poverty in america
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Poverty in Poverty in AmericaAmerica
From the studies of From the studies of Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D.Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D.
Poverty Poverty occurs in occurs in all races all races and in all and in all countries.countries.
Homeless Family
Generational Poverty is defined as being in poverty for 2 generations or longer.
Grandfather and Grandchild
Situational Poverty is a shorter time caused by circumstance.
Death, Illness, Divorce…
Schools and businesses operate from middle-class norms that are often not understood by those in generational poverty.
These hidden rules are not taught in school
To move from poverty to middle class or middle class to wealth, an individual must give up relationships for achievementLeaving family, friends, and
neighborhood
2 Ways to Move Out of Poverty:
(1) Education(2) Relationships
School, Training, Reading, Marriage, etc.
4 Reasons one leaves poverty:1. Too painful to stay2. Vision or goal3. Key relationship4. Talent or skill
. Rap artists, Athletes, Marriage, Mentors, Ambitious…
Poverty Rates from 2006
12.3% overall17.4% under age 1820.4% under age 5
On half of babies raised in
poverty by mothers with depression
Poor children are much more likely to suffer developmental delay, drop out of high school, and to give birth during teen years.
Graduation rate in high poverty
schools is only 68% compared to
91% in stable areas.
Poverty-prone children are more likely to be in single-parent families.Women continue to earn 30-50%
lower wages than males with equivalent educational backgrounds.
Poor inner-city youths are 7X more likely to be victims of child abuse or neglect.84% of prison inmates
were abused as children.
The poverty rate in the USA is 2 -3 times higher than that of most other major Western industrialized nations.
Over 30% of our students are designated as low-income.
Poverty cannot be looked at as a lack of financial resources only. Other resources play an important part in an individual’s success.
Emotional, Mental, Spiritual, Physical, Support System
COULD YOU SURVIVE IN COULD YOU SURVIVE IN POVERTY?POVERTY?
Do you know… Which grocery stores’ bins can be accessed for thrown away
food? How to get someone out of jail? How to physically fight and defend yourself? How to keep your clothes from being stolen at the Laundromat? How to use a knife as scissors? How to live without electricity or a phone? Where the free medical clinics are? How to get by without a car? How to move in one day? How to get and use food stamps?
COULD YOU SURVIVE IN MIDDLE COULD YOU SURVIVE IN MIDDLE CLASS?CLASS?
Do you know… How to properly set a table? How to order in a nice restaurant? How to use a credit card, checking account, and savings
account? How to get a library card? How to use most tools in the garage? How to repair or make a call to a repair service when
something breaks in the house? The best brand names in clothing? How to sign up for soccer, piano lessons, summer camp,
etc.?
COULD YOU SURVIVE IN WEALTH?COULD YOU SURVIVE IN WEALTH?
Do you know or have…
How to read a menu in French, English, and another language?
Your preferred legal service, designer, financial advisor, etc. How to ensure confidentiality from your domestic staff (i.e.
maid) How to buy the work of a particular artist? How to read a corporate financial statement How to create at least 3 screens that keep people away Two residences that are staffed and maintained? Several restaurants in different countries? Your own plane and know how to fly it?
Poverty Middle Class
Wealth
Possessions People Things Rare objects
Money Spend it Manage it Invest it
Personality Value humor
Value achievement
Value connections
Social Emphasis
Inclusion of those like
Emphasis on self-
sufficiency
Social exclusion
Food Quantity is important
Quality is important
Presentation is important
Clothing Individual style valued
Quality and label valued
Artistic sense and designer
valued
Time Present most important
Future most important
History and tradition
most important
Poverty Middle Class
Wealth
Education Valued but not a reality
Crucial for success
Necessary tradition
Destiny Believes in fate
Believes in choice
Noblesse oblige
Language Language is about
survival
Language is about
negotiation
Language is about
networking
Family Structure Matriarchal Patriarchal
Depends on who has money
World View See world in terms of local
setting
See world in terms of national setting
See world in terms of
global setting
Love Conditional upon whether
liked
Conditional upon
achievement
Conditional upon social
standing
Driving Forces
Survival, relationships, entertainmen
t
Work, Achievement
Financial, political,
social connections
Characteristics of Generational Poverty
Background noise
TV is always on, conversation is participatory, more than one person talking at once.
Entertainment When one can merely survive, then the break from survival is important.
Relationships One only has people upon whom to rely, and those relationships are important to survival.
Survival Academics not prized. People and relationships are prized. A job is about making enough money to survive—not a career.
Male Identity Males expected to work hard physically, be a “man,” a lover and a fighter
Female Identity A good woman takes care of her man and rescues him and children if necessary.
Communication Touch is used to communicate
Ownership People are possessions. There is fear about leaving the culture and “getting above your raisings.”
Characteristics of Generational Poverty
Discipline Punishment is about penance and forgiveness, not change.
Polarized Thinking
Options are hardly ever looked at. It is usually one way or another. This is why you hear: “I quit,” and “I can’t do it.”
Time Time occurs in the present. The future does not exist. No planning ahead or setting goals. Usually reactive.
Humor Valued as entertainment. This is a key aspect of poverty. Humor is almost always about people—either situations people encounter or things people do to other people.
Mating Without financial resources, the body is used to attract someone. The body is used in a sexual way and verbally and subverbally.
Language Casual expression is used for everything.
Structure Matriarchal. The mother is the most powerful position because in most situations she functions as the caretaker.
Characteristics of Generational Poverty
Get mad quickly Quit if don’t like boss or teacher
Emphasis on current feeling and not long-term effect
Settle disputes with physical or verbal assaults
Say exactly what is on mind
Enjoy sense of humor
Use personality to entertain
Very independent Many family emergencies cause tardiness and absenteeism
Need emotional warmth from boss, peers, teachers
Distrust for organizations and authority (argue or talk back)
Possessive of people they like
Need space Show favoritism and preferential treatment
Men socialize with men; women with women
Men are rugged and aggressive (survival)
Laugh when they are disciplined (saving face)
Disorganized and messy (not taught/ no place )
Language may be vulgar or inappropriate
Behaviors are not due to a lack of intelligence or ability
Don’t see choices
“Locate a resilient kid and you will also find a caring adult—or several—who has guided him”Relationship is the key to
achievement
“No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship”
“It is largely from role models that a person learns how to live life emotionally”
“Poverty in the United States is a culture, an institution, a way of life”
What would you do?
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