Sociological Views on Poverty - Essay Example

Sociological Views on Poverty Poverty is considered as a worldwide problem that requires a worldwideresponse. For time and again, the problem that roots in poverty does not only remains but it most situation aggravate. There are several views regarding how it must be resolved. While some blame the whole problem on the individual person, others believed that it is a problem that must be faced not by the individual neither by the society but it is viewed as something that needs to be discussed and resolved with a global effort. Thus, the main topic of this paper would central on the views regarding poverty and why does a global effort could be the best possible way in able to neutralize and even eliminate the problem concerning poverty. The paper would start with a definition of poverty, followed by the perspectives regarding how poverty shall be addressed. It would then be followed by a critical examination of the arguments taken by authors and commentators and would end in a conclusion that shall emphasize the role of the global interrelation and effort to resolve the problems of poverty. Poverty as stated by Ruby Payne in her book, Framework for Understanding Poverty, is the condition in which the person does not have enough resources. She further clarifies that there are different types of resources with which poverty could be identified with. First and the most popular concerns financial resources which refers to monetary value that shall enable the individual to purchase services and goods. The others include emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, support systems such as friends and family networks, role models and knowledge of habits. However, financial resources have been the most popular since it was the most obvious, regardless of this; the other resources are also important and relevant if one would like to counteract poverty as a whole. (2005, pages4-8) Since usually poverty is seen as a lack of financial resources, it has been customary for people to respond to poverty through financial support. This is primarily done through donations and grants. It is also in line with this view that people thinks that people are poor because they do not work hard enough in able to sustain their basic needs. People who looked like rubbish or are not presentable are often seen as poor. (Payne, 2005, page 4-9) Another author, Farley, believes that poverty is something that is rooted on sociological relationship such as the economic production, the political system, the institution that is present in the society, the predominant culture prevalent in the society. Thus, poverty in this view is not a problem in the individual level but in a societal level which could only be remedied through sociological programs and changes. To further clarify his view, he provided an introduction to two relevant perspectives that shall explain his belief. (2000, 173) The Functionalist perspective is a view, wherein the whole society is likened to a living organism wherein each cells are relevant and relatively connected to one and another. As the name of the theory implies, it insist that each part of the society is present due to a certain function that it must perform. (Kitano, 1985:40). In line with this perspective, poverty is viewed as a necessary part of society. Poverty has a function in the society in which it could be found. Looking closer, poor people resembles certain characters that set them aside from the rest of the society. The differences in values and in culture have made the poor different from other members of the society. Now this attitude would be inherited by their children thus explain the expansion of poverty. Most commonly the poor people think as if they could not change their life and life style since they were born that way. (Eitzen and Baca-Zinn, 1994 page 173-175) However, this kind of approach to poverty is too limited and very illogical. Poverty might indeed be natural but this does not mean that it should be left in its own. Time before reveals that poverty could be reduced, however, the solution lies in the government and the society that tries to solve the problems concerning poverty. Eitzen and (Baca-Zinn, 1994 page173) In the functionalist perspective it seems that it follows that people does bring poverty in themselves. This could be derived from the claim that poverty is natural to a society because it is a culture that involves deviant behavior and can be passed on to off-springs. By showing that poverty is an attitude or character problem, it follows that poverty is a reaction shared by a certain group of people in the society usually characterized by laziness and lack of breeding and education. (Oscar Lewis, 1965 page 133) In support to this perspective, a study known as Moynihan Study was devised in order to explain that the Black poverty was deeply rooted on its history which is identified by unemployment, lack of education and slavery. (Farley, 2000, page 174-176) On the other hand, the functionalist perspective could also result in a welfare based society. The welfare of the society shall be supported by the government in able to create a society that is free from poverty. This view emphasizes on the idea that centers on the government's function in the society. (Farley, 2000, page 173) Farley (2000 page 174)) presented another perspective regarding sociological structures. According to him, society could also be seen as a system with a variety of conflicting interest that shapes and reshapes each other endlessly. This view has been known as the Conflict theory. It