What is Poverty?

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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
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Is poverty a new concept?
What does this historical image tell us about
poverty?
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Is this poverty?
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Why do we need to make poverty history?
http//www.makepovertyhistory.org/
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ABSOLUTE POVERTY
If you live in absolute poverty you have none of
these basic things for living.
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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
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RELATIVE POVERTY TOWNSEND STUDY

• 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?

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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.

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What age groups fall into poverty?
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What are the reasons for poverty?
Structural Poverty
Cultural 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.

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Poverty and Education
Why might poor children find it difficult to do
well in school?
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The Cycle of Deprivation
Large families
Born poor
Family break up
Bad nourishment
Early parenthood
How true is this picture of why people are poor?
Bad area to live in
Ill health
Unemployment
Misses school
Criminal record
Few qualifications
Criminality for money
Low paid, difficult work
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New Right and the Underclass.
The underclass is the group at the bottom of
society
Teenage girls get pregnant for houses and benefit
Benefits encourage people to depend on the state
rather than get jobs because it is easier for them
Charles Murray says poor people form an
underclass and are a threat to society. What do
you think?
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
Young men are involved in crime and do not work
for their families.
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Women are often poor
They do not earn as much as men. They do not have
pensions
Women do not have access to the money in the
home. When relationships break up, they lose out
Women and Poverty The Feminisation of Poverty.
They are more likely to be lone mothers and
therefore poor.
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?
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Poverty Test.

1. Name three groups of people who may find
   themselves in poverty.
2. Clearly explain two reasons (use sociological
   words if possible) why women find themselves in
   poverty.
3. Clearly explain two reasons why it is difficult
   for some of the lower class to get out of
   poverty.
4. What does the term cycle of deprivation mean?

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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?
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Poverty Test.

1. Explain the meaning of the term cultural poverty.
2. Who is to blame for poverty according to
   structural ideas about poverty?
3. Explain underclass theory and assess its
   usefulness

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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