Societal Issues: Poverty and Inequality

Fundamentally

In a basic or essential way; at the most important or core level.

Denial

The refusal to acknowledge or accept something as true; the act of declaring that something is not the case.

Violation

The act of breaking a rule, law, agreement, or someone's rights; a failure to comply with established standards.

Dignity

The quality of being worthy of honour and respect; a sense of pride and self-worth in oneself and others.

Poverty line

The minimum level of income considered necessary to meet basic living needs in a given country or region.

Below the poverty line

Having an income or standard of living that falls under the officially defined minimum level necessary for basic survival.

Social context

The social circumstances, environment, and conditions that surround and influence a person's life, behaviour, and opportunities.

Income inequality

The unequal distribution of income among individuals or groups within a society or country.

Penury

The state of being extremely poor; severe poverty or lack of financial resources.

Shelter

A structure or place that provides protection from the weather or danger; basic housing as a human need.

Nutrition

The process of obtaining the food necessary for health and growth; the study of how food affects the body.

Malnourished

Suffering from a lack of proper nutrition, either due to insufficient food or an inadequate diet.

Literacy

The ability to read and write; more broadly, competence or knowledge in a specific area.

Illiterate

Unable to read or write; lacking basic education or knowledge in a particular field.

Sanitation

Conditions and practices that maintain hygiene and prevent disease, particularly the provision of clean water and waste disposal.

Deprived

Lacking the basic necessities or pleasures of life; suffering from poverty or disadvantage.

Malnutrition

A condition resulting from an insufficient, excessive, or unbalanced intake of nutrients, leading to health problems.

Deprivation

The state of lacking basic necessities, comforts, or opportunities considered essential for a normal standard of living.

Classed

Assigned to or belonging to a particular social or economic class or category.

Affluence

The state of having a great deal of money and material wealth; prosperity and financial abundance.

Affluent

Having a great deal of money or possessions; wealthy and prosperous.

Super-rich

Describing individuals or groups with an extremely high level of wealth, far beyond ordinary standards of affluence.

On/below the breadline

Living at or below the minimum level of income needed to survive; experiencing extreme poverty.

Make ends meet

To have just enough money to cover one's basic living expenses; to manage financially with limited resources.

Poverty-stricken

Severely affected by poverty; in a state of extreme financial hardship.

Impoverished

Made poor; reduced to a state of poverty through a loss of money, resources, or opportunities.

Destitute

Lacking the basic necessities of life, such as food, shelter, and clothing; in a state of complete poverty.

Destitution

The state of extreme poverty and a complete lack of the resources necessary to survive.

Living from hand to mouth

Having barely enough money to survive day to day, with no savings or financial security.

Money has been tight

A situation in which there is very little money available, making it difficult to cover expenses.

Tighten our belts

To spend less money and live more frugally in response to reduced income or financial difficulty.

Income bracket

A range of income levels used to categorise people for tax or statistical purposes.