Category: Poverty

Introduction

Ghana is rich in natural resources such as oil, gold, and bauxite, to name a few important industries. Partly due to this strategic advantage, the country experienced continuous economic growth at an average rate of 7 percent yearly since 2005 (Cooke, 2016). Moreover, Ghana achieved a significant reduction in overall poverty from 56.5% in 1992 to 24.2% in 2013 (Cooke, 2016). As a result, in 2010, Ghana attained the status of a lower-middle-income country according to an index developed by World Bank (2020). However, despite this fact, the poverty in the country is still overwhelming.

Most of the countrys citizens have a daily expenditure of less than five U.S. dollars. Additionally, people in Ghana do not have access to many products that could significantly improve the quality and longevity of their lives. For instance, Adusah-Poku and Takeuchi (2019) maintain that in 2013 approximately 83% of Ghanaians were using traditional biomasses for cooking  the method that adversely affects their health condition due to air pollution. For those reasons, Ghana was placed in 138th place among 189 countries in regard to human development potential, according to United Nations Development Programme (n.d.). Therefore, although the country has achieved a lot during the last several decades, there is a huge necessity for further development.

In this regard, one may wonder what the reasons behind this condition are when a country that is rich in natural resources struggles with severe poverty. Thus, the further analysis intends to discuss the number of factors that prevent Ghana from becoming a prosperous state. They include both internal and external aspects of the countrys existence. Furthermore, the export of raw materials and agricultural commodities as the main strategy to raise the states economic well-being would be critically examined.

Internal Factors

The first problem that deters good economic development is the lack of mass education and good professionals. Indeed, according to the human capital framework, better knowledge among the general population is associated with higher productivity which in turn leads to a surge in earnings and reduced poverty (Abaidoo, 2021). Yet, in Ghana, 21% percent of individuals older than 15 years old are illiterate (World Bank, 2021).

Moreover, the secondary education completion rates are relatively low. For instance, while 71% of children successfully complete primary education, only 47% and 35% of kids finish lower secondary and upper secondary education accordingly (Agnes et al., 2020). Such a trend results in the low availability of knowledgeable and experienced professionals and a lack of innovative decisions. Therefore, the country cannot engage in the production of goods that necessitate skillful labor, which can bring more profit.

Another internal difficulty that negatively impacts the economic growth of Ghana is the existence of many ethnical groups that are weakly united. Debrah et al. (2016) assert that although the country enjoys stable democracy, it suffers from recurrent ethnic conflicts between various parties. Due to the existing tensions, the country is unable to develop smoothly, neither socially nor politically, nor economically. Yet again, this issue can be regarded as the lack of general education. For instance, Aikins and Ametefe (2017) note that better schooling leads to the lessening of sectorial and regional views and promotes forming of a united national interest. Thus, lack of education and lack of national identity can be named as two major internal factors that negatively affect Ghanas economic development.

External Factors

Additionally, for country-specific reasons, there are certain external factors that lead to Ghanas relative poverty. In this regard, firstly, it is necessary to analyze the states involvement in international trade. As it was mentioned above, Ghana mostly exports raw materials, which are usually quite cheap in comparison with the products that have value added to them, such as skilled labor or supplementary services. Moreover, the nation has relatively high import tariffs, which on average equals 10.34%, according to World Bank (2019). In comparison, in developed countries, this number varies from 1 to 2 percent. As a consequence, local businesses encounter increased barriers when they want to purchase capital goods that would help to reduce production costs and bring innovation.

Secondly, although Ghana has abundant natural resources on its territory, the mining of these materials is usually conducted by foreign companies. For example, Hausermann et al. (2020) indicate that from 2013 to 2016, 50,000 Chinese arrived in Ghana to mine gold, and during the first year of active immigration owned 70% of the countrys small-scale concessions. However, Crawford and Botchwey (2017) that such ownership should be illegal as Ghanaian law states that the small-scale mining sector is reserved for the countrys citizens. Thus, the researchers conclude that such a situation appeared due to corruption among the states authorities. What is worse, the lack of overall control from the government has led to other instances of unlawful behaviors. They include using cheap child and women labor and irresponsible use of mercury and other chemicals that heavily damage the environment.

Moreover, it is widely known that third-world countries are usually subjects of so-called neo-colonialism, and Ghana is not an exception. As such, the Institute of Economic Affairs (2019) states that the government of the country is forced to sign oppressive and unfair contracts that largely benefit other countries. Due to such a situation, it can be argued that most of the profits from Ghanas natural resource exploitation go to foreigners rather than to Ghanaian citizens.

Solution Strategy

From the analysis above, it is seen that in order to ensure greater economic and human development, Ghana officials should adopt a different strategy from the one they pursue now. Firstly, it is necessary to redefine the contracts that the country signs with foreign companies that exploit its natural resources. As such, the Institute of Economic Affairs (2019) notes that Iraq 2010 agreed to pay $1.90 to Exxon and Shell for each extracted barrel of oil.

As a result, the country could ensure high profits that would stay within the state and reinvest them back in the economy. Secondly, the country should reconsider its import taxes so that the capital goods can be imported at lower prices which would lead to increased production and innovation. Finally, Ghana should invest more money in education which would help the country to sophisticate its exports and earn additional income. For instance, instead of exporting cocoa beans, Ghanaians could also produce the chocolate and then sell this product at a higher price.

Conclusion

In summary, the current analysis revealed some internal and external factors that deter better economic and human development in Ghana. The former includes a lack of good education and national unity as various ethnical groups do not have a common ground for cooperation. On the other hand, the latter factors are high import tariffs, illegal ownership of mines by foreigners, and unfair natural resources exploitation contracts with international corporations. Therefore, it was concluded that not only it is crucial that the countrys authorities struggle against neo-colonialism, but also that Ghana should seek to sophisticate its production by adding skilled labor. As a result, the country would be able to enjoy higher revenues and, in turn, better economic and human development.

References

Abaidoo, A. (2021). The nexus between education and poverty reduction in Ghana from 2013 to 2017. Cogent Social Sciences, 7(1), 1-19. Web.

Adusah-Poku, F., & Takeuchi, K. (2019). Energy poverty in Ghana: Any progress so far? Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 112, 853-864. Web,

Agnes, A., Sakshi, M., & Mayeso, Z. (2020). The 2020 MICS-EAGLE Ghana education fact sheets. UNICEF. Web.

Aikins, K. S., & Ametefe, R. (2017). Ethnic factor and politics in the Asuogyaman district of Ghana. SAGE Open, 7(3), 1-12. Web.

Cooke, E., Hague, S., & McKay, A. (2016). The Ghana poverty and inequality report: Using the 6th Ghana living standards survey. University of Sussex. Web.

Crawford, G., & Botchwey, G. (2017). Conflict, collusion and corruption in small-scale gold mining: Chinese miners and the state in Ghana. Commonwealth & Comparative Politics, 55(4), 444-470. Web.

Debrah, E., Alidu, S., & Owusu-Mensah, I. (2016). The cost of inter-ethnic conflicts in Ghanas northern region: The case of the Nawuri-Gonja conflicts. Journal of African Conflicts and Peace Studies, 3(1), 1-27. Web.

Hausermann, H., Adomako, J., & Robles, M. (2020). Fried eggs and all-women gangs: The geopolitics of Chinese gold mining in Ghana, bodily vulnerability, and resistance. Human Geography, 13(1), 60-73. Web.

Institute of Economic Affairs. (2019). Why is Ghana so poor yet rich underneath the soil? Legislative Alert, 26(2), 1-2. Web.

United Nations Development Programme. (n.d.) Human development index (HDI). Web.

World Bank. (2021). Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above)  Ghana. Web.

World Bank. (2019). Tariff rate, applied, weighted mean, all products (%). Web.

World Bank. (2020). World Bank list of economies. Web.

Introduction

Poverty has over the years become a worldwide subject of concern for developing and developed economies. The current statistics paint a grave picture with over 1.2 billion people living on a budget of under a dollar a day. It is common ground that poverty is a worldwide phenomenon and therefore a cause for concern for international relations.

Naturally there have been reactions by theorists in addressing this menace. They have developed several theories that seek to establish the causes and effects of poverty. This essay will explore two such theories- the orthodox and the alternative theories to poverty. To put the discussion into perspective, I will explore the meaning of poverty in the general pretext to set the stage for the explanations by the two theories as to what poverty really is. As it were there are other numerous attempts by other theorists that have been made at putting a concrete definition on poverty. Of these there is not a single one that may be said to be conclusive or otherwise.

