How is poverty explained?

Poverty is one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions and lacks the means to satisfy their basic needs (Britannica Academic edition). The theory of culture of poverty explains poverty beautifully; it constructs how we live, the choices we pursue and are generally passed on from generation to the next. There are ways to break the cycle of inheriting this so called poverty. It isnt necessary to follow in the footprints of those we love or people around us that choose to continue to live the poverty life. However, it might not necessarily be the person following this route, but the society around them shaping this poverty. A person who tends to lack things such as money and education can be blinded to believe that there is only one thing out there for them and one way to live. Also, a person may sudden experience this thing called poverty by what is occurring in the society in which they reside. Where a person lives and who they interact with has a huge impact on whether or not they will escape poverty. The functionalism theory explains that each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society functioning as a whole. People depend on the government to provide jobs and education to their society and in return will fulfill their duties, but those who are in poverty may lack those resources or the jobs that are provided with dont offer enough money to learn more necessary skills for a better job or pay just enough to get by day by day. Also, if people arent working or trying to contribute to their society, then as a whole, it will start to degenerate due to the lack of sanative of people. Also, those in a society have a huge impact over each other, so ones actions may speak louder than another persons words and people will start mimicking what they observe and will lead society to a down fall.

As I read, Society the Basics by John J. Macionis, he states that the poor have themselves to blame for the reason they are in poverty and can make their own path on the way they want to live. He continues to explain, society offers plenty of opportunities to anyone who is able and willing to to take advantage of them , and the poor are people who cannot or will not work due to lack of skills, schooling, and motivation (John Macionis). I have personally witness this at first hand that those who live in a society where money, education and ability to learn skills viable to survive are scarce. Thus, people continue to live this poverty lifestyle and influence those around them that there isnt anything more in life besides what is standing in front of their faces. Oscar Lewis believes that, the poor become trapped in a culture of poverty, a lowerclass subculture that can destroy peoples ambition to improve their liveschildren become resigned to their situations, producing a self-perpetuating cycle of poverty. (Oscar Lewis, Wikipedia). Although it may seem true that people can become discouraged because the majority of those around them are following the same path, it is never too late to take the lead and show people there is something different out there. In addition, when poverty strike, I feel that people tend to analyze the people are the only problems instead of evaluating the whole situation such as if there are resources available in their society. According to William Julius Wilson, society can be blamed for causing poverty, government should find jobs and provide affordable child care for low income mothers and fathers. I do see that in certain areas where poverty has hit, some help if available by the government to allow people to survive, but that just isnt cutting it. In today societies, poverty rate is increasing and if it spreads like the plague, it will effect our economy and then soon too many people will not possess the valuable skills for a particular job and unemployment will keep rising, which will lead to more people being poor.

I feel that people in poverty effect a wide range of people and can have negative consequence even on those who arent poor and maybe even lead them to becoming poor. For example, if the people who are in poverty increase, then those who are doing well will have to pay more taxes and prices will increase, eventually making it difficult for the next class up, middle class. There should be a need to provide help to those in poverty, so we can all succeed and make our society better as a whole. Moving on, Individuals feel marginalized, helpless and inferior, and gain a sense of attitude on how they are supposed to live. I believe it travels from generation to generation because of its effect on children. By the time those poor children are old enough to understand their situation, they have usually absorbed the basic values and are not ready to take full advantage of changing their conditions and finding opportunities which may occur in their lifetime and allow them to not be in poverty. I feel this happens a lot because children who grow up feel there is no way out because they are taught and have learned differently. For example, those who live in the projects and notice that to sell drugs are the only way to make money and is a "job." It is passed on and people cant see above all that and follow what is within their culture. I believe that there may be times that people can choose their route in life and whether or not they want to live in poverty or escape it. It isnt always passed on from generation to generation, but sometimes obtained throughout life. If poverty is obtained through life, then it might be less likely to be passed on if it happens later in life when their children are older. Since

children are very easily influenced, their chances of looking up to their parents for what seems right to follow in life, they might end up in poverty too. I feel that people can choose how they

want life to be and if they have the right state of mind, can escape poverty. I am not saying that it will be the easiest thing in life, but if one is motivated enough, anything is possible. For instance, my father and his family were lower class and had just enough money to make it from day to day. I would consider him to have lived in poverty. Everyone in the family worked, but the type of work didnt allow his family to earn enough income to fulfill all of their needs. As my dad got older, he decided that he didnt want to live from paycheck to paycheck and moved from this neighborhood and went to some job trainings. He decided that he wanted my brother and I to look up to him and to put ourselves out there to make the most of ourselves. Now, that I am older, I am going to college, so I can have a good career and show my son that earning an higher education will be well worth it and be able to live life comfortably. However, my brother decided that he will just live paycheck to paycheck, and I hope that his daughter doesnt think that is all right. I am going to try and teach her that living in poverty isnt a good thing and that education is a better route for her. In conclusion, some people may inherit or obtain poverty in life, but some are very capable of escaping it depending on the motivation. There is also a huge contribution to the government and whether or not they provide support to those in poverty or provide jobs that will allow those to live comfortably. Poverty is something that needs to be fixed, but first must find the root of it and come to a common understanding how we can fix or help those living in it.

Britannica. 2009. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/473136/poverty

Pearson. 2010. http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/course/Sociology-of-Poverty/91055809.page

Society The basics. John J. Macionis. 2011