2: Poverty
- Page ID
- 14481
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 2.1: The Measurement and Extent of Poverty
- This page examines the U.S. official poverty measurement, set in 1963, which is criticized for being outdated and not accounting for essential and regional costs. In 2010, the poverty rate was 15.1%, impacting 46.2 million individuals, with analysts recommending a threshold of twice the poverty line for basic needs. A Supplemental Poverty Measure indicates that about 49.1 million are in poverty, revealing that over 100 million Americans live in poverty or near poverty.
- 2.2: Who the Poor Are- Social Patterns of Poverty
- This page explores the complexities of poverty in the U.S., revealing that non-Latino whites constitute the largest group of poor individuals, while African Americans and Latinos face higher rates. It highlights that 22% of children live in poverty, particularly in single-parent households. Most poor individuals are working or seeking jobs, dispelling myths that poverty is due to laziness.
- 2.3: Explaining Poverty
- This page explores sociological perspectives on social stratification and poverty, including functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. It discusses functionalism's view of stratification as necessary for societal stability, conflict theory's focus on power struggles between classes, and symbolic interactionism's examination of everyday experiences related to poverty.
- 2.4: The Consequences of Poverty
- This page highlights the profound effects of childhood poverty on health, education, and family stability. It emphasizes that poor educational outcomes often arise from inadequate schooling rather than economic status alone. Factors like homelessness and crime are linked to poverty, with comparisons to higher U.S. poverty rates due to lower wages and minimal social support. Successful strategies in the U.K.
- 2.5: Global Poverty
- This page highlights global poverty's disparities between rich and poor nations, with 1.4 billion living below the $1.25 per day threshold. It contrasts modernization and dependency theories, favoring the latter for historical exploitation explanations. The page discusses the ongoing challenges faced by colonized nations, such as poor education and labor exploitation by multinational corporations. Additionally, it reviews adult literacy as a development indicator and critiques U.S.
- 2.6: Reducing Poverty
- This page addresses the neglect of the poor in the U.S., highlighting the historical context and a decrease in poverty since the 1960s. It critiques misconceptions about poverty and advocates for political mobilization and antipoverty programs, while contrasting U.S. efforts with global strategies like microfinancing. It also emphasizes a structural approach to global poverty, focusing on dependency theory, reducing inequalities, and supporting women.
- 2.7: End-of-Chapter Material
- This page highlights that poverty statistics can underestimate the issue due to measurement flaws and the struggles of those near the poverty line. High rates of poverty affect children, minorities, and single-parent households. Sociological theories offer differing explanations, from individual failings to systemic challenges. Global poverty, especially in developing countries, is influenced by historical exploitation and modernization issues.