Poverty

Defining Poverty Defining poverty is a very problematic task: Involves subjective experience Diverse objective definitions Attaches label Value judgements

Absolute Poverty Based on basic subsistence levels. Early poverty studies based upon absolute poverty. Attempts to draw a poverty line based upon wealth and income.

Relative Poverty Looks beyond financial. Brings in: -housing provision -health access -education -‘luxury’ items -participation in society

Relative Poverty Allows comparison between groups (social class, gender etc) within a culture. Geographical comparisons. Historical comparisons.

Multiple Deprivation Based on relative poverty. Attempts to show full impact of poverty upon individuals. Not just a lack of money but also: -poor housing -poor education -poor diet -poor lifestyle

Social Exclusion Popular term among New Right politicians. Often implies specific groups being targeted for social reform. Often confused with poverty, but tends to focus more upon relationships within society.

Sociology and Poverty Studies into poverty represent one of the major areas of sociological investigation. Major debate between macro, major cultural influences acting upon people, and micro approaches, individuals negotiating with their cultural environment. Sociology does not offer a single definition or solution but a range of perspectives and debate.

Peter Townsend Studies into poverty were catapulted into new directions with the contributions from Townsend. His work allowed more theoretical explanations of poverty to move beyond the economic and into areas such as participation in society and with quality of life.

Peter Townsend Approach focussed more upon the structural causes of poverty compared to the more individualistic accounts. Townsend developed a deprivation index which allowed researchers the opportunity to consider lifestyle, access to amenities and health provision as part of the bigger picture of poverty and inequality.

Underclass A culture of the poor. Socialised into their own values, norms and roles. Deviant to mainstream culture. Product of welfare and social security provision (encourages laziness). Popular theory with Right Wing politicians and some sectors of the mass media.

Underclass Can also be a term used by macro approaches to identify individuals oppressed to the margins of society. Therefore ‘underclass’ used by contrasting theories to mean significantly different situations.

Functionalism Consensus. Meritocracy. Social institutions work together to protect whole society (metaphors) Poverty serves functions: -incentive to accept consensus (work to avoid poverty-agree to consensus) -provides jobs (policing, benefits and so on)

Functionalism Social order and the performance of culture hinges upon individuals being socialised into the consensus culture. Whilst a society can absorb some deviance and adapt to change too much within any one area will be catastrophic for that society and bring about collapse.

Marxism Conflict between social classes based upon the bourgeoisie striving to maximise profit by oppressing the proletariat. Middle class, having internalised the capitalist ideology, act as a buffer zone between the extremes of the higher and lower classes. Social institutions operate hidden agenda, whilst appear to satisfy functions in reality always support the capitalist system.

Radical Feminism Patriarchal. Feminine roles less valued by society. Female employment vulnerable because frequently part time, low status and less union protection. Many women follow ‘M’ shaped participation in economic activity. Women oppressed by men.

Radical Feminism Highlights the child care provision of women in relation to economic activity. Many women prevented from pursuing careers because of actual or anticipated (by male employers) breaks to raise children. Glass ceiling applies to promotion. Female dominated jobs often ‘managed’ by men.