The objective here is to create an understanding of the phenomenon and show the contribution of the two theories in such an understanding. The essay will among other things offer discuss the progress made by institution s such as the world bank and the united nations in the international context in creating an amicable solution to poverty as well as their failures and challenges in as far as international relations is concerned. (Sahn and Stifel, 2000)

There is no actual concrete definition of poverty. In fact the various attempts that have been made mostly explain the characteristics of poverty rather than the concept itself. This may be attributed to the fact that it is a multifaceted concept that keeps changing depending on the subject matter of examination. The standpoint taken by this essay will be one that conceives poverty as constant inadequacy of necessities i.e. food shelter clothing and education.

Comparison of the approaches

The orthodox approach

The theory was initially given little attention in as far as social theories are concerned. The explanation originally was used to explain poverty and individual income distribution in the context of the competitive market and market equilibrium analysis. All these were concepts introduced by the industrial capitalist ideologies that attached a firm bond between wages and marginal profitability. In effect the lower the individuals income was the higher the probability that their levels of productivity will be low. The construction made here is that an individuals income cannot be raised if their productivity cant.

The modern day social scientists have engaged the theory even further creating modifications to suit the contemporary statistical indications and trends. They have construed the theory to imply that there is a stable connection between the individuals income and the productiveness of the various factors of production such as labor land capital and the human potential. Wages are therefore a measure of the levels of productivity of an individual (Qizilbash, 2003). Profits on the other hand are a measure of the productivity f the capital invested in the business, land or enterprise. The theory therefore proposes that the different segmentations in the forms of pay grades and salary levels represent the various levels of productivity. The more productive the individual becomes the higher the salary or payment they receive.

The productivity based orthodox framework of poverty in a strict sense applies to the working population specifically in the informal subsistence sector. Consequently the suggested solution to low salaries is the increased productivity and increased salaries imply that the individuals purchasing power increases and they will therefore be able to acquire the basic necessities. The alternative supplier based approach explains that increased productivity means that there will be substantial structural and situational changes that motivate increased production and availability of the basic resources hence increasing the levels of accessibility of such resources.

The theory offered a justification of extensive examination of poverty from the standpoint of components of production such as skill educational knowhow, ability and experience. It also set the pace for the formulation of a set of sophisticated market based theories of demand and supply. Other variations of the theory based on the modern statistical justifications have been based on variations in the average earnings in an occupation, changes in the individuals potential and ability within the profession and the influence of age in the variations in the levels of performance.

Through the levels of human ability may be adjusted to perform more and ensure that the full potential of the individual is exploited. Increased productivity can only be through increased performance. The cause and effect relationship is pegged on a measure of the wage or salary due.

At the heart of the theory is the concept of free will and independent choice and responsibility. The extent of an individuals productivity is entirely a question of choice since they choose whether to work or not. The individual chooses between spending time on leisure activities and working harder to earn an extra income.

Originally the theory was criticizes for its lack of acknowledgement of the role of social prejudices in the determination of incomes between the various sexes. The gender based interpretation takes an unusual stand claiming that women are left to undertake domestic chores because they agree to do them in exercise of their freedom of choice. In effect women earn less than men in the general market economy situation and are therefore left to the reproductive process.

The justification offered by this approach for the lesser income of women is the fact that the reproductive process is quite involving and requires their constant attention. This therefore limits the time which could have been used in the acquisition of knowledge and skill that is necessary for increased productivity. The disruptions caused by the periods that the women are left to raise the children deprive them of opportunity to increase productivity.

The theory gives little regard to the effect caused by the discrimination of gender. In fact the theory dismisses the claim that gender discrimination has a role on the determination of income by stating that the aspect of social prejudices is partisan and can only be explained based on womens earnings. (Nussbaum, 2000)

However the pertinent gender discrimination based concerns still remain unaddressed forming a critical failure of this theory. The general drift of the theory is towards the proposition that a particular mode of asset distribution, power relations and a rigid grouping of socio-cultural factors within specific institutional setups provide a logical and theoretically conclusive approach to the examination of poverty as a phenomenon.

Alternative approach

This approach has been suggested by numerous global development partners such as the World Development Movement and The World Vision. The argument presented by this approach is on that demands self reliance by all. The theory pursues an independence approach stating that there is value attached to the common factors of social life such as nature, diversities in cultures well as community commonalities such as land air water and forests.

It places the burden of responsibility to the general community facilitated by local knowledge and technical support of the available technology to create an inverted community development strategy. The approach begins at the basic communal level by attempting to assist the individual members of society achieve in dependence. Proponents of the theory who are mainly dependency theorists have suggested that the approach tends to present a measure of enslavement of developing countries by creating a dependency the developed liberal capitalist nations.

The theory is therefore considered by many social and economic scientists as the most feasible solution to the growth of less developed countries. The theory campaigns for independent growth of the individual countries and therefore puts up a stable and spirited fight against the engagement of organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The policies adopted by these organizations present serious dependency concerns and offer ready solutions in the form of foreign aid. The option of foreign aid by developing countries goes further to increase the cycle of hunger and poverty since it is a short term solution. This approach has been criticized for the lack of monetary justification as well as its overreliance on the influence of the communal power as well as the influence of government regimes

Contrast of the approaches

the orthodox approach has been used tried and tested by many economies and found to offer a valid explanation of the relevance and influence of the free market.some theorists on the other hand form the opinion the approach is to simplistic and will be deficient in explaining the poverty concerns in a corrupt government scenario. It is therefore not enough to suggest that the free market alone can be the solution to hunger. As it is there are many countries whose levels of production are high but since the market is saturated with the commodity the sell it at low prices. Such a market offends the suggestion by orthodox theory that the level of production determines the level of pay. Farmers of tea in a saturated market may be producing plenty of the products but end up selling it at low prices. (Gibson, 2001)

The orthodox approach gives a selective explanation t the persistent hunger crisis. It state the hunger problem is caused by the increase on population beyond production levels hence causing a deficiency. On the other hand the alternative approach explains the problem as one of lack of access to the food as a resource. It pursues this explanation based on factors such as gender global divide race and social class.

Both theories present a justifiable case for their approach to poverty. Neither however has conlusively provided an amicable solution to the problem of poverty. The orthodox approach capitalizes on money and capital while the alternative approach takes a sided independence stand. It is clear that there is more to it than the influence of money and capital in the poverty debate. On the other hand the level of influence and ability of communal power in influencing social political and economic change varies depending on the society in question.

A reminiscence of these reflective questions places the burden of responsibility on the international players such as the World Bank and the United Nations to motivate individualized state actions and democratic governance. The non governmemtal organizations on the other hand bear the responsibility of local campaigns and awareness programs to reach out to individuals and communities to encourage them to pursue self reliance. The two theories present a compromise of the societal as well as market based concerns affecting the levels of poverty.

Conclusion

In as far as poverty reduction ad alleviation, neither of these two explanations offers a conclusive solution. Essentially many countries have been said to adopt a compromise of these two approaches to successfully cover all ends. Poverty has been for a long time a global cause of concern that has called for the attention of all interested parties to pull resources together. The international community has fostered relations between its members through membership in the various organizations that are set up to strategize on poverty reduction measures. The members have been brought together by the need to create a pool of resources upon which the worst hit members may source for assistance. Poverty generally takes the form of the orthodox stand. It is a consequence of reduced or low productivity levels coupled with the lack of training and education as well as other production components.

The two theories set the pace for a poverty free world they define the benchmarks as improved productivity economic independence and investment in skill and educational advancement. These taken to together increase economic growth levels and allow a country top hedge against poverty.

References

Gibson, J. 2001. Measuring chronic poverty without a panel: Journal of Development Economics, 65, 243-266

Nussbaum, M.C. 2000. Women and Human Development: The Capabilities Approach. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press:

Qizilbash, M. 2003. Vague Language and Precise Measurement: The Case of Poverty, Journal of Economic Methodology, 10(1), 41-58.

Sahn, D.E., and Stifel, D.C. 2000. Poverty Comparisons Over Time and Across Countries in Africa, World Development, 28(12), 2123-2155.

Over the past decades, poverty has adversely affected some schools performance. For example, in my workplace, some students cannot afford the basic requirements to support their learning. In addition, they do not get adequate parental support because the parents are spending most of their time looking for resources. Behavioral learning theory posits that people learn how to behave by interacting with their surroundings (Clark, 2018). Furthermore, it shows that behaviors are acquired from their surroundings, and that intrinsic or hereditary characteristics have limited influence on behavior. This means that a social worker and the agency must ensure that the learning environment is conducive for all the students. Therefore, poverty in schools is a major challenge that should be mitigated to enhance learning.

Poverty in Schools

Poverty is a social problem found in some schools in the US and across the globe. According to Murakami and Kearney (2019), poor individuals and households does not have enough money to pay for food, clothes, and a place to live. However, there is more to it than insufficient money or other resources to live a good life. It manifests as hunger and malnutrition, limited access to health care and other essentials, social isolation and prejudice, and not having a say in making decisions. In addition, low-income individuals become socially isolated because they do not have resources that support modern lifestyles, such as a social network. For example, students lack computers to support online learning. Therefore, people living in poverty cannot afford the tools that can be used to support learning.

