systemic issue
[sis-ˈte-mik ˈi-ˌshü]
noun phrasepl: systemic issues
problema sistêmico
1. A problem that is inherent to the structure or design of a system rather than caused by individual mistakes or failures
The high dropout rate is a systemic issue rooted in inadequate funding and poor school infrastructure.
A alta taxa de evasão escolar é um problema sistêmico enraizado no financiamento inadequado e na infraestrutura escolar deficiente.
2. A widespread problem affecting multiple parts of an organization or society that requires structural change to resolve
Police brutality in the department was identified as a systemic issue requiring comprehensive reform.
A brutalidade policial no departamento foi identificada como um problema sistêmico que exige reforma abrangente.
3. A fundamental flaw or dysfunction embedded within the rules, processes, or culture of a system
Income inequality is a systemic issue that cannot be solved by individual charity alone.
A desigualdade de renda é um problema sistêmico que não pode ser resolvido apenas por caridade individual.
In contemporary discourse, both in the USA and Brazil, 'systemic issue' has become a key term in discussions about social justice, inequality, and institutional reform. The phrase gained particular prominence in discussions about systemic racism and police reform in the United States. In Brazil, 'problema sistêmico' is frequently used when discussing corruption, educational inequality, and healthcare access challenges. The term emphasizes that issues are not individual failures but rather require comprehensive, structural solutions.
Related Idioms & Phrases
get to the root of the problem
fix the system, not the symptom
structural reform is needed
systemic change from the ground up
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