willis (1995: 85) argues that addressing the problem of increasingly limited job opportunities cannot be adequately solved by focusing on the individual and their skills and employability. Victim blaming ideology is closely linked to the idea
References: ! Australian Bureau of Statistics (2013) ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Labour Force Outcomes’ (9 September 2014). ! Bessant, Edith and Watts, Rob (1999) Sociology Australia ! Furedi, F (2011) ‘Why London’s Burning’ ! Furze, Brian et al (2011) Sociology in Today’s World ! Germov, John and Marilyn Poole (2011) Public Sociology: An introduction to Australian society. ! Grint, Keith (2005) The Sociology of Work: Introduction ! Henry, Miriam et al (2001) Understanding Schooling: An Introductory Sociology of Australian ! Lawson, Tony and Joan Garrod (2001) Dictionary of Sociology ! McGrath, Pat (2014) ‘Youth unemployment surges even as jobless rate holds steady’ June 2014 (7 September 2014). ! Mills, C Wright (1970) ‘The Sociological Imagination’ ! Morris, Lydia (1995) Social Divisions Seabrook, Jeremy (1982) Unemployment. London, Quartet Books Limited. ! Stolley, Kathy S (2005) The Basics of Sociology ! Willis, Evan (1995) The Sociological Quest