What Is Poverty

What is Poverty?
When you have studied this

PowerPoint, you should
understand some of the basic
ideas and language that are used
in the study of poverty.
Neil Reardon, Brynteg Comprehensive School, Bridgend

Is poverty a new concept?
What does this historical
image tell us about poverty?
Is this poverty?
Why do we need to make
poverty history?
http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/
ABSOLUTE POVERTY
If you live in absolute poverty

you have none of these basic
things for living.
Explaining Poverty
Reason Ideas for and against

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

school?
The Cycle of Deprivation
Large families
Born poor
Family break up
Bad nourishment
Early parenthood
Bad area to live in

How true is
Ill health
this picture
Unemployment of why
people are
poor? Misses school
Criminal record
Few qualifications
Criminality for money
Low paid, difficult work

The underclass is the group at
the bottom of society
Teenage girls get
Benefits encourage
pregnant for houses
people to depend on the
and benefit
state rather than get
jobs because it is easier
for them
Charles Murray says poor people form an underclass and are a threat to society.
What do you think?
The norms and values of the Lone mothers are bad

underclass are a disease parents and allow boys
that threaten society Young men are to be criminal. They are
involved in crime and bad role models
do not work for their
families.
They do not earn as much as
men. They do not have pensions
Women do not have Women and Poverty They are more likely
access to the money “The Feminisation of to be lone mothers
in the home. When Poverty”. and therefore poor.
relationships break
up, they lose out
It is difficult to get jobs when

you provide care for children
and relatives
What do you think about these ideas? What evidence is there to

support them?
Poverty Test.
2. Name three groups of people who may find
themselves in poverty.
3. Clearly explain two reasons (use sociological words

if possible) why women find themselves in poverty.
4. Clearly explain two reasons why it is difficult for

some of the lower class to get out of poverty.
5. What does the term “cycle of deprivation” mean?

6. Which age group fell the most into poverty by the year 2000?
7. Which is the only age group that seems to be decreasing in terms of the amount of
people affected by poverty?
Poverty Test.
8. Explain the meaning of the term cultural poverty.
9. Who is to blame for poverty according to structural

ideas about poverty?
10. Explain underclass theory and assess its

usefulness
Essay style question
Discuss reasons why some social groups are more likely to find themselves in
poverty.
You must make references to at least two different social groups.
Do your own personal research and develop your ideas with reference to studies
and to research.
Remember the two assessment objectives of
• Knowledge and understanding

• Analysis and evaluation
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What is Poverty?

When you have studied this

Neil Reardon, Brynteg Comprehensive School, Bridgend

If you live in absolute poverty

Reason Ideas for and against

• Peter Townsend said

• Look at the list he drew

Why might poor children find it difficult to do well in

Bad area to live in

Low paid, difficult work

The norms and values of the Lone mothers are bad

It is difficult to get jobs when

What do you think about these ideas? What evidence is there to

3. Clearly explain two reasons (use sociological words

4. Clearly explain two reasons why it is difficult for

5. What does the term “cycle of deprivation” mean?

8. Explain the meaning of the term cultural poverty.

9. Who is to blame for poverty according to structural

10. Explain underclass theory and assess its

You must make references to at least two different social groups.

Remember the two assessment objectives of

• Knowledge and understanding

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