SWSP1053 Role of Media in Framing Views on Social Inequalities Assessment 1 Answer

Introduction

Socialization is the process of mixing in contemporary society. An individual develops a clear view regarding society only when he or she gets social support in a proper manner. Effective socialization helps to redesign the values, beliefs and social roles of an individual. Sometimes it has been seen that different individuals in society face barriers to mix up with other people due to experience related to inequalities. In the present era, the media and Government play an essential role to develop a strong view regarding socialization among people. 

This reflective essay revolves around the fact that the media and Government play an essential role in making my views on social inequalities and the process of socialization. Thus it tries to prove that without proper development of sense based on socialization an individual may create a boundary around him or her that prevents the individual from mixing with other people. This essay critically reflects on my thought on a social issue that is income inequality and the ways through which these two media have polished it. 

Contribution of media and Government in framing the views of socialization

In the modern age, mass media mainly television plays a crucial role in the process of socialization. As mentioned by Paus-Hasebrink, Kulterer & Sinner (2019), mediatisation is the process through which people's views and social relations are shaped every day. Thus, I think that different communication media along with mass media has taken an initiative to impact the social power of people in a differential manner. In recent times, mass media are engaged in presenting the social image throughout the world. According to me, being in touch with such media can be effective for a person to know how the system of socialization is managed in different aspects. In support of this statement, Potts, Maadad & Yu (2018) mentioned that not only the adult, the process of developing knowledge regarding socialisation among children is also impacted positively through mass media. Basically, socialization is the process of sharing norms, values and beliefs of a specific culture and media become helpful to expand these aspects to a greater extent. For example, I can mention that if the mass media presents a consequence of social violence in a country, then we can be able to know the terrible impacts of it and must try to save the community from such violence further. Often the mass media such as Radio and Newspaper expand messages based on peacefulness and basic social attitudes that help to develop sustainable cultural habits among people. Hence, I think that media has positive footprints on the basis of socialization.  

Apart from this, the role of Government in socialisation is also mentionable. In this respect, political socialization is the main aspect. As stated by Neundorf & Soroka (2017), the impacts of political culture on people's minds are so vast that people can feel supported while living in a politically stable environment. Legitimacy, efficacy and political ethics become helpful to develop a society where all people are supported equally to live in that particular community. On the other hand, Government plays a direct role in managing income, education along with supporting the race, ethnicity and religion of people. According to me, these are the parts to maintain proper social equality with the help of the Government. In the thoughts of Moran & Mallman (2019), the people in rural areas in Australia face social issues based on their diversified ethnicity and the Government has taken the initiative to maintain equality through the adoption of social cohesion policy. However, I think that the Government not only helps in political socialization but also helps in the process of cultural and economic socialization as well. As mentioned by Shulman (2012), the roles of Government in eliminating social inequalities are not only focused to individual levels but also families, groups along with communities are supported by Government to maintain a constant process of socialization. I believe that meeting legal needs and political security by the Government are the roots to design people’s thoughts of socialization in a positive manner. In regard to this, Korpinen & Pösö (2020) stated that protecting children and women in society with proper legal power proves the effectiveness of Government for enhancing socialization. 

Contemporary social issue based on inequality

In Australia, the income gap is one of the critical issues based on social inequality. As per the report of Parliament of Australia (2020), Wealth of people in both the rural and urban areas tends to be much less equally distributed than income. As a result of this, the amount of wealth is reducing prominently in comparison with the net income amount at a rate of 3%. Moreover, it has been observed that the rate of developing wages of employees has decreased in the past 3-4 years. In support of this statement, Phillipson, Vickerstaff & Lain (2016) mentioned that reduction in labour market affects the economic growth of a country by reducing the amount of wealth. Similarly, pay gap and lack of employee management policy by most of the organizations create a distinct economic barrier in society. As a result of this, people are feeling stress to perform activities of effective socialisation. 

In addition to this, it can be mentioned that income inequality not only hampers the personal development of people in the community but also it affects the entire community in terms of maintaining socialisation. I think that this income gap is one of the key issues of social inequality and in the near future, it may cause degradation of the rural community in Australia. On the other hand, Van Krieken et al., (2017) commented that sociology is the study to know about society and a basic issue in society may affect the growth and development of the whole community. In this regard, the rural people of Australia seek support from Government to establish their economic base in a stable way. According to me, the gender, race as well as ethnicity are some of the key factors that have direct impacts on this inequality issue in Australia that is income discrimination. 

Impacts of two agencies on my views of socialisation

I can strongly mention that media and the Australian Government are playing critical roles in managing socialisation in the community. I have come to know about the fact that media helps to present the miserable conditions of people in rural areas and thus, the distressed people may get economic help from different Governmental and non-Governmental sources. As mentioned by Faist (2016), social inequalities can be mitigated by broadening people's views regarding other people in the community. In this ways, the roles of media and Government become prominent for me in terms of reshaping my views on socialization through enhancement of values, beliefs and social roles. I have learnt that until or unless media spreads the news about the harmful effects of social inequalities in community development, people never come forward to handle the issue effectively. Thus, it can be stated that the development of values can be possible in such away. As per the report of Australian Financial Review (2018), it has been observed that Government has come forward to handle such social inequality by means of revising their economic policies and making strict legislation for the business organizations to be followed. In this regard, I think that this role of Government in socialization is effective to develop beliefs among people based on roles of Government in developing an equal community. 

