What is Poverty?
When we think of the term 'poverty,' many images might come to mind: images of that person on the corner with the sign that reads "will work for food," or the woman walking up Union Avenue with a shopping cart that contains all her possessions. How do these individuals end up in these circumstances?
Then, one might understand the term in a different way. Perhaps it represents a lack of necessities: food, clothing, shelter, safety. For academics who study poverty--its nature, growth, rise and fall, and the impact of poverty of those it most closely affects--divide the concept of poverty in six categories. Eric Jensen's study, Teaching with Poverty in Mind, identifies those categories as Situational, Generational, Absolute, Relative, Urban, and Rural.
Situational Poverty is "usually temporary" and arises from unforeseen or disastrous occurrences--natural or otherwise. Such disasters as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes displace individuals, wiping out homes, possessions. Divorce, a death in the family, economic down-swings, a failed business are all examples of ways one could find him or herself in a condition of situational poverty.
Absolute Poverty is defined as a condition of total destitution: no food, water, shelter. Although one source describes this condition of poverty as "rare in the United States," one might imagine this term to be flexible. Absolute poverty certainly exists in economically distressed countries; however, it does exist in isolated forms in the U.S., one might argue.
Relative Poverty is defined according to location and its standard of living. One source defines it succinctly, "What is considered high income in one country could be considered middle or low in another. If a family's income isn't enough to meet the average standard of living, they are considered to be in relative poverty.
Above: The Sault.com dramatize 'relative poverty.'
Generational Poverty refers to the condition of two consecutive generations are born into poverty. Because of that condition of having been born into such a situation, they may lack the means to rise above their condition easily.
Urban and Rural Poverty simply refer to geographic locations. For urban poverty, the population exceeds 50,000; for rural, the population falls under 50,000.
The causes of poverty are numerous--as are their effects. In this TedTalk, Jessica Sharpe discusses "The Brain on Poverty."
For a global perspective, Rajen Makhijani discusses "How the Poor See Life" in this TedTalk.
Then, one might understand the term in a different way. Perhaps it represents a lack of necessities: food, clothing, shelter, safety. For academics who study poverty--its nature, growth, rise and fall, and the impact of poverty of those it most closely affects--divide the concept of poverty in six categories. Eric Jensen's study, Teaching with Poverty in Mind, identifies those categories as Situational, Generational, Absolute, Relative, Urban, and Rural.
Situational Poverty is "usually temporary" and arises from unforeseen or disastrous occurrences--natural or otherwise. Such disasters as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes displace individuals, wiping out homes, possessions. Divorce, a death in the family, economic down-swings, a failed business are all examples of ways one could find him or herself in a condition of situational poverty.
Absolute Poverty is defined as a condition of total destitution: no food, water, shelter. Although one source describes this condition of poverty as "rare in the United States," one might imagine this term to be flexible. Absolute poverty certainly exists in economically distressed countries; however, it does exist in isolated forms in the U.S., one might argue.
Relative Poverty is defined according to location and its standard of living. One source defines it succinctly, "What is considered high income in one country could be considered middle or low in another. If a family's income isn't enough to meet the average standard of living, they are considered to be in relative poverty.
Above: The Sault.com dramatize 'relative poverty.'
Generational Poverty refers to the condition of two consecutive generations are born into poverty. Because of that condition of having been born into such a situation, they may lack the means to rise above their condition easily.
Urban and Rural Poverty simply refer to geographic locations. For urban poverty, the population exceeds 50,000; for rural, the population falls under 50,000.
The causes of poverty are numerous--as are their effects. In this TedTalk, Jessica Sharpe discusses "The Brain on Poverty."
For a global perspective, Rajen Makhijani discusses "How the Poor See Life" in this TedTalk.
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