The Causes of Poverty

There are different causes of poverty among individuals and families in a society. Conflict theory suggests that stratification helps the wealthy and powerful and hurts the poor (Brady, 2019). People with high status tend to keep more money, making the gap between them and those with low status wider. For example, most rich families pay their employees low wages to watch their children, work on their farms, and clean their homes. Conflict theorists think this system of competition makes and keeps categorization systems (Brady, 2019). The theory reveals that competition and unfairness are not natural parts of life. Instead, they are made up to protect the wealthy.

Poor education is a social factor that contributes to poverty in society. Behavioral learning theory is among the personality theories that examine how people learn (Clark, 2018). The theory is based on the idea that people learn how to act by interacting with their surroundings. Furthermore, it demonstrates that behaviors are learned from the environment and that innate or inherited factors have little effect on behavior. People who are being followed by others serve as models for behaviors that will be imitated or avoided based on the conclusions reached by the observer (Clark, 2018). Therefore, since poor education deprives children of the opportunity to learn and develop the skills they need to succeed, the students observe and acquire behaviors that negatively impact their academic and personal development.

The lack of adequate support from guidance is among the main reasons for poverty. Eriksons theory of human development has a second phase that happens during early childhood and is all about children getting a better sense of control over their own lives (Vondracek et al., 2019). At this age, children are beginning to do things independently. They start to do simple things on their own and make simple choices about what they like and do not like. Based on this, parents and other adults can help students develop a sense of independence by letting them make choices and take charge. For example, in the school where I work, we play an integral role in the development of the students. Therefore, inadequate support during childhood results in a poor mindset, affecting school performance.

The Impacts of Poverty on Individuals

Poverty in schools has become a significant issue because it negatively affects students learning. Students who live in poverty often have few resources at home to help them do their homework, study or do other things that will enable them to perform well at school. Many low-income households do not have access to computers, high-speed internet and other things that can help a student outside school. In my current workplace as an intern, I noticed that impoverished parents often work longer hours or more than one job, which means they may not be around to assist their children with schoolwork. As a result, students lack adequate parental support to enhance their learning.

Moreover, poverty is more likely to worsen students learning and coping capability with attention deficit. There is evidence that child does not get the right guidance, medicine, and attention for their mental problems, their education will suffer (Brady, 2019). In addition, a child who fails to get the right treatment for their condition their behavior problems will distract the teacher from teaching other kids. For example, when students experience poor nutrition and diminished health practices, it becomes a challenge for them to listen, concentrate, and learn. As a result, the inability to provide adequate nutritional and medical support due to poverty makes it hard for students with special needs to perform effectively and excel in learning.

Interventions to Help a Client with The Problem

Cognitive behavioral theory (CBT) is an important intervention that can be used to help clients experiencing the impacts caused by poverty. It is considered a first-line treatment for mental health and personal stressor needs (Stallard, 2019). The practice helps build rapport and learn micro-skills to facilitate counselling session conversations to the parts that work best for different mental health needs. Understanding these precision-targeted parts allows counsellors to streamline intervention, saving valuable time and resources to ensure that clients are well served, and institutions can meet the needs of each person (Stallard, 2019). Therefore, CBT greatly affects how well people work and how good their lives are in society.

Using CBT, the role of a social worker would be to build a stronger relationship with the students and alleviate stress. It involves reducing the impact of stress on students life by incorporating more classroom fun into academics (Stallard, 2019). For example, most students in the school where I work lack adequate parental support because their parents spend most of their time to provide basic needs. A social worker provides cognitive assistance, which includes assisting kids with sensory motor tasks such as the childrens game where they touch different areas of their bodies in rapid succession. This will offer kids a brief cognitive boost of the energy they require. As a result, these activities can aid in behavioral management, which is critical for early academic achievement.

A social worker should strive to teach students effective coping skills to better deal with their stressors. They should strive to offer the children greater control over the running of their own life while they are at school (Stallard, 2019). Encourage students to take on responsibilities and assume leadership roles by providing them with various options, getting them involved in class projects, and fostering collaborative problem-solving and decision-making. Whether the stress is acute or chronic, having the ability to feel as though one has some control over ones environment is one of the most critical variables in minimizing the harmful effects of stress. This is true whether the stress is short-term or long-term. As a result, students will develop healthy coping mechanisms that will help them concentrate on their schooling.

Using CBT, the clients who are students in the school must be given the responsibility to participate in the process. CBT place the burden for problem-solving on the shoulders of the clients while providing them with the necessary resources (Stallard, 2019). People who participate in CBT acquire specific skills that can be utilized to solve the difficulties they face regularly. In addition, the capabilities can be used to accomplish legitimate goals and objectives they have set for themselves. Previously, CBT focused on the development of abilities to notice distorted or unrealistic thinking when it occurs and then shifted its attention to modifying that thinking or belief to reduce or eliminate harmful behavior (Stallard, 2019). Therefore, the students must be willing to change and foster engagement.

Apart from a social worker and clients, the agency has a role to play in helping alleviate the situation. The Elementary School can combat poverty among students by providing equal academic opportunities and covertly supplying school equipment, snacks, clothes, and other essential items. They should provide students living in poverty with access to the same high-level curricular and pedagogical possibilities as their counterparts from wealthy families, along with the exact high expectations for those students. In addition, create educational programs that are pertinent and important to students lives and that draw on their experiences and the environment in which they live. Finally, the agency must ensure that the students have adequate resources to enhance their learning and development.

CBT has a strong relationship between person-centered and participant-directed approaches. The fundamental aim of the three approaches would lead to change in the client by building trust and rapport (Stallard, 2019). The main role is to ensure that an individual is engaged in the process to enhance performance. In CBT, this change process happens through education; by making people aware of their thought patterns, they will change their behavior. On the contrary, in the person-centered and participant-centered approaches, change happens when empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard are present (Stallard, 2019). Therefore, the main difference between CBT and person-centered and participant-centered approaches is the change process during the intervention.

A Summary of Whether the Literature Supports the Ideas

Behavioral theory is based on the idea that people learn how to act by interacting with their surroundings. This learning theory posits that behaviors are learned from the environment and that innate or inherited factors have little effect on behavior (Clark, 2018). This indicates that the poor are economically disadvantaged because they do things or take risks that make them poorer, such as not having a job. Poverty is high in a place because people engage in behaviors that do not create wealth. This supports my idea of focusing on improving childrens conduct and enabling them to acquire appropriate traits to enhance their performance in school (Clark, 2018). To alleviate poverty and its influence on students in school, it is important to major in behavior development.

Self-image is a concept that plays an integral role in students cognitive development. According to Parker et al. (2019), self-image is a crucial part of a persons personality that can affect how well they get along with others and how well they feel. Self-abuse or self-destructive behavior can all lead to a bad view of oneself. Self-image comes from how someone thinks, shaped by the people around them from a young age. In addition, students from low-income families are susceptible to self-abuse due to a lack of adequate support from parents and other members of society. Based on this, the idea generated by this theory aligns with the intervention of building a positive and active relationship with the students (Parker et al., 2019). Therefore, the appropriate intervention majors on improving the learners self-image.

The provisions of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) relate to creating a support system for students living in poverty. SCT maintains that individuals health behaviors are influenced by their personal experiences, the behaviors of others, and the natural landscape (Parker et al., 2019). The theory can help people obtain social support by training them to have aspirations, believe in their talents, and change their behavior through conditioning and reinforcement. The practices proposed by this theory align with the idea that a school must ensure that students living in poverty are exposed to adequate resources to support their learning. As a result, the provision of these learning tools and other support services are considered reinforcers for developing good behavior.

The root cause of poverty is an exploitation of the poor by the rich and unfavorable conditions in society. The proponents of conflict theory think that competitive systems generate and sustain various forms of social stratification (Parker et al., 2019). This demonstrates that competition and inequality are not natural features of the world; instead, they are artificial constructs designed to safeguard the interests of the wealthy. On the other hand, structural functionalists contend that humans do not always act solely out of economic self-interest when they make decisions. Therefore, to alleviate poverty and reduce its impact on students, there is a need for the school to ensure that there are adequate resources to support learning.

Poverty in schools is a significant barrier to education that needs to be overcome to improve teaching and learning. Some schools academic outcomes have remained negatively impacted by the prevalence of poverty. Furthermore, some do not receive sufficient help from their parents because their parents spend most of their time searching for various resources. The behavioral learning theory demonstrates that behaviors are learned from their environments and that innate or inherited features have only a limited impact on behavior. This indicates that a social worker and the agency must guarantee that the classroom atmosphere is favorable to learning for all of the children.