According to me, not only the mass media but also social media has positive effects on socialization. In the comments of Zuchowski et al., (2014), development of education and rate of literate people in a community is effective to make them aware of the ways and needs of socialization. Social media plays this role in a prominent manner. I know that media is the wide platform for enhancing mass awareness related to a particular issue in the recent age. Therefore, it becomes evident that media plays a mentionable role in encouraging people to perform their social roles. As per the explanation of Hepworth et al., (2006), maintenance of effective social work is based on how efficiently the social issues are managed. In this aspect, media is also effective to support social skills of people by valuing their activities through broadcasting. In relation to the social issue in Australia, it can be mentioned that different newspaper and the broadcasting channels in television presented the nuisance related to pay gap in the business organization. According to me, it becomes effective for the Government to take initiatives which are helpful to maintain a consistent rate of socialisation and impacts of people’s beliefs positively. In accordance with this phenomenon, it can be presented that having effective support from the Government in terms of implementing appropriate legislation, people may feel socially values and can be engaged in the process of socialisation greatly. 

Ways through which socialisation has contributed to my view on the social world

Based on the above discussion, it can be highlighted that socialisation is the process through which people can get a motivation to live happily in a community. I think that without an effective process of socialisation an individual can never be familiar with others. In my eyes, I am an entity in the vast world and I need to communicate with each and every people in my surroundings to maintain the system of socialisation. As per the comments of Parsell, Eggins & Marston (2016), developing rate and consistency of social work in a community is effective for people of that community to have the supporting sources for socialization. Thus, I strongly believe that until or unless values and beliefs of equality have been developed among people, it is never possible to maintain a stable process of socialization. On contrary to this, it can also be highlighted that I think each and every people has rights to be socialized in a community and community should be liable to support them by the maintenance of equality. Supporting this statement, Bhuyan, Bejan & Jeyapal (2017) stated that establishment of social justice and maintenance of it equally for all people irrespective of their classes and racial diversities are essential for maintaining the process of socialization in a better manner. 

 In addition to this, it can be mentioned that the Government of a country has the sole power to design social system and supports each individual of the system to meet the criteria of socialization. However, it has become clear to me that in the modern world environment, socialization is such as aspect that makes the social system prominent to the individual living in it and the individuals who are trying to have benefited from the community they live in. in terms of understanding the impacts of media and Government on socialization system, I have realized that without effective development of personal beliefs and values among individuals, the growth and development of the social system can never be fruitful. In respect to this thought, Middleman & Wood (1990) mentioned that not the legislations implemented by Government are helping to support social growth, but also sometimes the individual's social skills of people help to maintain the process of socialization. In order to know about the roles of media and Government in the development of socialization, I have come to know about the fact that media is always engaged in making people’s skills prominent to foster the base of socialization. I think knowing our surroundings in depth can also be effective for me to reshape my views on the social world and beliefs regarding the position of an individual ineffective social system.

Ways through which socialisation has contributed to my view based on the issue of social inequality  

I think that segregation in people's classes, gender as well as race and ethnicity are affecting their economic position in society. Numbers of Australian organisations are engaged in providing disproportionate payment to their employees based on their social position. As a result of this, the employees may feel acute social constraint to earn their livelihood. I have come to know about the fact that media and Government are playing an essential role to make the social image clear to people. Thus, when the people of a community know a lot about the social system, they must come forward to mitigate the issue. According to the thoughts of Moran & Mallman (2019), rural Australians are facing economic issues as they are treated as backward people in the community. I think that voice needs to be raised against this nuisance with the direct involvement of media and Government in the process of socialisation. It is obvious that a number of Government and non-Government media in Australia have presented the income-related social inequalities among the rural as well as urban people in Australia.  

Along with this, the Government has also come forward to support the economic needs of poor people by providing them with a monetary grant. According to me, these are some basic aspects of socialisation and the establishment of social equalities in the community. As mentioned by Paus-Hasebrink, Kulterer & Sinner (2019), media has prominent effects on managing social equalities through broadening people’s views. I can mention that the media and the Government need to be more effective to address the concerning issue of social inequality. Conducting campaign and supporting equalities with effective legislations are necessary, so that rural people of Australia can also enjoy the outcomes of socialisation. One of the key negative impacts of social inequalities is the internal conflict in the community. Thus, as per my views, it becomes clear that each and every individual within a community has rights to explore their social benefits equally in comparison with people from higher economic classes. Van Krieken et al., (2017) supported this fact and mentioned that when all individuals within a society can be able to have equal benefits for development, then the concept of socialisation will be successfully proved. 

Conclusion

Thus, it can be concluded that the impacts of media and Government are playing an essential in supporting socialisation in Australia. Media has become effective to enhance mass awareness among people whereas the Government is engaged in implementing a legal framework to mitigate the concerning social issue in a genuine manner. I have reflected upon my understandings related to the needs of socialisation in terms of elimination of harmful inequality from society. The economic inequality is one of the main social issues in Australia that has developed an invisible barrier for proper development of the community. In the case of business purpose, people are segregated based on their race, gender as well as ethnicity and it is affecting their income range. According to me, media and Government are two effective sources that impact on broadening of people's views, so that the process of socialisation can be maintained properly and it becomes advantageous to maintain a constant rate of social activities. In the modern age, social media and mass media both are important to share people’s views on surroundings and the Government has come forward to provide effective support to people for handling social issues. In this way, the thesis of the essay has been explained critically.