Unit 7: PovertyUnit 7: Poverty
ReadingsReadings http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2009/05/17/AR2009dyn/content/article/2009/05/17/AR2009051702053.html?referrer=emailarticle051702053.html?referrer=emailarticle
"Problems of Work and Economy," by "Problems of Work and Economy," by Kornblum and Julian, in your text.Kornblum and Julian, in your text.
"Media Magic: Making Class "Media Magic: Making Class Invisible," by Mantsios, in your Invisible," by Mantsios, in your text. (DB #2)text. (DB #2)
"Concomitants of Poverty," by "Concomitants of Poverty," by Kornblum and Julian, in your text.Kornblum and Julian, in your text.
"Did Welfare Reform Work? "Did Welfare Reform Work? Implications for 2003 and Beyond," by Implications for 2003 and Beyond," by Hofferth, in your text. (DB #1)Hofferth, in your text. (DB #1)
Concept EssayConcept Essay Describe the problem of Describe the problem of
unemployment as discussed by unemployment as discussed by Kornblum and Julian. How does Kornblum and Julian. How does unemployment impact individuals and unemployment impact individuals and society? What can be done to lessen society? What can be done to lessen some of the social and psychological some of the social and psychological damage caused by unemployment? damage caused by unemployment?
This concept essay should be at least This concept essay should be at least 300 words in length and formatted per 300 words in length and formatted per APA style requirements. You should APA style requirements. You should cite your textbook and include a cite your textbook and include a reference page. reference page.
Live Seminar – Thursday evening
Unit 7Unit 7
Information from Information from Social Problems Social Problems (2010), 10(2010), 10thth edition edition by Eitzen by Eitzen
(unless otherwise noted)(unless otherwise noted)
Video Field Trip: 20/20’s Video Field Trip: 20/20’s A Hidden A Hidden America: Children of the MountainsAmerica: Children of the Mountains
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/football-sthttp://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/football-star-hidden-america-6877502?tab=12841679ar-hidden-america-6877502?tab=12841679
Myth 1Myth 1
Half of the poor are either too old or too Half of the poor are either too old or too young to work: About 40% are under age young to work: About 40% are under age 18, and another 10% are age 65 or older. 18, and another 10% are age 65 or older. About 30% of the working-age poor work About 30% of the working-age poor work at least half the year.at least half the year.
Myth 2Myth 2
Long-term poverty is rare. Most poverty Long-term poverty is rare. Most poverty lasts less than a year. lasts less than a year.
Only 12% remain in poverty for five or Only 12% remain in poverty for five or more consecutive years.more consecutive years.
Most children who are born into poverty Most children who are born into poverty are are notnot in poverty or poor as adults in poverty or poor as adults
Myth 3Myth 3
The poverty rates of African Americans The poverty rates of African Americans and Latinos are much higher than that of and Latinos are much higher than that of whites. However, because there are so whites. However, because there are so many more whites in the U.S., many more whites in the U.S., mostmost of the of the poor are poor are whitewhite..
Of the 37 million poor, 57% are white, 20% Of the 37 million poor, 57% are white, 20% African American, 20% Latino, and 3% African American, 20% Latino, and 3% Asian American.Asian American.
Myth 4Myth 4
38% of the poor match this stereotype38% of the poor match this stereotype 34% live in married-couple families34% live in married-couple families 22% live alone or with nonrelatives22% live alone or with nonrelatives 6% live in other settings6% live in other settings
Myth 5Myth 5
42% live in the inner city42% live in the inner city 36% live in the suburbs36% live in the suburbs 22% live in small towns and rural areas22% live in small towns and rural areas
Myth 6Myth 6
Only about 25% of the income of poor Only about 25% of the income of poor adults comes from welfare. adults comes from welfare.
About half of the income comes from About half of the income comes from wages and pensionswages and pensions
About 22% comes from social securityAbout 22% comes from social security
How do people become homeless?How do people become homeless?
Henslin, J. (2008). Social ProblemHenslin, J. (2008). Social Problems: A down to earth approach. Bosts: A down to earth approach. Boston: Pearson.on: Pearson.