References

Brady, D. (2019). Theories of the Causes of Poverty. Annual Review of Sociology, 45, 155-175. Web.

Clark, K. R. (2018). Learning theories: behaviorism. Radiologic technology, 90(2), 172-175. Web.

Murakami, E., & Kearney, W. K. (2019). Principals in high-performing, high poverty, minority-serving schools in Texas. In R. Notman, D. Gurr & E. Murakami (Eds.), Educational leadership, culture, and success in high-need schools, (3-24), Information Age Publishing.

Parke, R. D., Roisman, G. I., & Rose, A. J. (2019). Social development. John Wiley & Sons.

Stallard, P. (2019). Think good, feel good: A cognitive behavioral therapy workbook for children and young people. John Wiley & Sons.

Vondracek, F. W., Lerner, R. M., & Schulenberg, J. E. (2019). Career development: A life-span developmental approach. Routledge.

Introduction

It is believed that the determinant of social development is the economy, and the dominant is either politics or ideology. In current conditions, at the transition stage to the information society, such a dynamic and vibrant picture of the world is emerging that it is pretty tricky for a person to be aware of all events constantly. At the same time, in parallel, but with a particular influence, the processes of globalization are taking place, within the framework of which there is a standardization of trends in certain areas of human life. However, modern society is not without ailments that have a negative impact and a long history. These include poverty, which has the most significant economic and social consequences, depending on the prevalence scale. On the other hand, scaling the problems to each person in poverty makes it possible to classify the various factors that help and hinder the exit from poverty. A lot can depend on a person, but a society with its attitudes and power also plays an important role.

Poverty is the economic condition of a person or social group who cannot satisfy the minimum needs. There are concepts of absolute and relative poverty: absolute poverty is closely related to the concept of the poverty line  the income level below which a person is considered poor and cannot satisfy basic needs. Relative poverty is associated with an unequal distribution of income. It is the inability to lead a normal lifestyle for most of society. Resilience theory is the study of a stable trajectory of the healthy functioning of a person after various serious, usually adverse events (Masten, 2018). On the other hand, this theory can be described as adapting flexibility over a long distance. Intersectionality implies similarities between different forms of discrimination and oppression that tend to reinforce each other. In other words, this theory uses an integrated approach in studying the interactions between different forms of dominance, diversifying them but not differentiating them. This paper assesses the impact of poverty on adult life in interaction with the environment, looking at risk and protective factors and the impact of power and oppression on the experience of poverty.

Resilience Theory

Resilience theory in this context has more to do with protective factors affecting adults living in poverty. Poverty implies many deprivations and problems at different levels and scales, both within the individual and at the national level. The primary mechanism that turns poverty into a physiological problem is stress. Constant stress exhausts the human body, leading to other ailments, much more severe diseases from depression to heart disease. At the family level, poverty leads to starvation, lack of various amenities, information, and, most importantly, opportunities to get out of the vicious circle. Poverty has serious social and economic roots and consequences, which lead to a constant widening of the gap between the rich and the poor.

The problem of income inequality has a high social significance, having the ability to exacerbate the situation in society and hurt the countrys economy. The US has the highest level of income inequality among industrial nations (Telford, 2019). Even if the poor do not commit acts of violence against other people, the society in which they live still suffers losses. Poor people cannot fully participate in the life of society; their creative potential is not revealed and is wasted fruitlessly. Inherited poverty is incredibly tragic when the poor children with the same abilities have much less self-fulfillment than their peers born in families with average incomes. Poverty reflects the prevalence of low-paid jobs and labor processes, defined by low wages, low-income jobs, incomplete and precarious, often bordering on unemployment, which pushes people into unemployment and economic inactivity. The most vulnerable groups are often multi-racial due to structural racism, which exacerbates the situation for low-income families by limiting access to public services.

If the global consequences and causes are often discussed at the national level, then the problems of personal poverty are more subjective and varied. Due to various deprivations, the vision that others have the opportunity to earn more money, a person may develop psychological problems. At the same time, several protective factors can develop critical thinking by adulthood. All these factors have a dynamic development throughout a persons life, and are reflected in this work through the demonstration of factors at three stages of life: young, middle and late adulthoods. Many of these stem from childhood and include social solid, language and physical development, a sense of mastery and control in late adolescence, and problem-solving skills (Hutchison, 2018). The foundations are laid during adolescence, against which an adult, to varying degrees of success, will act in conditions of poverty.

Family factors include the mothers employment and community involvement. It is essential to consider that the adolescents involvement in the community should be supportive, not an entrapment nature (Hutchison, 2018). If the adolescents feel supported not only within their families but also beyond their borders, they are more likely to develop self-confidence, which is usually sorely lacking in poor people (Dou et al., 2020). However, this problem is projected onto a national problem with income inequality, which has the consequence of the inaccessibility of prestigious and higher education for children from low-income families, who then cannot get a well-paid job. A teenager may get the impression of not belonging to a prosperous society, which contributes to stratification, discrimination, and a host of other social ills. Lack of opportunities and constant stress leads to the only possible way out  crimes, including theft, deceit, and many other things that negatively affect society.

As a result, much is laid in the process of raising a child in a family, and much depends on the psychological state of the family itself. An equally important factor is the ability to plan and motivate further action to overcome poverty or level its consequences (Hutchison, 2018). It often requires resources of positive emotions. According to the sustainability theory, it is a positive psychological experience that is an opportunity to organize ones behavior in the right direction, regardless of environmental factors (Masten, 2018). In order to avoid the appearance of various psychological problems, entire systems are being developed that must be applied at the stage of growing up a child in a family. In other conditions, the aforementioned protective factors are responsible for stability.

All protective factors have the peculiarity that they protect a persons further existence, while risk factors describe the risk already in the present moment. In later life, middle adulthood, protective factors include experiences from young adulthood such as military service, romantic relationships, experiences of altruism, high literacy, and a sense of purpose (Hutchison, 2018). Here the influence of these factors on stability becomes more concrete, as the personality becomes more mature, based on certain principles formed under the influence of these factors. Their other dynamics will noticeably decrease every year, leaving only the most important of them. In interaction with the environment, these factors are more manifested as an experience that helps to avoid various mistakes. In conditions of poverty, various interactions with society are seen as an opportunity to get out of this state, or at least not aggravate it. In late adulthood, risk factors are more critical; protective factors include caring for ones mental and physical health.

Intersectionality Theory

In the theory of intersectionality, the risk factors that affect a person in poverty should be considered. Problems with health, wealth, and development in childhood are significant risk factors for youth, which as a result, is reflected in adulthood. Based on prosperity and development, a young person may develop conflicts in educational institutions or the places of his first job. An aggressive response to such conflicts is also a risk factor: if people do not overcome the poverty line, aggression against the background of stress will accompany them all their lives, causing various diseases. Against the background of such conflicts, social injustice, cases of hooliganism, and other offenses, including substance abuse, may become more frequent (Hutchison, 2018). The death of relatives conflicts in the family does not contribute to forming a mature and stable personality by adulthood. According to the theory of intersectionality, such a person will contain both the causes and manifestations of the consequences of discrimination.

This fact is reflected in the fact that aggressive young people in conflicts themselves contribute to the violence that underlies oppression. Poverty issues are often historically linked to different races, which add to the intersection in the field of racism. The stereotypical predisposition, which is the basis of the study of intersectionality, is detrimental to victims of violence. The bad attitude of society towards adults from low-income families is the fault of society and the historical order, but at the same time, the reaction of people to such an attitude leads to the multiplication of evil. In middle adulthood, risk factors echo those in youth: leftover bad habits, health problems, early marriage, loneliness, and poor nutrition (Hutchison, 2018). Problems with work can result from an unhealthy lifestyle and poor performance at school. Poverty contributes to most of these factors, making a person dependent on the labor markets economic situation. It is possible that conflicts, racism, discrimination may have a different ground from the social position, but according to the theory of intersectionality; as a result, it will also play a role.

A poor situation rarely appears in a person during his life; as a rule, people begin to live in poverty and either get out of it or stay in it. Consequently, risk factors have an extended structure that changes shape throughout adulthood. Often there is a tendency to project negative behavior, which is a consequence of poverty and the reason for the impossibility of getting out of it, laid down from childhood into adulthood. If the family had a parents alcohol problem, the person is more likely to be addicted to alcohol later in life due to a combination of other factors (Sattler & Gershoff, 2019). The absence of positive emotions in the family model not only fails to guide the development of resilience but also develops the foundations on which discrimination and oppression are based. Due to poverty, a person cannot take care of himself sufficiently, and without having any idea of the feeling of altruism, love, and mutual assistance instilled in the family, a person will also not be able to build a healthy interaction with society.

