The Culture of Poverty “ Being the Difference ”

Why study the culture of poverty? To understand how life in poverty is different than middle class. Understanding personal values and beliefs is important in interacting and providing service.

Situational Poverty Having fewer resources (typically income) than one is accustomed to due to life events. Some common characteristics among many people in situational poverty: are surrounded by people who are educated or able to earn a living wage attend (or attended) school regularly have health care generally are able to make it back to middle class grew up in a stable environment do not internalize the poverty as their own fault

Working Class Poverty Having income but not one that allows for saving or extras. Some common characteristics among many people in working class poverty: do not own property live paycheck to paycheck do not have health care view poverty as a personal deficiency

Generational Poverty When a family’s economic level remains low for two or more generations. Some common characteristics among many people who are from generational poverty: typically family has never owned land typically never knew anyone who benefited from education typically never knew anyone who moved up or was respected in a job highly mobile high family illiteracy learned helplessness

Resources and Poverty Working definition of poverty – “The extent to which an individual does without resources ” Ruby Payne, Ph.D. A Framework for Understanding Poverty

Resource Continuum Under Resourced Instability/Crisis Isolation Dysfunction Concrete Reality Casual/oral language Thought polarization Survival Poverty No work/intermittent work Less educated Resourced Stability Community Functionality Abstract, representational Formal written language Option seeking Abundance Prosperity Work/careers/larger cause More Educated

Resources Financial : Having the money to purchase goods and services Emotional : Being able to choose and control emotional responses particularly to negative situations without engaging in self-destructive behavior. This is an internal resource and shows itself through stamina, perseverance and choices. Mental/Cognitive: Having the mental abilities and acquired skills (reading, writing, computing) to deal effectively with daily life. Spiritual: Believing in divine purpose and guidance/ Physical: Having physical health and mobility. Support Systems: Having friends, family and backup resources available to access in times of need. These are external resources. Relationships/Role Models: Having frequent access to individual(s) who are appropriate, who are nurturing, and who do not engage in self-destructive behavior. Knowledge of Hidden Rules: Knowing the unspoken cues and habits of different groups. Language/Formal register: Being able to competently, use the language and sentence structure of work and school.

Oral and Print Communication Learners/Styles

Oral versus Print In general, there are two styles of communication: oral and print. Print communication is highly valued in the US education system. People from generational poverty tend to have an oral style of communication and people from middle class backgrounds tend to have a print style of communication Understanding systems of communication is important when working with people of different cultures and backgrounds. Here are some of the characteristics of oral and print communicators:

Oral Communicators Focus on several ideas at once Interrupt, have multiple conversations at once Relationships are more important than anything Comfortable jumping from subject to subject It is normal to show emotions/feelings Sharing your personal experiences is how you connect You are very physical and expect physical responses When you need information, you ask those around you Telling the same stories over and over helps you understand You learn best when you get to practice in your environment You focus on what is going on around you right now You focus on the big picture, not the detail

Print Culture Focus on one idea at a time A plan is essential, your goal is to stay on task Important to think abstractly, analyze, focus on detail Like things in order…first this, than this etc. Do not show emotions unless you know someone well You do not share personal stories unless you know someone well Do not show physical affection unless you know someone well When you need information, you look for a book or article on the subject Time is crucial and you are rigid about it You sort and categorize information You approach tasks by breaking them into parts

Formal versus Casual Register Formal Register: is used if you speak in compete sentences use specific words such as those that are considered appropriate at work, school and for business transactions. Formal register contains little, if any, slang. Casual Register is the language used in conversation with friends. Words used are less specific and the message depends more on nonverbal cues than messages using a formal register. Some people have not been exposed to formal register which is the style commonly used in schools, hospitals, and clinics. If this is the case then explicit teaching might need to be done in order to help a person succeed in a particular environment. Great opportunity for mentors After school programs for children Case Manager coaching

Concepts that Living in Poverty Teaches

Success - Generally unattainable, limited to people who have a lot of luck Failure - Inevitable, no hope to overcome inherent deficiencies Job - Does not pay in respect or a living wage; takes you away from your family Emotions - Emotions are made to be expressed, publicly or privately Future - Difficult and painful to envision, so live for now

