Saying that, “failure to address these issues not only hurts these workers’ families, it erodes the functioning of America’s communities, its economy and our very notions of what democracy can achieve (Fairness Initiative).” Also, although food stamps are supposed to be there to help working poor families, it still in the end leads to further erode in their economic well-being. So in dealing with all these issues, many working poor families are left stressed. The fact of these families living in poverty is enough, but also the fact that children have to endure these conditions in poverty is unbearable. “. .
Comparisons between the classes usually turn out to be “deficit” accounts of lower-status families. Culture of poverty, underclass Cultural explanations obscure or ignore the social and material realities of class. Rodman: “lower class family traits” are actually solutions to problems faced by lower class people Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID): families experience short-term spells of poverty as result of dramatic changes (divorce, sudden unemployment, serious illness) Structural Explanations of Class Examine the ways in which social class shapes the networks of relationships between families, individuals, and institutions. Focus on relationships of power between class groups The key to social
It is easier to blame the person than it is to blame the society for their failure. Many societies provide inequality for its people, discriminating against minorities and failing to provide enough jobs and opportunities. Several people are trapped into institutional discrimination. Structural conditions of society can be blamed for poverty. Most jobs today, require a College degree.
They also live for the moment (present gratification). Some sociologists say that these attitudes and values prevent people from escaping poverty. For example, the attitudes and values of the poor mean that many don't stay in education, so they can't use qualifications to escape from their poverty. Some sociologists criticise this explanation of poverty because although it shows how people in poverty might adapt to their situation, it doesn't explain why people are in poverty in the first place. Another explanation of poverty is the poverty cycle.
Whether it was to try to help their parents make more money, or to feed themselves, they would work. Some of the problems the workers would have were the lack of time and of money. They worked under very poor conditions, and did not have many privileges. Incidents like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory had major effects on the way the escapes in buildings were designed. Anyways all these incidents, made a difference, the government
“The definition of what is poverty or who is poor and how it can be alleviated is specific to each and every place” (Buchy, 2010), in other words, poverty is relative. The British sociologist Peter Townsend provides a much more relevant definition where to be in poverty people: “lack the resources to obtain the types of diets, participate in the activities and have the living conditions and amenities which are customary...in the societies to which they belong...they are, in effect, excluded from ordinary living patterns, customs and activities.” (Townsend, 1979, p.31) Nevertheless, the advantages of income and expenditure measures shall be explored along with the other dimensions of poverty measurement and why they are needed. There is much debate on the short-comings and the advantages of the measurement of poverty by poverty lines as used by the Worldbank. Certainly its primary advantage is that it provides a clear and tangible ”criterion for deciding if an individual or household is poor” (Allen and Thomas, 2000), and with a Millenium Development goal of reducing by one half the proportion of people in extreme poverty by 2015, this is the most logical measurement to equip. It allows for the
In society today poverty is measured to ways either absolute poverty, or relative poverty. Lets start with Absolute poverty, Absolute poverty measures the number of people living below a certain income threshold or the number of households unable to afford certain basic goods and services like food water and shelter. This is the level of poverty you most likely picture when you hear the word poverty. Usually commercials of foreign children, with bloated bellies who suffer from malnutrition and lack of clean water. Absolut poverty is mostly prevalent in developing countries like India or Haiti, but the United States is not immune from it.
It has always been difficult to move from middle class to upper class (although it has been done by some a few). The stagnant economy is putting the middle class at risk of sliding into the lower classes of poor. The structural-functional approach to this problem is at a macro level of analysis. Social stratification, which includes the middle class, is seen as a system of unequal rewards that benefits society as a whole. Social position reflects personal talents and abilities in a competitive economy.
Individuals with lower levels of education tend to deal with economic problems. In this fast growing and demanding era, living cost can be an issue for those who cannot meet the demand. The rent, utilities bills, food and not to mention when it comes to family with children; the diapers, formula, you name it, these basic necessity can be a burden for lower income parents. According to Bureau of Labor Statistic, the median weekly earning of people with no degree is $638 and the percentage of unemployment is 33%. This is due to the lack of interest by the organization to take them as employee.
Inequality of conditions refers to the unequal distribution of income, wealth and material goods. Housing, for example, is an inequality of conditions with the homeless and those living in housing projects sitting at the bottom of the hierarchy while those living in multi-million dollar mansions sitting at the top. Inequality of opportunities refers to the unequal distribution of "life chances" across individuals. This is reflected in measures such as level of education, health status, and treatment by the criminal justice system. For example, why do upper-class white males typically have more opportunities for wealth and success compared to lower-class black males, who have a higher chance of landing in the criminal justice system?