Unit 7: Poverty

Readingshttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- dyn/content/article/2009/05/17/AR2009051702053.html?referrer=emailarticle

"Problems of Work and Economy," by Kornblum and Julian, in your text. "Media Magic: Making Class Invisible," by Mantsios, in your text. (DB #2)

"Concomitants of Poverty," by Kornblum and Julian, in your text. "Did Welfare Reform Work? Implications for 2003 and Beyond," by Hofferth, in your text. (DB #1)Concept EssayDescribe the problem of unemployment as discussed by Kornblum and Julian. How does unemployment impact individuals and society? What can be done to lessen some of the social and psychological damage caused by unemployment?

This concept essay should be at least 300 words in length and formatted per APA style requirements. You should cite your textbook and include a reference page. Live Seminar Thursday evening

Unit 7Information from Social Problems (2010), 10th edition by Eitzen (unless otherwise noted)

Video Field Trip: 20/20s A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/football-star-hidden-america-6877502?tab=12841679

Myth 1Half of the poor are either too old or too young to work: About 40% are under age 18, and another 10% are age 65 or older. About 30% of the working-age poor work at least half the year.

Myth 2Long-term poverty is rare. Most poverty lasts less than a year. Only 12% remain in poverty for five or more consecutive years.Most children who are born into poverty are not in poverty or poor as adults

Myth 3The poverty rates of African Americans and Latinos are much higher than that of whites. However, because there are so many more whites in the U.S., most of the poor are white.Of the 37 million poor, 57% are white, 20% African American, 20% Latino, and 3% Asian American.

Myth 438% of the poor match this stereotype34% live in married-couple families22% live alone or with nonrelatives6% live in other settings

Myth 542% live in the inner city36% live in the suburbs22% live in small towns and rural areas

Myth 6Only about 25% of the income of poor adults comes from welfare. About half of the income comes from wages and pensionsAbout 22% comes from social security

How do people become homeless?

Types of HomelessPush-outsVictims of environmental catastropheThe mentally illThe new poorTechnologically unqualifiedThe elderly

RunawaysDemoralizedAlcoholicsEase addictsTravel addicts (road dogs)Excitement addicts

Henslin, J. (2008). Social Problems: A down to earth approach. Boston: Pearson.

How do people view homelessness and the homeless in the U.S.?

Do these views vary?

Why dont the homeless get the help they need?What are some barriers to care?

Barriers to CareFinancial (insurance, bills, prescriptions)

Structural (endless bureaucratic requirements)

Personal (transportation, cultural, language, discrimination, distrust, embarrassment, confidentiality, etc.)

Christiani, A. et al. (2008, Nov. 3). Attitudes of homeless and drug using youth regarding barriers to care. JCAPN, 2, 154-163

Urban RenewalHow does urban renewal constitute a solution to social problems?

Urban Renewal A SolutionMoral to improve quality of lifeThe city center has been the cultural and intellectual centersDeclining cities means declining suburbs

Eitzen, D.S., Baca Zinn, M. & Smith, K. (2009). Social Problems. Boston: Pearson.

Urban RenewalHow does Urban Renewal constitute a cause of social problem?

Urban Renewal A Social ProblemGentrification the relatively affluent displacing the poor by renovating their homes.Results in loss of low-income housing unitsIncreases homelessnessBy building highways the government financed the wealthyThe move of factories and offices out of the city crippled its economic systemRedeveloping the downtown an attempt to hide the poor

Henslin, J. (2008). Social Problems: A down to earth approach. Boston: Pearson.

Consumer SocietyThe United States is a "consumer society." What does this mean? What ramifications does this have for how we live in our society?

Four Economic Problems Facing the U.S.1. Decline in real income (purchasing power)Income rose from WWII to the 1970sReal income today is just a little more than it was in the 70sTwo-incomes = double family income?2. TaxesGrowing share of income goes towards taxes Tax Freedom Day April 263. The savings rate of Americans has droppedLess money to invest in the economy4. The national debt Importation of foreign goods and rising debt

From James Henslin's Social Problems: A down to earth approach (2008).

Consumer Debt43% spend more than they earn every year spend $1.22 for every dollar earnedAverage household has $8 K in credit card debtPersonal bankruptcies doubled in past decadeThe average student graduates from college with $20,000 in debt

Data from Reuters, T (2009) from MSN money