Access to HE Sociology Poverty

Is poverty a new concept? What does this historical image tell us about poverty?

Seebohm Rowntree (1900) – The Rowntree Foundation Rowntree was the son of the chocolate manufacturer and a sociological researcher and social reformer. He showed that 27.8% of the people in York were living below the poverty line in 1900. He showed further that poverty was a cycle, and that the poor were not necessarily to blame for their conditions of poverty.

Seebohm Rowntree defined ‘absolute poverty’, or what he called ‘merely physical efficiency’, thus: ‘A family living upon the scale allowed for in this estimate must never spend a penny on railway fare or omnibus. They must never go to the country unless they walk. They must never purchase a halfpenny newspaper or spend a penny to buy a ticket for a popular concert. They must never contribute anything to their church or chapel, or give any help to a neighbour which costs them money. They cannot save, nor can they join sick club of Trade Union, because they cannot pay the necessary subscriptions. The children must have not pocket money for dolls, marbles, or sweets. The fathers must smoke no tobacco, and must drink no beer. The mother must never buy any pretty clothes for herself or for her children, the character of the family wardrobe as for the family diet governed by regulation, ‘nothing must be bought but that which is absolutely necessary for the maintenance of physical health, and what is bought must be of the plainest and most economical description.’ Should a child fall ill, it must be attended by the parish doctor; should it die it must be buried by the parish. Finally the wage earner must never be absent from his work for a single day. If any of these conditions are broken, the extra expenditure involved is met, and can only be met, by limiting the diet; or, in other words, by sacrificing physical efficiency.’

ABSOLUTE POVERTY If you live in absolute poverty you have none of these basic things for living.

Is this poverty?

Breadline Britain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkmhBISVmcg

RELATIVE POVERTY: TOWNSEND STUDY Peter Townsend said that people who do not have what other people take for granted are poor. Look at the list he drew up. Do you agree with all of the points?

RELATIVE POVERTY: TOWNSEND STUDY No holiday away from home in the last 12 months. No relative or friend to visit for a meal in the last month. Has not had a friend to play, or for tea, in the last month (under 15). Did not have a party on last birthday (children). Has not had an afternoon or evening out for entertainment in the last two weeks. Does not have fresh meat at least 4 times a week. Has had one or more days in the last two weeks without a hot meal. Has not had a cooked breakfast most days of the week. Household does not have a fridge. Household does not normally have a Sunday dinner. Household does not have: a flushing toilet, sink or washbasin with cold water, a fixed bath or shower and a cooker.

Townsend: RELATIVE POVERTY In pairs go through Townsend’s poverty index on the slide before and discuss whether each or both of you would count as ‘poor’ in relation to these definitions. Make a list of the advantages and disadvantages of Townsend’s index to explain the nature and extent of poverty

Explaining Poverty Agree/disagree? Reason The government should provide help for poor people The structure of society is unfair and unequal Some people have a culture that keeps them poor People find it difficult to escape poverty

What are the reasons for poverty? Cultural Poverty Structural Poverty It is the fault of individuals because they have a different set of cultural values. Immediate Gratification, when people want pleasures now and do not work for the future Fatalism, when people think, ‘what will be’ and assume they cannot escape from a bad situation Poor people do not have a good work ethic and expect bad jobs Poor people are the victims of the unequal distribution of wealth. The poor do not have enough education to deal with money problems. Some people who live in poverty come from harsh backgrounds (domestic violence). Many people do not possess the skills to get out of poverty.

Poverty and Education Why might poor children find it difficult to do well in school? Make a list of both material and cultural factors that affect poor children’s achievement.

The Cycle of Deprivation Large families Family break up Born poor Early parenthood Bad nourishment Bad area to live in How true is this picture of why people are poor? Ill health Unemployment Misses school Criminal record Few qualifications Criminality for money Low paid, difficult work