Exercise 1
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence about society and social issues.
Example: The government introduced new policies to reduce social ___. (inequality / similarity / balance)
Answer: The government introduced new policies to reduce social inequality.
Society and Social Issues: B2 Vocabulary Lesson
Understanding the language of society and social issues is essential at B2 level. Whether you are reading a newspaper editorial, listening to a political debate, or writing an academic essay, you need precise vocabulary to discuss topics such as inequality, discrimination, and civic responsibility. This lesson will help you express complex social ideas clearly and confidently, using formal and semi-formal English.
Setting the Scene
Read the following short situation before exploring the vocabulary:
Amara is a sociology student preparing a presentation on inequality in modern cities. She has been reading articles about poverty, housing shortages, and discrimination. Her professor has asked her to discuss both the causes of social problems and possible solutions. To do this effectively, Amara needs a strong command of vocabulary related to society and social issues.
The words and phrases in this lesson will help you discuss topics like Amara's with confidence and accuracy.
Key Vocabulary and Meaning Breakdown
1. Inequality, Poverty, and Deprivation
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| inequality | noun — an unfair difference in the way people are treated or in the opportunities they have | Growing inequality between rich and poor neighbourhoods is one of the most pressing problems in modern cities. | social inequality, economic inequality, tackle / address inequality, widen / narrow the inequality gap |
| deprivation | noun — a state of lacking basic necessities or comforts of life | Children growing up in areas of severe deprivation often have fewer educational opportunities. | social deprivation, material deprivation, areas of deprivation, suffer deprivation |
| poverty line | noun phrase — the minimum level of income considered necessary to afford basic living standards | Nearly a fifth of the population in that region lives below the poverty line. | fall below / live below / rise above the poverty line |
| marginalised | adjective — pushed to the edges of society and treated as less important or less powerful | Marginalised communities often struggle to access healthcare and legal representation. | marginalised groups / communities / voices; feel / become marginalised |
| social mobility | noun phrase — the ability to move from one social or economic class to another, typically upward | Education is widely regarded as the most effective driver of social mobility. | upward / downward social mobility, promote / hinder social mobility |
| redistribution | noun — the act of sharing wealth, income, or resources more equally across society | Some economists argue that redistribution of wealth through progressive taxation is necessary to reduce inequality. | redistribution of wealth / income / resources; support / oppose redistribution |
2. Discrimination, Prejudice, and Social Justice
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| discrimination | noun — the unjust treatment of different groups of people, especially on the grounds of race, gender, age, or religion | Legislation alone is not sufficient to eliminate discrimination in the workplace. | racial / gender / age discrimination; face / experience / combat discrimination; discriminate against someone |
| prejudice | noun — an unreasonable dislike or distrust of people who are different from you, often based on stereotypes | Cultural prejudice can persist even when laws are put in place to protect minority groups. | deep-rooted / widespread prejudice; overcome / challenge prejudice; prejudice against a group |
| stereotype | noun / verb — a widely held but oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing | The media can reinforce harmful stereotypes if it consistently portrays certain groups in a negative light. | challenge / reinforce / break / perpetuate stereotypes; racial / gender stereotypes |
| systemic | adjective — relating to a problem that exists within the entire system, not just in isolated cases | Campaigners argue that systemic racism must be addressed through wide-ranging institutional reform. | systemic racism / inequality / bias / change; deeply / inherently systemic |
| social justice | noun phrase — the concept of a fair and equal society in which human rights are respected | She dedicated her career to campaigning for social justice and equal rights for all citizens. | promote / fight for / advocate social justice; social justice movement / activist |
| inclusive | adjective — designed to include all members of society, especially those who might otherwise be excluded | Schools should adopt more inclusive practices to ensure that children with disabilities feel valued. | inclusive society / education / policy / approach; become more inclusive |
| stigma | noun — a mark of shame or disgrace associated with a particular circumstance or quality | There is still a significant stigma surrounding mental illness in many societies. | social stigma; attach a stigma to something; reduce / overcome / challenge stigma; stigmatise (verb) |
3. Civic Life, Community, and Social Change
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| civic responsibility | noun phrase — the duties and obligations that citizens have towards their community and society | Voting is one of the most basic expressions of civic responsibility in a democracy. | sense of civic responsibility; fulfil / promote civic responsibility |
| grassroots | adjective — relating to ordinary people or local communities, rather than powerful institutions or leaders | The environmental movement began as a grassroots campaign before gaining national attention. | grassroots movement / campaign / organisation / support; at grassroots level |
| advocacy | noun — public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy | Her work in advocacy helped raise awareness of the rights of asylum seekers. | advocacy group / campaign; engage in / support advocacy; advocate (verb / noun) |
| cohesion | noun — the quality of being united and working well together as a group | High levels of immigration can both challenge and enrich social cohesion, depending on government policy. | social cohesion; strengthen / undermine / promote cohesion; community cohesion |
| accountability | noun — the fact of being responsible for your decisions and actions and expected to explain them | Greater accountability in public institutions is essential for maintaining public trust. | political / public / corporate accountability; demand / ensure / lack accountability; hold someone to account |
| welfare state | noun phrase — a system in which the government provides basic economic security for its citizens through benefits, healthcare, and housing | Supporters of the welfare state argue that it is a crucial safety net for vulnerable people. | support / dismantle / reform the welfare state; welfare system / benefits / provision |
| reform | noun / verb — a change or improvement made to a law, system, or institution | The government announced sweeping reforms to the prison system aimed at reducing reoffending. | social / political / educational reform; call for / introduce / implement reform; wide-ranging / sweeping reforms |
Collocations and Useful Expressions
address + a social issue
Governments must address the social issues that cause poverty and exclusion.