Diversity, Power, Oppression

Diversity inclusiveness is the current trend in social responsibility around the world. Discrimination based on income, poverty, or social status is also unacceptable in almost all organizations and countries. Large enterprises even draw up their codes of conduct in the workplace. However, smaller enterprises, which are less well known to the general public, do not often follow these trends. It is due to the fact that in small companies, there is practically no control over working conditions and wages. Diversity in such workplaces creates a specific ground for discrimination, which, if not controlled, can have highly negative consequences.

In this case, the authorities should stop these events. In addition, it is essential to eradicate the root cause of historical stereotypes that prevent poor people from adapting to a healthy social life and society. However, cases of structural racism, which in the case of poverty increase the degree of intersections of discrimination, are still prevalent even now (Bailey et al., 2021). State structures in a state where such stereotypes are suppressed hinder the healing of society, causing more mistrust of authority and the possibility of conflict. Consequently, the most vulnerable groups represented by representatives of different races and genders are subjected to attacks and self-will by local authorities and state structures, which, against the backdrop of poverty, increases cravings for psychoactive substances and crime. Oppression continues to multiply at various levels and scales, hindering the healing of society in a global, national sense.

An adult is an already formed personality, mature in its principles laid down from childhood. Poverty contributes to the development of many risk factors, while protective factors depend on family and community organizations such as school and individual abilities and personality traits. If the problem lies on the basis of state structures and families that are unable to adapt to the conditions of poverty, then a person brought up on such values will not be open to dialogue with society and the authorities. Moreover, the government should initiate this dialogue; however, according to research, the income gap is increasing every year; therefore, the programs do not work (Telford, 2019). An adult, in this case, if he starts a family, continues to broadcast negative values the need for aggression and set his example for children, continuing to move in a vicious circle. By summing up all the factors that, according to the theory of intersectionality, can reach tremendous quantitative values, only influential people in a given situation, with a successful combination of other circumstances, can get out of poverty and develop resistance to such oppression.

Conclusion

In modern society, many problems lead to intersectionality, including poor people. The maturation of a person and the formation of personality is a critical process, depending on many factors that positively and negatively impact resistance to problems. Poverty implies many problems, which are a consequence of various economic, political, and historical backgrounds. Resilience can only develop if there is a positive psychological experience, which is often absent in a person brought up in a low-income family and faced with rejection and discrimination in society. As a result, a person is formed by adulthood, brought up on negative values, aggression, and conflicts, who will use this model of behavior when interacting with society. As a result, a comprehensive solution is needed to combat poverty, requiring the participation of both the authorities and the society with poor people.

References

Bailey, Z. D., Feldman, J. M., & Bassett, M. T. (2021). How structural racism worksracist policies as a root cause of US racial health inequities. New England Journal of Medicine, 384(8), 768-773. Web.

Dou, Y., Deadman, P., Berbés-Blázquez, M., Vogt, N., & Almeida, O. (2020). Pathways out of poverty through the lens of development resilience: an agent-based simulation. Ecology and Society, 25(4). Web.

Hutchison, E. D. (2018). Dimensions of human behavior: The changing life course. SAGE publications.

Masten, A. S. (2018). Resilience theory and research on children and families: Past, present, and promise. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 10(1), 12-31. Web.

Sattler, K., & Gershoff, E. (2019). Thresholds of resilience and within-and cross-domain academic achievement among children in poverty. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 46, 87-96. Web.

Telford, T. (2019). Income inequality in America is the highest its been since Census Bureau started tracking it, data shows. Washington Post, 26. Web.

Poverty and food insecurity are the issues that have been troubling American society for many years. Numerous citizens of the United States live below the poverty level and find it difficult to support themselves and their families. Some of them lack necessities such as food, housing, and health insurance and suffer from undernourishment and multiple health problems. Federal government programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program among others have helped to change the tone of public discussion about the problem of poverty as well as reduce the plight of poor. I believe that the issue of economic depravity is an extremely important area of inquiry for a well-functioning society and deserves deep exploration.

Serving in Florida by Barbara Ehrenreich describes the harsh reality of living in poverty while concentrating on the pragmatic dimension of the issue and shares practical lessons learned from the experience of living in a social system the main priorities of which are not familiar to Americans with high socioeconomic status. Dumpster Diving by Lars Eighner offers a narrative of a simplistic lifestyle of an impoverished individual who was able to discover a sense of enlightenment through the variety of experiences related to living on the streets.

Both Serving in Florida and Dumpster Diving provide a comprehensive exploration of the devastating impact of poverty on the day-to-day life of the Americans struggling to survive in harsh environments of economic depravity. Even though the two words describe different experiences, it can be argued that they are united by a common theme of rethinking life. One is concerned with the issue of reevaluating homelessness; another pushes its readers to reassess their beliefs about employment and precarious financial position. The discussion of Serving in Florida by Barbara Ehrenreich and Dumpster Diving by Lars Eighner will provide insight into the differences between two perspectives of authors who have shared similar living circumstances and lessons they have learned from their experiences.

Poverty

The chapter Serving in Florida in the book titled Nickle and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America written by Barbara Ehrenreich offers a narrative of a voluntary experiment of living in a minimum wage environment. The writer decides to try surviving on a minimum wage while living in Florida and holding a low-end job (Ehrenreich 152). Ehrenreich tries to explore the economic difficulties experienced by the unskilled labor force in the United States daily. To this end, she makes a comparison of a middle-class life with that of those living on low wages.

The opening paragraph of the chapter suggests that the enormous social chasm between low-wage staff and management that constantly monitors workers behavior for signs of sloth, theft, drug abuse, or worse is conducive to the atmosphere of distrust (Ehrenreich 154). She also tells a reader that the experience of being a restaurant employee makes her think about managers as the class enemy (Ehrenreich 154).

The writer understands that staff members with various levels of authority have different motivations that depend on them serving either the corporation or the community. Even though Ehrenreich explains the egregious behavior of those who have crossed over to the other side, she does not justify it (154). However, it is clear from the writers comments about the demographic category she pretends to be a part of that that it is not easy to escape ones own real identity. She makes an insensitive remark about being overqualified for the position and even refers to the people who are currently on the lower tiers of the socioeconomic ladder as trailer trash (Ehrenreich 152).

Moreover, Ehrenreich shows her dissatisfaction with the place in which locker searches and drug tests are part of the daily routine telling her reader that it reminds her of a high school environment (154). The writer finds the hardships of living a life of an unskilled laborer extremely difficult and cannot fully relate to the plight of the poor.

Lars Eighner expands the issue of harsh economic reality in his essay Dumpster Diving by providing an honest account of the life of a homeless man who acquires his livelihood be searching through dumpsters. It can be argued that his view of poverty is entirely different from that of Barbara Ehrenreich. Even though both writers describe difficulties faced by impoverished people, Eighner is not terrified by his experience.

It seems that he fully embarrasses all challenges that life offers to him and uses them to find a sense of enlightenment. The writer explores various phases of the transformation of scavengers that range from initial disgust and self-loathing to the experienced dumpster diver who has the last laugh (Eighner 90). Eighner shows that the feeling of shame associated with the initial stage of the scavengers career comes from the sense of pride and the fear of social disapproval (Eighner 90).

The writer also compares the apathy of haves to the terrible plight of have-nots prompting the reader to reconsider their view of social stratification. It seems that by condemning the wasteful nature of the American way of life he shows that materialistic values are harmful and breed much more than waste. The writer exemplifies this particular view by saying that students throw out many good things and goes on to say that carelessness, ignorance, and wastefulness are the reason for indiscriminate purchasing behavior (Eighner 92).

It is particularly interesting to realize that even though Eighner lives in much worse circumstances than Ehrenreich, he, nonetheless, manages to remain optimistic about his experience. The writer tells the story with a hefty portion of humor that makes the life of scavenger seem more bearable. Moreover, while experiencing extreme economic difficulties and not having the basic wherewithal for survival he calls the rest of society lost and unsure which is extremely unusual considering his awful circumstances (Eighner 92).

Both Eighner and Ehrenreich are transformed by their experiences. However, they come to completely different conclusions about the reality of life in poverty. It seems that Ehrenreichs wrote her essay more aggressively than Eighner did. Moreover, Eighner claims that poverty makes one stronger suggesting that experience of scavenging was beneficial for him. Ehrenreich, on the other hand, clearly despised poverty and seemed more than eager to return to her a middle-class life. The writer concedes that the experience of living as an unskilled laborer taught her a lesson; however, it has nothing to do with spiritual growth and is related to the economic dimension of being a poor person (Ehrenreich 156). Unlike Eighner, she believes that working multiple jobs and struggling to survive is a negative experience in all respects.

