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?