In this article, the statements about poverty that were found in the research by Neckerman and Torche are highlighted. These include statements about the causes of poverty, who experiences poverty, how people experience poverty, and how to end poverty.
The researchers talked about how many statements about poverty are made without evidence or research to back them up. A lot of these statements are made with good intentions, but they can have negative effects on those in poverty.
For example, many people say that if a person wants to get out of poverty, they need to get a job. However, this statement ignores issues like race, gender discrimination, and disability that make it hard to find or keep a job.
In this article, we will discuss these statements more in depth and talk about how they can be changed.
Poverty is about lack of money
The first statement that can be found in the analysis of poverty is the statement that poverty is about lack of money.
Many people view poverty as being poor and wealthy as opposite ends of the spectrum, but this is not a complete picture.
Those who are poor may have access to resources, but not enough to meet their needs. Those who are wealthy may have enough resources to meet the needs of many people.
The problem with this perception is that it does not take into consideration needs. It only considers wants, which can be very hard to distinguish between the two depending on the person.
As mentioned before, there are three categories of needs: physiological, safety and participation. To be able to completely satisfy these needs requires an adequate amount of money.
Poverty is about lack of opportunities
In their article, Neckerman and Torche define poverty as the lack of opportunities that people have to escape poverty. They explain that people living in poverty do not have access to jobs that provide a living wage, quality education that leads to high-paying jobs, and adequate housing.
The article explains that jobs in low-income neighborhoods are not as profitable for employers because of the lower average income of residents. As a result, employers are less likely to locate facilities or offer opportunities there.
Education is also a barrier to escaping poverty. If students do not have the resources to take advanced courses or attend private schools, they may not be able to get good jobs later on.
Ultimately, it is hard for people in poverty to find places that are safe and affordable. This prevents them from moving up the income ladder by taking better jobs elsewhere.
Poverty is about lack of skills
A statement you would find in the analysis of poverty is that poverty is about lack of skills. Many people feel that if people were better educated, they would earn more money and live a better life.
However, this statement is very controversial. While education can help you earn more money, it does not guarantee it.
Many highly educated people are unemployed or earning less than they would like because the economy has changed. New technologies and processes have replaced many jobs that required higher education.
Education can help you navigate the world, but if the world is totally different than what it is currently, then what good is your education? It is not going to magically make things easier for you.
Additionally, there are many examples of wealthy people who did not go to college.
Poverty is about family conditions
In their article, Neckerman and Torche state that poverty is about family conditions, not family types. This means that people of all races and backgrounds experience poverty due to similar circumstances.
The authors also state that poverty is a matter of inadequate income and wealth, not simply a lack of money. In other words, people who live in poverty don’t simply have a low income; they also experience limited access to resources such as education, healthcare, and transportation.
Furthermore, the authors point out that the causes of poverty are complex and interrelated. This means that there is no single cause of poverty; it is a combination of factors that leads to this condition.
By understanding this fact, we can begin to address the causes of this condition in an effective manner.
Racial minorities are more likely to be poor
According to the US Census Bureau, white Americans made up 65.1% of the population in 2017, while blacks or African Americans comprised 12.8%, Asians 4.8%, and Hispanics or Latinos made up 8.4% of the population.
However, in that same year, almost 40% of the US population living in poverty was black, 26% was Asian, 11% was Hispanic/Latino, and 2% was American Indian/Alaska Native.
Therefore, racial minorities are more likely to be living in poverty compared to white Americans, but this doesn’t tell the full story. When looking at how many people of every race or ethnicity are living above the poverty line, you see a different picture.
More than half (55%) of white Americans are not living in poverty, while only 49% of black Americans are not living in poverty. Almost one-third (31%) of Asian Americans are not living in poverty, and 29% of Hispanic/Latino Americans are not living in poverty.
Women are more likely to be poor
One reason that women are more likely to be poor is due to the gender wage gap. Women are paid less than men for doing similar jobs.
This is partially because of the industries in which women work and partially because of bias against women. Regardless of why this happens, it contributes to women being poor.
As mentioned before, income is a strong determinant of poverty. When a spouse has a low income, the risk of poverty increases for the family as a whole. When both spouses are working, there is an increased chance of escaping poverty.
However, if one spouse is unemployed or earns less than what is needed for the family to be out of poverty, then there is a risk of vulnerability to poverty.
Elderly people are more likely to be poor
As mentioned earlier, elderly people are more likely to be poor. This is due to a few factors.
Many older people have spent most of their life in employment and don’t have the savings or money to live off of. Due to the fact that they have already spent most of their life working, they don’t qualify for many jobs due to their age.
In addition, there are not very many jobs available for the elderly. Most employers look for younger, more energetic and productive workers which makes it hard for older people to find employment.
Furthermore, some elderly people suffer from mental or physical impairments which make it even more difficult to find work. Unfortunately, this can lead to poverty as healthcare is expensive and not all government aid covers this.
Children are more likely to be poor
Poverty can originate from childhood, as well as into adulthood. Children who grow up in poverty are more likely to be poor later in life. This is due to the fact that childhood is a time when you need more resources and support to grow up healthy and successful.
Children who attend high-quality early childhood education programs, including those that are subsidized, have higher incomes as adults. They also have lower crime rates and fewer health problems.
The opposite is true as well: people who grow up rich do not usually become poor as adults because they had the necessary resources and support as children.
The researchers also noted that racial minorities and women are at a higher risk of experiencing economic exclusion. This means they lack the necessary resources and support to escape poverty.
