THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES OF POVERTY- FUNCTIONALISM

What are the basic assumptions of the functionalist perspective of poverty?

• We live in a stratified society with class-based inequality; one's place in society depends on their ability to take advantage of opportunities; those who succeed are seen as desiring success, while those who fail are seen as accepting their inferiority; poverty exists in all societies and must have functional benefits for society.

Who proposed the concept of the functionality of poverty and in what year?

Herbert J. Gans

What is the main argument of Gans' "The Uses of Poverty: The Poor Pay All"?

Poverty exists because it is functional for the affluent; it will only be reduced when it becomes dysfunctional for the wealthy or when the powerless gain enough power to change society.

Into what three categories did Gans divide the functions of poverty?

Economic; social; political.

How does poverty serve an economic function according to Gans?

• It ensures that dirty, menial, and undignified jobs get done for low wages.

• It subsidizes economic activities that benefit the affluent, such as domestic workers allowing affluent women to pursue careers

• The poor pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes, funding services that benefit the middle and upper class more

• They support medical research by being test subjects

• They extend the economic life of goods by purchasing second-hand or expired products

• They create jobs for doctors, lawyers, teachers, and other professionals who may struggle to attract wealthier clients

• They sustain industries catering to or protecting society from them, such as pawn shops, prisons, and social work.

How does poverty serve a social function?

• It reinforces societal norms by associating poverty with negative traits like laziness and dishonesty;

• it supports the belief that those who follow mainstream culture will be rewarded;

• elements of popular culture often originate among the poor, such as country music and hip-hop;

• it allows lower social classes to improve their economic position by providing services that the middle and upper classes consider non-respectable;

• the poor absorb the costs of social change by performing labor-intensive jobs and being displaced for urban development projects;

• they form the majority of military recruits;

• they provide a reference point for social status, ensuring that others feel superior.

How does poverty serve a political function?

• The poor form a large portion of the voting population but often participate minimally, making them easier to ignore;

• their alleged moral failings reduce pressure on the political system to eliminate poverty;

• poverty is often seen as the fault of the poor rather than a failure of capitalism.

What are the main criticisms of the functionalist perspective on poverty?

• It implies that poverty is beneficial to society and should not be changed

• Marxists argue that this perspective justifies poverty rather than addressing its root causes.