1. Why are people poor, and what do we do about it?
Poverty and Welfare
Why are people poor, and what do we do about it?
Old textbook pages

2. Why Are People Poor? Social structure (blame the society)
Features of society deny some people access to wealth:
Limit education and job skill training
Emphasize race, age, gender discrimination
Characteristics of individuals (blame the person)
Not so much a focus on laziness, lack of intelligence
Focus on dropping out of school, having children at an early age
In US, we tend to divide the poor into 2 categories:
Deserving poor: poor through no fault of their own
Undeserving poor: brought on their own poverty
The sociological perspective:
Avoid labeling “deserving” or “underserving”
Avoid blaming the victim
Look at what social conditions create poverty

3. Welfare in the US Current law: The good: The bad:
Lifetime cap on welfare (5 years, less in some states)
Welfare recipients required to look for work and take available jobs
The good:
Recipients can become self-sufficient and hard-working
Reduces welfare costs
2 of 5 who left welfare also were no longer in poverty
The bad:
3 of 5 who left welfare were still in poverty or return to it
1/3 of people required to leave welfare have no jobs
Personal problems keep some from working:
Health issues, no transportation, no childcare, addiction)
Some communities don’t have jobs to apply for
Some work but earn so little that they remain in poverty