Use address (not "resolve" or "fix") in formal contexts when speaking about problems that need serious attention.
tackle + inequality / discrimination / poverty
There is no simple solution to tackling deep-rooted inequality.
Tackle is slightly less formal than address and suggests active effort.
bridge + the gap
Educational investment could help bridge the gap between wealthy and deprived communities.
Common in both spoken and written formal English.
raise + awareness
Social media campaigns have been effective in raising awareness of gender discrimination.
Always use raise, not "increase" or "heighten", with awareness.
fight for + rights / justice / equality
Activists have been fighting for the rights of refugees for decades.
Fight for is more emotive and commonly used in speech and journalism.
come to terms with + a problem / change
Society is still coming to terms with the rapid pace of demographic change.
This expression implies a process of gradual acceptance.
deeply rooted / deep-seated (adjective phrases)
Deep-seated prejudice cannot be eliminated overnight.
Both mean that a problem has existed for a long time and is difficult to change. Note: deep-seated is more formal; deep-rooted is also widely used.
a safety net (metaphor)
The benefit system is intended to act as a safety net for those who fall into poverty.
A very common metaphor in discussions of social policy and welfare.
on the margins of society
Homeless individuals often live on the margins of society with little access to support.
Similar to "marginalised" — use this phrase to add variety to your writing.
Important Differences and Confusing Words
Inequality vs Injustice vs Unfairness
These three words are related but have distinct meanings in formal contexts.
- Inequality refers specifically to a measurable gap or disparity between groups — for example, in income, health, or education. It is a structural or statistical concept. There is significant income inequality between urban and rural areas.
- Injustice refers to a specific wrong or a violation of someone's rights. It implies moral wrongdoing. The court ruling was seen as a grave injustice by the local community.
- Unfairness is more informal and subjective. It describes a situation that feels wrong or partial. There is a general sense of unfairness about how the new policy affects low-income families.
Prejudice vs Discrimination
Prejudice is an internal attitude — a negative opinion or feeling about a group that is not based on evidence. It lives in the mind.
He admitted that he had certain prejudices that he was trying to overcome.
Discrimination is the external action — the actual unfair treatment of a person or group based on those prejudices. It is behaviour, not just a thought.
She was passed over for promotion, which she believed was an act of gender discrimination.
In short: prejudice → attitude; discrimination → action.
Immigrant vs Refugee vs Asylum Seeker
These terms are often confused, but they have legal and social distinctions.
- Immigrant — a person who moves to another country, usually for work, family, or a better life. This is a broad term covering many situations.
- Refugee — a person who has been forced to leave their country due to war, persecution, or disaster and has been officially recognised as such under international law.
- Asylum seeker — a person who has applied for refugee status but whose claim has not yet been decided. They are not yet officially classified as refugees.
Using these terms correctly is important in both academic writing and public debate.
Reform vs Revolution
Reform implies gradual, structured change within an existing system. Prison reform is a long-term process that requires political will.
Revolution implies a radical, complete overhaul — often sudden and dramatic. Some activists argue that reform is not enough and that a social revolution is necessary.
Common Mistakes
❌ We need to resolve the inequality in our society.
✅ We need to address / tackle the inequality in our society.
In formal contexts, address or tackle are much more natural collocations with inequality. Resolve is better used with conflicts, problems, or disputes that have clear solutions.
❌ She experienced a prejudice at work because of her religion.
✅ She experienced discrimination at work because of her religion.
Prejudice is an internal attitude. When someone is treated unfairly, the correct word is discrimination. Also note: prejudice is usually uncountable, so a prejudice is rarely correct in this context.
❌ The government must increase awareness about homelessness.
✅ The government must raise awareness about homelessness.
The standard collocation is raise awareness, not increase or heighten awareness. This is one of the most common mistakes in formal English writing.
❌ Many marginalised people live in the margin of society.
✅ Many marginalised people live on the margins of society.
The correct preposition is on, and the noun is always plural: on the margins of society.
❌ The new law made a big reform in the education system.
✅ The new law introduced a major reform to the education system.
Use introduce, implement, or bring about with reform. Also, major or significant are more appropriate than big in formal writing.
❌ She discriminates people because of their background.
✅ She discriminates against people because of their background.
The verb discriminate must be followed by the preposition against. This is a fixed collocation.
Society and Social Issues: Quick Summary and Review
In this lesson, you have explored a wide range of vocabulary related to society and social issues at B2 level. Here are the key takeaways:
- Use precise nouns like inequality, deprivation, stigma, and cohesion to describe social conditions accurately.
- Distinguish between related concepts: prejudice (an attitude) versus discrimination (an action); reform (gradual change) versus revolution (radical change).
- Learn strong collocations: tackle inequality, raise awareness, bridge the gap, fight for rights, and hold someone accountable.
- Understand the difference between immigrant, refugee, and asylum seeker to use these terms correctly and respectfully.
- Avoid common mistakes such as increase awareness, resolve inequality, or forgetting the preposition in discriminate against.
- Use formal register in writing and academic contexts: prefer address and tackle over informal alternatives like fix or deal with when appropriate.
Now practise Society and Social Issues vocabulary in the exercises below.
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