Types of HomelessTypes of Homeless
Push-outsPush-outs Victims of Victims of
environmental environmental catastrophecatastrophe
The mentally illThe mentally ill The new poorThe new poor Technologically Technologically
unqualifiedunqualified The elderlyThe elderly
RunawaysRunaways DemoralizedDemoralized AlcoholicsAlcoholics Ease addictsEase addicts Travel addicts (“road Travel addicts (“road
dogs”)dogs”) Excitement addictsExcitement addicts
How do people view homelessness and How do people view homelessness and the homeless in the U.S.?the homeless in the U.S.?
Do these views vary?Do these views vary?
Why don’t the homeless get the help they Why don’t the homeless get the help they need?need?
What are some barriers to care?What are some barriers to care?
Christiani, A. et al. (2008, Nov. 3).Christiani, A. et al. (2008, Nov. 3). Attitudes of homeless and drug u Attitudes of homeless and drug using youth regarding barriers to casing youth regarding barriers to care. JCAPN, 2, 154-163re. JCAPN, 2, 154-163
Barriers to CareBarriers to Care
Financial (insurance, bills, prescriptions)Financial (insurance, bills, prescriptions)
Structural (endless bureaucratic Structural (endless bureaucratic requirements) requirements)
Personal (transportation, cultural, Personal (transportation, cultural, language, discrimination, distrust, language, discrimination, distrust, embarrassment, confidentiality, etc.)embarrassment, confidentiality, etc.)
Urban RenewalUrban Renewal
How does urban renewal constitute a How does urban renewal constitute a solution to social problems?solution to social problems?
Eitzen, D.S., Baca Zinn, M. & SmiEitzen, D.S., Baca Zinn, M. & Smith, K. (2009). Social Problems. Both, K. (2009). Social Problems. Boston: Pearson.ston: Pearson.
Urban Renewal – A SolutionUrban Renewal – A Solution
Moral to improve quality of lifeMoral to improve quality of life The city center has been the cultural and The city center has been the cultural and
intellectual centersintellectual centers Declining cities means declining suburbsDeclining cities means declining suburbs
Urban RenewalUrban Renewal
How does Urban Renewal constitute a How does Urban Renewal constitute a cause of social problem?cause of social problem?
Henslin, J. (2008). Social ProblemHenslin, J. (2008). Social Problems: A down to earth approach. Bosts: A down to earth approach. Boston: Pearson.on: Pearson.
Urban Renewal – A Social ProblemUrban Renewal – A Social Problem
GentrificationGentrification – the relatively affluent displacing – the relatively affluent displacing the poor by renovating their homes.the poor by renovating their homes. Results in loss of low-income housing unitsResults in loss of low-income housing units Increases homelessnessIncreases homelessness
By building highways the government financed By building highways the government financed the wealthythe wealthy The move of factories and offices out of the city The move of factories and offices out of the city
crippled its economic systemcrippled its economic system
Redeveloping the downtown – an attempt to Redeveloping the downtown – an attempt to hide the poorhide the poor
The United States is a "consumer society." The United States is a "consumer society." What does this mean? What does this mean?
What ramifications does this have for how What ramifications does this have for how we live in our society?we live in our society?
Consumer SocietyConsumer Society
From James Henslin's Social ProFrom James Henslin's Social Problems: A down to earth approach blems: A down to earth approach (2008). (2008).
Four Economic Problems Four Economic Problems Facing the U.S.Facing the U.S.
1. Decline in 1. Decline in real income real income (purchasing power)(purchasing power) Income rose from WWII to the 1970’sIncome rose from WWII to the 1970’s Real income today is just a little more than it was in the 70sReal income today is just a little more than it was in the 70s Two-incomes = double family income?Two-incomes = double family income?
2. Taxes2. Taxes Growing share of income goes towards taxes Growing share of income goes towards taxes Tax Freedom Day – April 26Tax Freedom Day – April 26
3. The savings rate of Americans has dropped3. The savings rate of Americans has dropped Less money to invest in the economyLess money to invest in the economy
4. The national debt 4. The national debt Importation of foreign goods and rising debtImportation of foreign goods and rising debt
Data from Reuters, T (2009) from Data from Reuters, T (2009) from MSN moneyMSN money
Consumer DebtConsumer Debt
43% spend more than they earn every 43% spend more than they earn every year – spend $1.22 for every dollar earnedyear – spend $1.22 for every dollar earned
Average household has $8 K in credit card Average household has $8 K in credit card debtdebt
Personal bankruptcies doubled in past Personal bankruptcies doubled in past decadedecade
The average student graduates from The average student graduates from college with $20,000 in debtcollege with $20,000 in debt
