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