Conclusion

The issue of economic depravity is an extremely important area of inquiry for a well-functioning society and deserves deep exploration. Both Serving in Florida and Dumpster Diving provide a comprehensive narrative of the devastating impact of poverty on the day-to-day life of the Americans struggling to survive in harsh environments of abject poverty. I believe that even though Ehrenreichs account of economic difficulties faced by unskilled labor force in the United States is more cynical and less optimistic than the story described in Dumpster Diving, it is, nonetheless, serves as an honest assessment of the daily experiences of straggling poor.

I think that to reduce the plight of poverty, our society has to better understand the woes of the people with a low socioeconomic status. Serving in Florida can help to illuminate this aspect of life for the readers who do not have a sufficient understanding of the economics of poverty. Even though the description of socioeconomic categorization of the homeless population, as well as practical lessons for scroungers, are not so familiar to an average reader as a minimum wage environment, it is clear that differentiation between classes is known by everyone. Therefore, it is safe to assume that Dumpster Diving provides a powerful lesson on poverty and its implications for American society.

Both essays expose readers to others poverty closing for them the gigantic economic chasm between having and have-nots. Even though Serving in Florida and Dumpster Diving have a rather numbing effect on the reader, they teach compassion for the people with a low socioeconomic status thereby helping to understand their struggle. I believe that it is much easier to reduce the plight of poor people after having a better understanding of their struggles and woes.

Works Cited

Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickle and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America. New York: Metropolitan Books, 2001. Print.

Eighner, Lars. On Dumpster Diving. New England Journal of Public Policy 8.1 (1992): 87-95. Print.

Rutger Bregmans TED talk on poverty approaches the global problem to define core reasons why poverty does not limit the intellectual potential of the poor. The speaker focuses his speech on exploring how despite the popular opinion that poor people deliberately make poor choices, their choices are influenced by poor living conditions (Bregman). The author suggests that eliminating poor living conditions through a monthly basic income guarantee will be more effective than providing the poor with essential goods.

Even though the presented proposal could be effective in eliminating poverty, I do not think that such a program would be possible to implement on a wide scale. In my opinion, such activities would benefit developing countries and regions where most of the population lives below the poverty line. There, in conditions where the majority of the population struggles to live, the implementation of guaranteed income programs could result in a significant increase in quality of living conditions and level of education. Additional income for the population could also provide a foundation for entrepreneurship and the creation of workplaces.

On the other hand, such proposals could result in minimal or adverse outcomes in economically developed countries unless the government provides additional attention to problems connected to poverty. The problems include lack of affordable housing options, low job opportunities, limited access to healthcare, etc., resulting in homelessness, substance abuse, and mental illnesses for the poor population. The problems contribute to the segregation of the poor population, limiting their opportunities for social interactions and development, following the symbolic interactionism theory. Thus, if the proposal also implied additional support for the poor from the government, it would have positive outcomes. Otherwise, the poor population would be unable to turn the additional income into improving living conditions and resort to a functionalism mindset, continuing the struggle to maintain a budget and make poor financing decisions.

While poverty is not beneficial to the development and progress of the worlds economy, there is a group of people and organizations who benefit from such proposals currently not being in place. Banks offer credit cards to the population benefiting from fees and monthly payments and making a profit from selling houses at auctions. As mentioned in Bergmans speech, fast food companies benefit from offering low-quality yet affordable food for the people who are more interested in filling their hunger now than tier health status. Finally, the speaker mentioned that there would be more talents, e.g., scientists, entrepreneurs, and writers if there were no poverty. However, additional competition is not favorable for the privileged part of society with more access to higher education and higher job opportunities. The competition aspect is also related to the sociological paradigm of the conflict of inequality. The conflict theory suggests that the upper class of society supports poverty and inequality to maintain its power and status. The conflict theory only takes place in economically developed countries, proving that the proposal is suited more for developing countries.

Therefore, I think that Bregmans approach to poverty and the proposal of guaranteed regular income is more suitable for developing countries. In conditions where increasing the populations income level would result in significant progress in the economic development of the region and country, the implementation of Bregmans proposal would have positive consequences. However, in conditions where implementation of the proposal is obstructed by symbolic interactionism and inequality conflict, the proposal could have minimal effects.

Work Cited

Bregman, Rutger. Poverty isnt a Lack of Character; its a Lack of Cash. TED, 2017, Web.

The success of every society is determined by values, cultural practices, and tendencies that can address the hurdles affecting its people. The author of the book Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, James David Vance, acknowledges that many people in the United States have been unable to realize the fruits of the American dream. Although economic instability is a common concern in many neighborhoods, the book gives special attention to the nature of social rot experienced in Vances community. A proper understanding of the major challenges affecting people can promote adequate strategies to promote social mobility. This paper focuses on the authors arguments, experiences, and observations to explore the root causes and persistence of poverty in the targeted community. The discussion goes further to describe how Vance raises the tone for the national conversation about poverty.

Summary of the Book

The author of the text begins by describing his childhood experiences in Middletown, Ohio. Vance grew up in a family that was characterized by problems such as poverty and lack of various resources. Many people in the neighborhood did not have physical jobs or had to look for different sources of income. Poverty made it impossible for many individuals in the neighborhood to achieve their goals. The narrator also indicates that his grandparents were abusive and alcoholic. Additionally, the authors mother was abusing different drugs and alcohol. She was also engaged in several relationships that failed. These issues explain why the author had to be brought up by his grandparents.

His grandmother was tough and loving. This kind of support made it easier for him to leave the town and pursue his academic goals. He managed to attend Yale Law School and Ohio State University. This achievement is what made it possible for Vance to achieve social mobility. The book raises serious questions about peoples roles in the society and their misfortunes. The issue of social rot is captured in the book to describe the nature of hillbilly culture. Many people in Vances society appear to have reaped the fruits of various social malpractices. The absence of work ethic is described in the book as one of the causes of misfortunes in peoples lives. The reader observes clearly that most of the individuals in the neighborhood had lost faith and hope. They found it to benefit from upward mobility.

National Conversation about Poverty: Root Causes and Persistence of Poverty

The author of this memoir uses a detailed approach to analyze the nature of the predicaments affecting many people his community. What comes out clearly from the book is that most of these problems arise from the peoples malpractices and inability to deal with every change experienced in the community. The history of his family is presented to explain why members of the town are unable to lead quality lives or pursue the American dream. It is notable that Papaw (Vances grandfather) used to work for ARMCO Steel whereby he earned good benefits and income. Unfortunately, the country experienced a new industrial shift in the 1970s. This new development resulted in loss of opportunities and jobs. The citizens living in different towns became trapped and incapable of finding new opportunities. The book reveals that most of the people who had good education or well connected left the town for better opportunities.

The individuals who were left behind became poor. This was the case because the loss of jobs resulted in both social and economic decline. The authors family background can be studied to understand how the developments experienced in the neighborhood led to poverty. For instance, his mother became alcoholic and incapable of supporting his childhood needs. She had multiple lovers and husbands who used to visit their home. Fighting was common the family. These malpractices, according to the author, reflected the major predicaments facing the wider society.

Members of the community are unable to make appropriate decisions about their lives. For instance, most of the individuals are not in a position to engage in different economic activities that can lift them out of poverty. Additionally, the affected individuals appear to embrace the use of addictive substances such as alcohol. Consequently, they become disoriented and unable to support their children. The portrayal of Vances mother gives a true picture of the problems that affected the community. Conflicts and abuse became common in every family. This is the same reason why the authors mother was unable to offer good care to him.

The author acknowledges that children from poor families or disadvantaged backgrounds tend to record poor results in school. The increased level of conflict or abuse makes it impossible for them to concentrate. The nature of this challenge explains why different families have remained poor and incapable of pursuing their goals. When children fail to get the right support and education, chances of upward mobility become minimal. These challenges explain why poverty has affected many people in different parts of the nation.

The reader observes clearly that violence and drug abuse affect the welfare of many children in this neighborhood. For example, Vances mother is unable to lead a quality life because of the violence inflicted by his grandparents. Drug use and alcoholism are also described as barriers to a successful life. This kind of negligence affects the welfare of young children. These developments explain why it appears impossible for both Vance and his mother to lead normal lives. These misbehaviors create societies that are unable to get rid of poverty.

The memoir acknowledges that Vances neighborhood witnessed high levels of poverty during his childhood. Although poverty is described as a major concern for many people in the society, Vance indicates that the manner in which individuals react to it is worth noting. It is indicated that most of the individuals do not struggle to tackle the major challenges affecting them. According to the book, different members of the community have surrendered to laziness. To make the situation worse, the people of the region have succumbed to drug dependency.