is grounded on the fact that resources in a society in unevenly distributed to different individuals and sectors. Those who posses more resources are the wealthy, those who does not are the poor. This process produces conflict in interest and necessitates change in societies. This scenario is indubitably undeniable, since different classes exist in the society. Wherein humans have an unlimited wants and needs and the world could only offer a limited number of resources. A conflict of interest shall always be present. In such case, those people who usually lack the capacity to work and strive for him self are usually left behind. Nevertheless, as Payne discusses, above, this view could be seen as a hasty generalization since poverty is not only rooted on lack of financial resources but could be traced from the lack of other resources such as emotional, physical and mental. (Payne, 6-9) Nevertheless, poverty could best be reflected in a global scale rather then in a societal one. This is due to the fact that globalization as a continued process of global interconnectedness has created social stratification across the globe. Nations or states are now grouped not with respect to their geographical location or language or religion or history, but regarding to how much a certain country earn. Also, the global business relations, with each nation having its own national interest, would engage on transactions that would benefit them at most. Such case leads nations to be group according to how much they earned economically. This heightens the perspective relating financial status to as the main factor that affects poverty. (Payne, 4-9) Nonetheless, social stratification proves that indeed, poverty is something that shall be considered as a global problem which could commonly be identified with the unequal distribution of resources. As more resources a country have, as little another country would get. This face of globalization has damaged the least developed country the most. (Payne, 4-9) In line with the view of Payne, the problem of poverty could be solved through proper allocation of resources. However, it is not only financial resources that must be equally distributed but also the knowledge and information shall also be diversified around the globe. In a national level, there must be programs that shall encourage education and innovation. This shall be paid accordingly with proper wages that shall be distributed among different types of people. (Payne, 4-9) Since, skills and education are mostly important, the government and organizations around the globe shall conduct seminars that would create jobs or that could encourage people to work by providing them enough qualification on jobs which are paid with relevant income. (Payne, 4-9) Most people who experienced poverty are considerably young in age due to the fact that those people in poverty have no proper knowledge regarding family planning and have none enough resources that would enable them to supply their health needs. They also don't have enough and proper foods, to start with, this keeps their mortality and birth rate high. Most of those who are in poverty do not have a proper education generally attached to financial problems. However, there are reports and figures as emphasized in works regarding the connection of ethnicity and poverty which relates "ethnic" background to the phenomenon of poverty such as the case of Mayans. (Hallman, 2007) Racial discrimination for most part has a direct impact on poverty since discriminated people are usually not preferred on Jobs. This paper has finally concluded that a global effort is indeed needed in able to eradicate poverty or at least to help alleviate poverty since it was a global phenomenon. Also, discriminations are not only done inside the countries but also beyond. Usually, discrimination occurs when people have a great gap regarding their status in life, this explains the discrimination with regards to race or ethnicity. People who are in a sense "not americanized" are almost always treated as uncivilized. This creates a bias among individuals regarding preferences which has a direct relation to poverty; since discrimination as explained above, increases the chances of an individual not to be prepared in jobs. In able to resolve poverty, people from first world country shall share their knowledge and technology to the third worlds or the least developed. If a global effort would not be done, people across the globe would continually be poorer especially if first world countries would continue in exploiting the resources of third world countries. Poverty is not only a financial and economic problem; it cannot be reduced by simple wage adjustment and donations or grants. It is something that requires a long-term plan that shall require nations to help each other more sincerely and unselfishly. Works Cited Eitzen, D. S. and Baca-Zinn M.. Social Problems. (6th Ed.) Boston: Allyn and Bacon1994. Farley, J. E. Majority - Minority Relations. (4th Ed.) Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall. 2000 Kitano, H. H. L. Race Relations. (3rd Ed.) Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall. 1985 Lewis, O.La Vida. New York: Random House1965 Payne, R.K. A Framework for Understanding Poverty. (4th Ed) AHA Process, Inc. 2005 Minority Studies. 2007. Retrived on November 13, 2007. Retrieved from the World Wide Web: http://www.delmar.edu/socsci/rlong/race/far-04.htm Hallman, K. and Perraca, Sarah. A Four Fold Disadvantage: The Effects of Gender, Ethnicity, Poverty and Location on Education in Guatamela. Baltimore. 2007. Read More