What is Poverty?
When you have studied this PowerPoint, you should understand some of the basic ideas and language that are used in the study of poverty.
Neil Reardon, Brynteg Comprehensive School, Bridgend
Is poverty a new concept?
What does this historical image tell us about poverty?
Is this poverty?
Why do we need to make poverty history?
http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/
ABSOLUTE POVERTY
If you live in absolute poverty you have none of these basic
things for living.
Explaining Poverty
Reason Ideas for and against
The government should provide help for poor
people
The structure of society is unfair
and unequal
Some people have a culture
that keeps them poor
People find it difficult to
escape poverty
• Peter Townsend said that people who do not have what other people take for granted are poor.
• Look at the list he drew up. Do you agree with all of the points?
RELATIVE POVERTY: TOWNSEND STUDY
• No holiday way from home in the last 12 months.• No relative or friend to visit for a meal in the last month.• Has not had a friend to play, or for tea, in the last month (under
15).• Did not have a party on last birthday (children).• Has not had an afternoon or evening out for entertainment in the
last two weeks.• Does not have fresh meat at least 4 times a week.• Has had one or more days in the last two weeks without a hot
meal.• Has not had a cooked breakfast most days of the week.• Household does not have a fridge.• Household does not normally have a Sunday dinner.• Household does not have: a flushing toilet, sink or washbasin
with cold water, a fixed bath or shower and a cooker.
RELATIVE POVERTY: TOWNSEND STUDY
What age groups fall into poverty?
What are the reasons for poverty?
• It is the fault of individuals because they have a different set of cultural values.
• Immediate Gratification, when people want pleasures now and do not work for the future
• Fatalism, when people think, ‘what will be’ and assume they cannot escape from a bad situation
• Poor people do not have a good work ethic and expect bad jobs
• Poor people are the victims of the unequal distribution of wealth.
• The poor do not have enough education to deal with money problems.
• Some people who live in poverty come from harsh backgrounds (domestic violence).
• Many people do not possess the skills to get out of poverty.
Poverty and Education
Why might poor children find it difficult to do well in school?
The Cycle of DeprivationBorn poor
Bad nourishment
Ill health
Misses school
Few qualifications
Low paid, difficult work
Criminality for money
Criminal record
Unemployment
Early parenthood
Bad area to live in
Large families
Family break up
How true is this picture
of why people are
poor?
Charles Murray says poor people form an underclass and are a threat to society.What do you think?
The underclass is the group at the bottom of society
Benefits encourage people to depend on the
state rather than get jobs because it is easier
for them
Lone mothers are bad parents and allow boys to be criminal. They are
bad role models
The norms and values of the underclass are a disease
that threaten society
Teenage girls get pregnant for houses
and benefit
Young men are involved in crime and do not work for their
families.
Women and Poverty“The Feminisation of
Poverty”.
They do not earn as much as men. They do not have pensions
They are more likely to be lone mothers and therefore poor.
Women do not have access to the money in the home. When relationships break
up, they lose out
It is difficult to get jobs when you provide care for children and
relatives
What do you think about these ideas? What evidence is there to support them?
Poverty Test.
2. Name three groups of people who may find themselves in poverty.
3. Clearly explain two reasons (use sociological words if possible) why women find themselves in poverty.
4. Clearly explain two reasons why it is difficult for some of the lower class to get out of poverty.
5. What does the term “cycle of deprivation” mean?
6. Which age group fell the most into poverty by the year 2000?
7. Which is the only age group that seems to be decreasing in terms of the amount of people affected by poverty?
Poverty Test.
8. Explain the meaning of the term cultural poverty.
9. Who is to blame for poverty according to structural ideas about poverty?
10. Explain underclass theory and assess its usefulness
Essay style question
Discuss reasons why some social groups are more likely to find themselves in poverty.
You must make references to at least two different social groups.
Do your own personal research and develop your ideas with reference to studies and to research.
Remember the two assessment objectives of
• Knowledge and understanding• Analysis and evaluation
The end