the nature and extent of poverty

the poverty line

if you are below 60% of the median income for that country you are in poverty

what did Booth and Rowntree find

that 30% of people in York and London are living in poverty

what are the main causes of poverty

• ill health

• unemployment

• addiction

absolute poverty

lacking the basic necessities for survival

• food

• water

• shelter

• heating

what % of people in poverty are from working families

• 56% present

• 39% 20 years ago

socially constructed

not a real thing and was created by society almost as an excuse

how can poverty change over time

in the past having a car was a luxury, now its standard to have a car

how can poverty change due to place

in less developed countries the wages will be less but they may not be in poverty for that place

do the government pay enough in benefits

no the cost it is to pay bills and get food and water costs more than the universal credit is giving

relative deprivation

lacking the resources to obtain the types of diets and participate in the activities approved in the society they live in

Townsend

• deprivation index

• sunday joint

• not only absolute poverty that people can be in

what might some people lack so they are relatively deprived

• phone

• designer clothes

• a holiday per year

Guy palmer

• consensual approach to relative poverty

• he agrees with townsend and said poverty is flexible because it reflect the changes in living standards

strengths of relative poverty

• recognises poverty is a social construct (changing)

• recognises poverty changes over time

weaknesses of relative poverty

• it doesnt show poverty more just social inequality

• based on the values of experts not members of the public

• absolute poverty is easier 

does absolute poverty or relative deprivation have more of an impact on society

absolute poverty because it ca lead to people having ill health and turning to drugs just to get by

social exclusion definition of poverty

• townsend moved from the static concept of poverty

• poverty is now understood by interconnecting disadvantages

• lea and young said it leads to marginalisation

what did lea and young say

that social exclusion can also lead to marginalisation in the workplace or community life

how does being homeless link to lack of jobs

• cant put an adress on a job application and therefore cant apply for jobs

• cant look professional for job interviews because no shower

how does family breakdown link to lack of education

• cant concentrate when in school and so fall behind on work then cant catch up so you get lower grades and cant get good jobs

how does mental health issues link tp missing out on promotions

• may not put effort in to work and so dont get the opportunity for a promotion

• may have days off work due to mental health and so arent in enough to be recognised for a promotion

how does low income lead to lack of social life

• low income means you wont be able to afford to do things with friends or family

• may miss out on experiences like DofE and so dont get employed because someone else has done it

what are 3 reasons the new rights believe the Uk has poverty 

• cultural explanations

• material explanations

• structural explanations

cultural explanations

• the poor have different norms and values to other people

• culture of dependency (they dont think they have to work to get out of it)

• nanny state