Vance shows clearly that the community is full of strong and able men who can pursue different economic activities and eventually tackle the problem of poverty. Although attributes such as industrialization and hard work are common in the community, very few people are keen to embrace them and achieve the American dream. The problem of helplessness has become contagious in the neighborhood. This new position results in reduced levels of personal involvement. Many citizens believe strongly that they can do very little to pursue their dreams and get rid of the increasing levels of poverty.

Family breakdown and community decay come out as critical factors that result in poverty in the region. The fact that Vance had to be raised by his aging grandparents explains how many young people are unable to achieve their potential. Children require adequate care, resources, and support from their parents. This practice equips them with the required strength that can take them further in their lives. Parents and their children find it hard to tackle the challenge of poverty. This is why the quandary has persisted in the community.

The issue of social rot is presented as another cause of poverty. With people not willing to work hard, the region finds it hard to engage in economic activities that can deal with poverty. The society disintegrates further due to various factors such as drug use and alcoholism. This is a persuasive problem that affects both the young and the elderly. This is true because Vances mother and his grandparents are affected by drug dependency. The pervasive social rot explains why the family structure is unsustainable. Vances mother is the best example of a family structure that has been disoriented. The situation complicates the experiences of different children, thereby affecting their academic aims.

The peoples inability to network, acquire quality education, and form appropriate networks contribute to the nature of poverty in the region. The malpractice is contrasted with the behaviors embraced by the wealthy members of the community. Failure to network creates a scenario whereby new opportunities cannot be identified or pursued. This is something that has led to the problem of poverty in the country.

The absence or deterioration of work ethic in the described region is another contributing factor to poverty. For instance, the author narrates the story of a young man who had to quit his job because he was unhappy with the nature of the working hours. Similarly, one of Vances coworker decides to skip work because his girlfriend was pregnant. These attributes, therefore, explain the sources of poverty and why it has persisted over the years.

Raising the Tone of Discourse

The above discussion shows conclusively that the book by J. D. Vance brings to the national conversation the root causes, nature, and persistence of poverty in the United States. By doing so, the text raises the tone for discourse to deal with the problem and ensure more people in the country realize their potential. The author acknowledges that many societies are faced by the predicament because they have not understood it clearly. This lack of understanding is one of the reasons why it has been hard for different societies to deal with the problem.

The memoir indicates that poverty is associated with psychological problems that eventually result in various misbehaviors. Such malpractices make it hard for different communities to achieve their goals. Poverty remains one of the leading causes of stress and depression in the nation. Social deterioration increases and people begin to engage in misbehaviors that increase the impacts of poverty. This analysis raises the tone for discourse in an attempt to ensure more people deal with the hurdle successfully. When people are educated or informed about the causes of poverty, they will be better positioned to develop evidence-based strategies to deal with it.

The American society (and even the global community) is informed about the best measures to support the lives of different people. This is a debate that has been ignored over the years. The book appears to encourage people to come out and target the problem of poverty directly. This means that individuals will appreciate the sources and persistent nature of the predicament. They will be willing to identify some of the malpractices and past mistakes that have led to increased levels of poverty. This knowledge is outlined as one of best approaches that can be embraced by individuals to deal with poverty.

The events and experiences outlined by the author encourage people to focus on the psychological consequences of poverty. It is agreeable that different situations force people to make wrong economic choices. The approach worsens the problems and eventually increases the number of poor citizens in a given society. When this knowledge is understood, people will be ready to identify and implement powerful programs that can deal with poverty successfully. The consideration of various strategies is also described in the text. For instance, the author encourages people to consider issues such as work ethic and social integration. These practices can be tapped by individuals in order to promote the best action plans and economic activities.

The narrators experiences and achievements can be studied critically by neighborhoods that want to come up with better models for dealing with poverty. This is the case because the problem has persisted and made it impossible for many people to achieve their dreams in life. The author creates room for a meaningful debate that can play a positive role in transforming the actions and behaviors of more people in the country. The readers understand clearly that poverty is caused by peoples mistakes and inability to focus on appropriate goals.

Many people have failed to engage in different roles that have the potential to support or improve their lives. The book is a guideline that encourages family members to take good care of their children and meet their needs. People must not blame the government for the quandaries affecting them. Instead, they must learn to adapt to every new economic change or circumstance. They should work hard to acquire quality education, establish networks, and focus on the idea of social mobility.

Communities must be keen to study the issues associated with cultural change. When people are aware of such changes, they will be determined to pursue specific action plans that can eventually make their lives better. People must stop blaming things such as changing economies or lack of opportunities. They should engage in a wide range of activities and practices that can improve their communities. Every reader should therefore acknowledge that Vance has raised the tone of discourse. People should consider these teachings in an attempt to understand the true picture of poverty and why it has remained a nightmare in many American communities. This appreciation will catalyze evidence-based behaviors and actions that can support the welfare of many families and children.

Conclusion

The pride of the people described in Vances book appears to have encouraged them to become lazy. The sense of helplessness, increased levels of domestic violence, ineffective welfare system, and decline in work ethic have led to the problem of poverty in the neighborhood. The poor in the society have failed to embrace the behaviors associated with the wealthy such as networking habits. These malpractices should be tackled if more people in the nation are to lift themselves out of poverty. Through the use of such descriptions and attributes, Vance has managed to raise serious questions that must be answered by those who want to get rid of poverty.

Introduction

The problem of poverty of the population, as well as excessive social and material stratification, has catastrophic prospects. This is a problem that will not be solved by itself, but only accumulate the future collapse of the economy and society. Diana Georges book, Changing the Face of Poverty, begins with a summary of several Thanksgiving commercials and catalogs for non-profit groups soliciting money for the underprivileged. She raises an essential point: how can we persuade Americans despite the luxury they see in front of them (Bullock et al. 726). There is a lot of poverty out there that requires a change in a culture inundated with images of poverty (Bullock et al. 726). Ms. George worries and investigates whether poverty is increasing as a result of preconceptions linked with non-profit representations and ads. It can be claimed that the book adequately represents the rising poverty in the United States, which is the direst issue in the country.

Diana George: Changing the Face of Poverty

Habitat for Humanity is the primary example given by this author. Habitat for Humanity is a highly significant organization in todays society when it comes to poverty. Its mission is to offer shelter to individuals in need all around the world (Bullock et al. 727). Moreover, it places housing control in the hands of the homeowners themselves, attempting to stop the cycle of poverty. The problem with Habitat for Humanity stems from its vocabulary, namely the way it discusses and portrays poverty.

Despite the mentioned issue, the author does not disparage Habitat for Humanitys efforts. As cofounder Millard Fuller has often stated, it has done an outstanding job of solving a global problem (Bullock et al. 727). However, the author would like to call attention to how the problem of insufficient housing is portrayed, particularly in publicity material generated and coordinated by that society (Bullock et al. 727). These depictions may exacerbate Habitat for Humanitys difficulties as it tries to transform how Americans think about helping others. This biased picture of poverty, according to Diana George, concentrates on images that tug at the heartstrings, such as photos of people living in extreme poverty, sick and homeless children, and dwellings that are falling apart or unlivable.

However, because of the usage of pathos, people tend to associate poverty only with it. People only recognize a problem with poverty in the context of the example offered to them (Bullock et al. 728). Only the poorest members of society are represented and cared for by society as a result of this representation. However, millions of people live in poverty every day, struggle, and lead terrible lives due to this. Many individuals are just as unfortunate as Habitat for Humanitys clients but just a little better off (Bullock et al. 728). Furthermore, they are forgotten as a result of this depiction. Because of this, only a tiny portion of the countrys poverty gets addressed, which is a big problem.

Another difficulty that can be noticed in the job is that people merely want to write a check. It is pretty revolutionary to consider that our impoverished neighbors could be able to purchase a home with no interest and with the help of others donated time and materials (Bullock et al. 728). The author moreover finds a problem in the fact that these pictures are rarely associated with America. Because most Americans are not exposed to poverty, they feel it is in another nation. In the United States, poverty is a severe problem. Diana George feels it has something to do with how individuals and the media see poverty.

As much as she is correct, politics and bureaucracy are equally to blame. Poverty is something that the government is always attempting to eradicate. People who are more fortunate than others, however, exploit the system (Bullock et al. 728). Politicians that grant firms billions in tax breaks seem unconcerned that this taxable money might be used to build hundreds of houses and generate employment for those in need.

They moreover make use of a few public assistance programs, such as welfare and food stamps. People who can live without it or use it for the wrong purposes, such as drugs and alcohol. By doing this, they rob moms trying to feed their children (Bullock et al. 728). These programs require more funding and more oversight, such as drug testing for those collecting a check. Poverty is a significant concern not only in the United States but moreover across the world. However, in order to be of assistance, this problem must be addressed. The world as a whole has to pay greater attention to the bigger picture of poverty.

