Socio-economic influences

1. Socio-economic influences Learning Intention By the end of this lesson you should be able to: • Define & list the main socio-economic influences. • Evaluate these influences in terms of how they affect the development of an individual.

2. Start activity Who have you spoke to or seen today? In you groups make a list of the people you have spoke to our seen today. When you are happy sort them into groups…. You chose their titles

3. What are the groups?

4. Quick recap on Family • According to Giddens (1997) what is socialisation? • Describe the 4 main types of family there are? • List 4 functions of the family.

5. Economic influence: The economic resources of an individual family can make a major difference to a persons quality of life. Why? 'Billions needed' to stop child poverty - Channel 4 News The weekly income enables them to pay for their house, buy food and clothes. Income mainly comes from: • Wages • Benefits paid by the government. • Money from invested wealth. • Money raised through the sale of property.

6. Key groups of people who have to live on very little money: • One-parent families • Unemployed people • Elderly people • Sick and disabled people • Unskilled couples.

7. Poverty and Life Chances • Poverty shortens lives. A boy in Manchester can expect to live seven years less than a boy in Barnet. A girl in Manchester can expect to live six years less than a girl in Kensington Chelsea and Westminster. • Poor children are born too small; birth weight is on average 130 grams lower in children from social classes IV and V. Low birth weight is closely associated with infant death and chronic diseases in later life. • Poverty shapes children's development. Before reaching his or her second birthday, a child from a poorer family is already more likely to show a lower level of attainment than a child from a better-off family. By the age of six a less able child from a rich family is likely to have overtaken an able child born into a poor family. • Children aged up to 14 from unskilled families are 5 times more likely to die in an accident than children from professional families, and 15 times more likely to die in a fire at home. • Children growing up in poverty are more likely to leave school at 16 with fewer qualifications. • 2% of couples and 8% of lone parents cannot afford two pairs of shoes for each child. • 12% of lone parents cannot afford celebrations with presents at special occasions. Mark Family and Children Study, 2004

8. Impact of low income: • Shortens life expectancy (accident & poor development) • Affects a persons physical development (nutrition etc maybe affected) • Affects a person’s chances of success (education and job success) • Are more likely to commit crime. This is supported by Paxton and Dixon (2004) – “Children who grew up in poverty during the 1970’s did worse at school, were six times less likely to enter higher education, and one and a half tomes more likely to be unemployed – and earn 10% less during their lifetimes than those who did not experience poverty as children”.

9. Paxton and Dixon – list 3 disadvantages of poverty. • (1) Poverty is associated with being a victim of crime. • (2) Poorer communities are more likely to be in polluted areas. • (3) Low social class is associated with an increased risk of dying young.

10. Some problems a child belonging to low income family may face:

11. Discuss how living in poverty could affect an adult’s self-concept. /12 Self concept is a term used to describe how an individual may develop and view themselves. Living poverty may affect an individual’s development in a number of ways. Firstly they are more likely to not continue to third level education. This can mean they are employed in unskilled work or not employed at all. This lack of opportunity may result in the person feeling worthless or hopeless. They may also feel low in self-esteem as there may be limited ways for them to feel a sense of achievement. Secondly someone living in poverty may make comparison with others with more money. They may feel inadequate or embarrassed as they are not able to buy the latest gadgets or fashions.

12. Discuss how living in poverty could affect an adult’s self-concept. /12 This can lead to feelings of guilt as they may not be able to provide for their children, and their children may get bullied or stigmatised at school as a result. Their children’s health may also be affected. As the family will have to carefully budget how they spend their money. Therefore the weekly shopping may consist of food with little nutritional value as fresh fruit, veg and meat are expensive. This can lead to many health problems including obesity and diabetes. Poverty is also linked to lower life expectancy, and this is one of the contributing factors.