Defining & Describing PovertyDefining & Describing Poverty

StratificationStratification

Is the division of society into categories, ranks, Is the division of society into categories, ranks, or classes is called social stratificationor classes is called social stratification

Functionalist Theory – view stratification as a Functionalist Theory – view stratification as a necessary otherwise many jobs would not be necessary otherwise many jobs would not be filled…you work hard to become a doctor filled…you work hard to become a doctor because it pays morebecause it pays more

Conflict Theory – the owners of the means of Conflict Theory – the owners of the means of production control the working class in order to production control the working class in order to make profits and maintain their power in make profits and maintain their power in society; once in power the rich maintain their society; once in power the rich maintain their wealthwealth

Class vs CasteClass vs Caste

ClassClass– Resources and Resources and

social rewards are social rewards are based on achieved based on achieved statusesstatuses

– A person has A person has control over their control over their status through status through talent, effort, etc.talent, effort, etc.

CasteCaste– Resources and Resources and

social rewards are social rewards are based on inherited based on inherited statusesstatuses

– A newborn’s status A newborn’s status is dependent on is dependent on their parentstheir parents

Class v CasteClass v Caste

ClassClass– They can move to They can move to

a higher statusa higher status

– You can marry You can marry outside your outside your status and work status and work any jobany job

CasteCaste– They cannot move They cannot move

to a higher statusto a higher status

– You cannot marry You cannot marry outside your caste outside your caste and you must work and you must work in a job in your in a job in your castecaste

Defining Poverty and HungerDefining Poverty and Hunger

Poverty – is the lack of basic human needs, Poverty – is the lack of basic human needs, such as clean water, nutrition, health such as clean water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter, care, education, clothing and shelter, because of the inability to afford them because of the inability to afford them

Hunger – the condition of people who Hunger – the condition of people who frequently live with the desire to have foodfrequently live with the desire to have food

Why Are People Poor?Why Are People Poor?

In groups, determine why each group listed In groups, determine why each group listed might be poormight be poor– ImmigrantsImmigrants– African AmericansAfrican Americans– SeniorsSeniors– ChildrenChildren– VeteransVeterans

Reasons Why People Are Poor:• Lack of education• Health, handicap, age• Caused by their

environment• Lost their job• Addicted to drugs/alcohol• Bad spending habits• Lazy/unmotivated• War & natural disasters• Discrimination• Wealthy don’t give much

benefits or money to workers

Effects of PovertyEffects of Poverty

Low self-esteemLow self-esteem Child soldiers and laborersChild soldiers and laborers Rates of illnesses increaseRates of illnesses increase Life expectancy decreasesLife expectancy decreases Inadequate nutritionInadequate nutrition Less access to medical careLess access to medical care Inadequate and unsafe housingInadequate and unsafe housing More likely to commit a crimeMore likely to commit a crime School funding is usually based on local property School funding is usually based on local property

taxes, so low-inome areas are often inadequately taxes, so low-inome areas are often inadequately fundedfunded

PovertyPoverty

Persons in family Poverty guideline

1 $10,830

2 14,570

3 18,310

4 22,050

5 25,790

6 29,530

7 33,270

8 37,010

For families with more than 8 persons, add $3,740 for each additional person.

PovertyPoverty

1.4 billion people live on $1 a day; 80% of 1.4 billion people live on $1 a day; 80% of the population live on $10 or less per daythe population live on $10 or less per day

39.1 million live in poverty according to 39.1 million live in poverty according to U.S. standards in our countryU.S. standards in our country

HungerHunger

1.02 billion people are chronically hungry1.02 billion people are chronically hungry Every day, almost 16,000 children die from Every day, almost 16,000 children die from

hunger-related causeshunger-related causes

Largest Growing Segment of PoorLargest Growing Segment of Poor

Are children!Are children! 1.5 million are homeless in the U.S.1.5 million are homeless in the U.S. Why?????Why?????

School UniformsSchool Uniforms

For Arguments:For Arguments: No one knows who is No one knows who is

poor if everyone wears poor if everyone wears school uniformsschool uniforms

Poor kids aren’t made Poor kids aren’t made fun offun of

It saves moneyIt saves money Uniforms make it easy to Uniforms make it easy to

identify kids who belong identify kids who belong in the school and those in the school and those that don'tthat don't

Against Arguments:• Uniforms suppress

individualism and creativity

• Parents find some uniform items to be expensive and that they can never be worn outside school

Educational Vouchers – gov’t money to Educational Vouchers – gov’t money to send poor students to private schoolssend poor students to private schools

For Arguments:For Arguments: Rich parents have a choice of Rich parents have a choice of

schools for their kids; poor schools for their kids; poor parents should have the same parents should have the same choicechoice

The current public education The current public education system is failing countless system is failing countless students, particularly in inner-students, particularly in inner-city neighborhoods, so students city neighborhoods, so students should be able to go to better should be able to go to better schoolsschools

No student would be forced to No student would be forced to enter a religious schoolenter a religious school

Against Arguments:• Since most of the schools in

the program are religious, government funding violates the 1st Amendment separation of church and state

• The government vouchers may not cover transportation costs or uniforms

• The public education system had helped many children, regardless of their ethnic background or religion

Educating Homeless Kids – Educating Homeless Kids – Separate vs Integrated SchoolsSeparate vs Integrated Schools

Separate Arguments:

• Not humiliated

• Everyone treated equally at the school

• Can give more attention

• Tries to keep kids in school to increase learning

• Offer special services that integrated schools don’t

• Some public schools aren’t doing the job

• Public schools are more expensive

Integrated Schools:

• It is segregation

• Schools would “dump” kids in a separate school

• Aren’t as rigorous

• Are pitying kids and lowering standards