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Sociology 201

Sociology 201. Chapter 7 Poverty. What is Poverty?. The Social Security Administration calculates the poverty line In 2000, the OPL was $13,314 for 3 and $17,404 for 4 This is $4,351/person per year or $363/month

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Sociology 201

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  1. Sociology 201 Chapter 7 Poverty

  2. What is Poverty? • The Social Security Administration calculates the poverty line • In 2000, the OPL was $13,314 for 3 and $17,404 for 4 • This is $4,351/person per year or $363/month • In reality, a person is poor if they are denied proper food, health, diet, clothing, & shelter

  3. Who Are The Poor? • 13.7% or 36.5 million Americans were poor in 1996 • This figure is low because it is easy for the census to miss the poor and the OPL is very low • Concentration of the poor • Racial minorities • Women • 2/3 of poor adult population • Children • Around 14.46 million • The elderly • Location • The West has the highest rate of poverty followed by the south. Why? • The Poor-poor • Those living at or under ½ the OPL

  4. Why Are The Poor, Poor? • They have little money and training • The wealthy often perpetuate the plight of the poor • Wealth & ownership is concentrated • Again, take a look at the figures on wealth & ownership from chapter two… • Business practices often contribute • Technological changes • Multinational corps. • Megamergers • Low wages for bigger profits • Government may perpetuate poverty • Unemployment comp. & welfare only provide a subsistence living

  5. Ideological Support for Inequality • Our culture favors inequality • Our values & beliefs support the economic status quo • E.g. we learn about competitive individualism at an early age • Once internalized we think there will always be “winners” and “losers” without thinking that the race might be rigged

  6. Consequences of Poverty • Our economic situation has psychological factors • Sense of self worth • Sense of security • Life chances are unequally distributed • By birth, an upper class child will be able to buy a better life • Denial of educational opportunities means that much human talent and potential remains hidden or wasted • It is costly • Welfare, employment comp., crime, etc.

  7. Looking at the Problem Theoretically • The Interpretive Perspective • A student vs. A person below the OPL • Who “feels” poor? • The Functionalist Perspective • Must pay more for positions that require substantial training and talent • Need the poor to perform the “dirty” work that • The poor keep wages low • Thus poverty provides important “functions” for society • The Conflict Perspective • Inequality comes from the struggle over scarce resources • The rich use their position to keep the poor poor • They pass their advantages to their children

  8. Potential Solutions • Education • People need to know how pervasive poverty is • Work out precise mechanisms to redistribute wealth & income • One solution is the NIT (Negative Income Tax) • Rework the tax structure • Free or low-cost services should be made available to all • E.g. Insurance, job training, child care, etc.

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