However, a CNN article on poverty and its rise in the United States can be cited as a corroborating critical counter-source. Last year, the poverty rate in the United States increased to 11.4 percent (Luhby). According to census figures released by CNN, the first two rounds of government stimulus funds helped keep 11.7 million Americans out of poverty (Luhby). This situation resulted in an alternative poverty measure falling to 9.1 percent in 2020 (Luhby). The payments were a critical component of the extraordinary federal response to the economic carnage inflicted by the pandemic.

The Supplemental Poverty Measure was lower than the official rate for the first time last year. According to economists, this metric takes into account non-cash government support, taxes, and necessary costs, correcting a significant fault in the official rate (Luhby). Census stated that the alternative measure would have grown by around 3.6 percentage points without the stimulus money (Luhby). The supplementary rate in 2019 was 11.8 percent (Luhby). The official poverty rate climbed to 10.5 percent in 2020, up from a historic low of 10.5 percent the previous year (Luhby). In 2020, 37.2 million people lived in poverty, up 3.3 million from the previous year (Luhby). After five years of reduction, poverty has risen for the first time.

The poverty seems to scale as the economic condition of the US worsens. The epidemic shook the US economy early last year, causing millions of people to lose employment. Governments urged non-essential companies to close and individuals to stay at home to prevent the virus from spreading. Despite significant improvements since then, the economy will continue to employ over 5 million people in February 2020 (Luhby). However, the federal governments unusual reaction saved millions of people from the harshest effects of the recession. Congress passed three major relief packages, including $3,200 in stimulus payments in 2020 and 2021, and expanded unemployment benefits (Luhby). Beefed-up food stamps and providing funds for low-income school children to buy food, deferred student loan payments, a moratorium on evictions, relief funds to state and local governments, and business assistance (Luhby). Thus, several factors contribute to poverty rise in the US and downgrade the wellbeing of its citizens.

Conclusion

To conclude, Diana Georges book, Changing the Face of Poverty, demonstrates the most critical modern issue of the United States. It can be judged that the CNN data qualitatively demonstrate that the position expressed by Diana George in her work is argumentatively qualitative. Although poverty is partly caused by external factors, it is the responsibility of the government and electorate to make decisions on its eradication. Therefore, the problem of poverty should be an area of concern for all cognizant Americans since it might lead to even worse consequences.

Work Cited

Bullock, Richard, et al. The Norton Field Guide to Writing: With Readings and Handbook, MLA 2021 and APA 2020 Update Edition. Fifth, W. W. Norton and Company, 2021.

Luhby, Tami Cnn. Census 2020: Poverty Rose in 2020 Amid Pandemic Even as Stimulus Payments Helped Some 11.7 Million Americans Avoid It  CNNPolitics. CNN, 2021.

Introduction

The concept of poverty can be interpreted differently from social, economic, and other points of view; however, in each definition, this phenomenon influences all the aspects of peoples lives negatively. Based on academic theories and scholarly findings, it is possible to determine the role that families play in protecting loved ones from financial difficulties and which myths about poverty exist. Also, the influence of such myths on current policies will be considered, as well as the impact on subsequent generations. As a justification base, relevant sources will be utilized and cited. This work is aimed at identifying the key aspects associated with poverty and its impact on the lives of people in different contexts.

Poverty and Myths About It

Poverty is the significant problem of modern civilization due to developmental difficulties it imposes. According to Banerjee and Duflo (2011), this phenomenon represents the economic decline of an individual area or social unit, for example, a family where the current financial condition does not give an opportunity to meet all the necessary needs. At the same time, the concept of poverty is often associated with various myths.

For instance, as Katz (2013) remarks, some people argue that immigration leads to poverty inevitably, which, however, is a controversial judgment, and government officials often touch on this issue when discussing the problems of mass urbanization. Another myth is racial prerequisites since, regardless of cultural background, poverty can be avoided. As a result, these issues are discussed at the global level and create certain ideas about the image of poor people.

Defense of Families

A significant role in the protection from individual poverty belongs to relatives who can help one another and prevent complete financial decline. It is particularly true in those families where relationships with distant relatives are maintained, and all necessary assistance can be provided timely. When everyone can rely on his or her loved ones, special protection and confidence in support manifest themselves, which are crucial factors.

At the same time, as Elwood, Lawson, and Sheppard (2017) state, such support has some limitations. The authors cite the concept of geographical rationality and note that, despite the disinterested background of helping relatives, various constraints may arise, for instance, individual poverty and an inability to sacrifice personal benefits due to a difficult economic situation in the whole region (Elwood et al., 2017). Therefore, various conventions need to be taken into account and considered from different approaches.

Effects on Succeeding Generations

People who live in poverty have an impact on future generations, regardless of the personal qualities of their descendants. Any difficult economic situation leads to a reduction in costs, which, in turn, affects the state of housing conditions, education, personal development, and other essential factors negatively. All these restrictions lead to the fact that descendants born in subsequent generations are forced to achieve everything on their own and correct their social status.

Theories of Poverty

In order to understand the nature of poverty and its consequences better, it is possible to pay attention to some scientific theories that characterize this phenomenon. Elwood et al. (2017) emphasize the relational poverty theory and argue that this concept is closely related to the continuity of generations. The authors also give an example of the aforementioned geographical relationality theory and note that gender, race, and other ethnic and cultural characteristics have a specific connection with a social status (Elwood et al., 2017). All these hypotheses are suitable for reasoning on the topic of poverty and its influence on the course of human development.

Conclusion

Factors affecting poverty and characterizing this phenomenon from different standpoints have various interpretations, and some myths appear under the influence of stereotypes. The contexts of peoples lives in difficult economic conditions may be explained with the help of some scientific theories. The role of family members in supporting and protecting against poverty is significant. Subsequent generations may experience significant challenges due to the difficult economic situation of their ancestors, and even in case of support, some constraints, for instance, geographical restrictions, may occur.

References

Banerjee, A. V., & Duflo, E. (2011). Poor economics: A radical rethinking of the way to fight global poverty. New York, NY: Public Affairs.

Elwood, S., Lawson, V., & Sheppard, E. (2017). Geographical relational poverty studies. Progress in Human Geography, 41(6), 745-765. Web.

Katz, M. B. (2013). The undeserving poor: Americas enduring confrontation with poverty (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

People work hard to meet their needs. However, this does not necessary mean escape from poverty. Poverty can cause extensive damage on ones life. This is mainly because poverty affects health, education, employment opportunities, family, friends and social status, among others. Poverty causes extreme suffering, especially if one cannot afford the basic human needs. For instance, pictures and video footage from the Horn of Africa show people dying from hunger.

These people suffer from the worst possible plight on earth; that is, living without food and clean water. Furthermore, effects of poverty lead to more poverty. In essence, an individuals situation continues to deteriorate and therefore he/she risks extinction. This paper will explore the effects of poverty on an individual.

People deserve healthy living as this guarantees continued stay on earth. However, when this is compromised, their health deteriorates. Poverty leads to lack basic human needs like water, food, shelter and clothing. This means that such an individual is deprived of clean water, which exposes him/her to diseases like typhoid and dysentery, among others. To make matters worse, this individual cannot afford treatment. In essence, lack of clean water alone has the propensity of ending his/her miserable life.

Therefore, it is important to note how terrible that individuals situation looks. Furthermore, lack of food brings malnutrition and hunger, which leads to death. Moreover, he/she cannot afford good shelter. This individual is therefore exposed to adverse weather conditions during day or night, which further deteriorates his/her health.

Another aspect of life that is affected due to poverty is clothing. Because, this individual cannot afford adequate clothing, this leaves him/she with prospect of indecent dressing which constitutes shame and health hazards. In essence, Poverty causes irreparable damage on ones health.

Modernism has brought about opportunities, which require skills to perform. These skills can only be acquired through education. However, a poor individual cannot afford adequate education in order to achieve his/her dreams of contributing to national development. Therefore, he/she misses-out on employment opportunities, which would otherwise save him/her from poverty. This result in further deterioration of living standards, which expose him/her to humiliation and repercussions named above.

Poverty causes one to be highly demoralized and bored. This is mainly because he/she cannot afford the comfort and luxury associated with wealth. Moreover, employment opportunities continue to reduce with time. His/her social status also becomes embarrassing. This means that he/she cannot have adequate friends who may be willing to assist or even associate.

Therefore, he/she remains isolated from society as well as from active participation in community development. In face of such humiliation, this individual may suffers from low self-esteem, confidence and will to live. This leads to increased poverty, mental issues and may lead to extinction.

Poverty is the worst possible calamity an individual should face. This is mainly because its effects are suicidal. Whatever the situation, one should always esteem to have basic needs. Moreover, people should work hard to evade poverty. However, it is also important to note that some individuals live in areas where hard work does not necessarily translate into better life. Government in such areas should help save these people because the effects of poverty are real and grave.