Money - To be used before it gets away, not enough anyway Police/Courts - Hurt people, the enemy, unfriendly, out to get us and should be avoided Education - For “those” people, not people like me, takes you away from your family and causes additional stresses because you don’t have the status symbols to belong (right clothes, shoes, food, car, house, etc.) Teachers - The enemy, don’t like people like me, make me feel unwanted, not cared about and stupid because I don’t know things that others seem to have mastered

Health - Care non existent, if very sick go to emergency room, share prescription medicine, glasses, remedies Doctors - Stay away and they can’t tell you bad news, not seen as advocates or caring, are seen as “knowing everything” Dentists - Fear! People we know don’t go to the dentist. When they do go, tremendous hassle to find access and then a great deal of pain. Brushing and flossing are some rules “those” people made up, won’t help me, other things more pressing than my teeth

Nutrition & Exercise - Not words we use, for people who have too much time and money on their hands, whatever is going to happen to your body will happen no matter what you do Fate - Life happens, you have no power to change it only to react to it.

One aspect of generational poverty is a learned helplessness that is passed from parents to children and on down the line. This learned helplessness can be explained as the ideology that there is no way for one to get out of poverty and so in order to make the best of their situation one must live in the moment and experience what they can when they can. This leads to people spending money right as they get it and teaches children to do the same which also creates a trap for children keeping them and their children in poverty. Ruby Payne, Author “A Framework for understanding poverty.”

Barriers to Success Systemic Silence about issues of poverty Social Class/invisible Stereotypes and lack of understanding Isolation and lack of social mobility Institutional and punitive structures Schools Banks Local Shopping Loans Drug rehab availability Prisons Homeless camps Insurance, etc.

(cont.) Barriers to success Interna l Barriers Internalizing the blame/shame Limitations on future plans and dreams Expectations for employment Expectations for education I just wanted to survive and grow up. I never really thought about being anything,. I never considered my self worthy to be anything. Reuben

Characteristics and Strengths of Those in Poverty Relationship based Spontaneous Holistic Emotional Physical Repetitious Present Oriented

Implications for action Every individual, family and community has strengths. In order to know what the strengths are one must listen to stories, narratives and personal accounts. There must be recognition of life’s difficulties, but is should also be acknowledged that these struggles create strong survivor’s who can apply their survival skills and given genuine opportunity, move forward. A “helper” is best defined a as “collaborator” or “consultant”, not an “expert” or “professional. The wisdom and resources of all parties concerned must be respected and acknowledged through listening to stories, feats, hopes and dreams.

Implications for Action (cont.) Every environment is full of resources. Many of the talents, ideas, and strategies in individuals and communities can be disregarded. Dreams, aspirations, and desires must be respected even if they appear to be set too high. It must be assumed that the upper limits of capacity are not known. Don ’ t focus on what is wrong or the deficiencies but on the person behind the poverty. Donna Beegle “See Poverty…Be the Difference”

Five Powerful Communication strategies 1.Telling Stories – using vivid examples to allow people to feel the impact of what they are doing. 2.Modeling appropriate behavior in supportive ways. 3.Developing relationships while sharing information. 4.Using simple familiar words and examples of what people can relate to. 5.Giving information verbally and repeating it frequently while maintaining good eye contact.

Characteristics of an organization that is mentoring and moving their families out of poverty Believe in the individual “Tell them what is right with them”. Help build networks of support and introduce your mentoring family member to others who can mentor. Believe there is a way out of poverty!!! See the hope! If we don’t believe this our families will see it as too much to overcome Develop a full backpack of resources.

Characteristics of an organization that is mentoring and moving their families out of poverty (cont.) Teach your families how to build and maintain their own networks of support. Have poverty competency. You must understand the structural causes of poverty… without this knowledge you are likely to blame or judge. Gain awareness of the history of poverty. Study models of which have worked and those which have not worked.

Curious By Donna Beegle I find myself more late with every crisis more angry with every injustice more greedy with every deprivation more rude with every judgment more disorganized with every eviction more negative with every untreated illness more unstable with every insecurity.

I find myself more civil with every bite more respectful with every kindness more hopeful with every chance more grateful with every opportunity more ready to learn when I am safe more motivated when there is hope more happy when I am valued. I find myself like the 37 million people in poverty responding in very human ways to my environment.

Training Content adapted from the following books The Framework of Poverty By Ruby Payne, Ph.D.. Know Poverty, Be the Difference By Donna Beegle, Ph.D..