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16: Poverty

  • Page ID
    332590
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    • 16.1: The Measurement and Extent of Poverty
      This page discusses the official poverty measurement in the U.S., established in 1963 by Mollie Orshanky, which uses a food cost ratio. It critiques this outdated measure for not considering rising living costs and noncash income. In 2010, 15.1% were officially in poverty, but a Supplemental Poverty Measure indicates a higher figure, highlighting that many families are living in near poverty.
    • 16.2: Who the Poor Are- Social Patterns of Poverty
      This page explores poverty in the U.S., highlighting factors like race, gender, and family structure that influence rates. In 2010, the poverty rate was 15.1%, with non-Latino whites comprising a large portion of the poor. The page addresses the feminization of poverty and the vulnerability of children in single-mother households. It challenges stereotypes about laziness, noting that 80% of the poor are in the labor force or unable to work.
    • 16.3: Explaining Poverty
      This page examines social stratification and poverty through major sociological perspectives: functionalism views stratification as essential for societal stability; conflict theory attributes poverty to systemic inequality and discrimination; and symbolic interactionism highlights its impact on individual identity and daily interactions.
    • 16.4: The Consequences of Poverty
      This page examines the impacts of poverty on children and families, noting its association with poor health and educational outcomes that can perpetuate cycles of disadvantage. It highlights the relationship between poverty and street crime, indicating that those in poverty are susceptible to both committing and becoming victims of crime. The section also contrasts poverty rates in the U.S. with other Western democracies, emphasizing that the U.S.
    • 16.5: Global Poverty
      This page examines global poverty, revealing severe disparities in income and living conditions, with many surviving on less than $2 daily. It categorizes nations by GDP per capita and critiques modernization and dependency theories for inadequately explaining poverty's root causes. The devastating impacts of poverty on health, sanitation, and education are emphasized, and the cyclical nature of poverty is highlighted.
    • 16.6: Reducing Poverty
      This page examines the neglect of poverty in the U.S., attributing it to misconceptions about individual failings, and emphasizes that addressing systemic issues is crucial. It calls for a shift in public perception, viewing poverty as a moral dilemma, and advocates for increased federal aid, full employment, and better education and healthcare.
    • 16.7: End-of-Chapter Material
      This page discusses the limitations of poverty statistics and highlights the higher prevalence of poverty among vulnerable groups. It examines various sociological theories on poverty's causes, including functionalism and conflict theory, and emphasizes the severe consequences of global poverty, particularly in Africa and Asia. The page advocates for addressing structural causes and encourages community involvement as a means to combat poverty's effects.


    16: Poverty is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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