1) Nature+ extent of poverty.

Question 1

Absolute poverty.

Answer 1

Lacking the essentials for survival eg homeless, people in 3rd world countries.

Question 2

Relative deprivation (Townsend).

Answer 2

Lacking resources to participate in society eg not having wifi, a car, covid masks.

Question 3

2 types of poor.

Answer 3

Deserving (disabled, trying to find work) + undeserving poor (benefit scroungers).

Question 4

Poverty line (Booth).

Answer 4

60% below the median income

Question 5

Main groups affected by poverty.

Answer 5

Children 1/3 and pensioners.
London, North, Midlands.
Half of people in poverty have disabled person in their household.
Half are in a working household.

Question 6

Disadvantages of absolute definition of poverty.

Answer 6

It becomes less severe over time and country eg workhouses v no wifi.
Government can forge stats to protect image.
Ignores tax evasion and money in foreign banks.
Doesn’t include people in prison.

Question 7

Impact of covid (Rowntree).

Answer 7

Negatively impacted low-payed working class people.
Exasperated relative deprivation: masks, hand san.
Ethnic minorities, single parents, renters.
Furlough covered up some of the impacts.

Question 8

Social groups+ relative deprivation.

Answer 8

Young people want new tech+ clothes.
Old people want big houses, cars and antiques. (Digital divide.)
Ethnic minorities want branded clothes.

Question 9

Nanny state+ dependancy culture.

Answer 9

New right: the government interfere with peoples’ lives too much eg benefits. People become dependent on welfare to live eg benefit scroungers.

Question 10

Cultural explanations of poverty.

Answer 10

The culture + attitudes of the poor are the reason for their situation- New Right. Victim blaming.

Question 11

Cultural explanations study.

Answer 11

Lewis’ study of 50s Mexico. The poor have their own culture that is contrary to the mainstream.
Eg fatalism (it is what it is), work shyness, not trying to improve their situation, present-oriented.

Question 12

Lewis’ study applied to the UK.

Answer 12

The British under class and their dependancy on benefits. They do not seek employment because they are comfortable as is. Eg Benefit St.

Question 13

New right: who should be given benefits.

Answer 13

The deserving poor- disabled+ long-term sick people who genuinely can not work. The middle class should not get child benefits because of the cost.

Question 14

Disproving the welfare state myths.

Answer 14

-Genuine reasons for unemployment, like disability and lack of education.
-Cutting down on benefits.
-Parents can only get benefits for 2 children.
-20% of people in poverty have a job.

Question 15

Material explanations for poverty.

Answer 15

Marxists, social democrats. Lack of resources leads to poverty- relative deprivation.

Question 16

Material explanations study.

Answer 16

Coates+ Silburn: Cycle of deprivation.
Poor housing-> poor sleep+ health-> poor education-> low-paying job-> poverty.

Question 17

The cost of being poor.

Answer 17

-Council houses are expensive to heat and maintain.
-Home+ car insurance is more due to crime.
-Have to re-buy cheap clothes.
-Small quantities of food are more expensive. More time between payments.
-Corner shops are more expensive: have to go because lack of car.
-Bad credit: have to go to loan sharks.
-Ill health= pay for painkillers (poor diet+ living conditions.)

Question 18

Social democratic material explanations (Field.)

Answer 18

‘Underclass’ consist of elderly, single parents, disabled and long-time ill. They are forced to rely on inadequate welfare to survive- it does not give them the resources to live properly. Also includes immigrants+ asylum seekers. People would be better off with benefits than a low-paying job.

Question 19

Marxist material explanations (Milliband.)

Answer 19

The working class are not separate, just disadvantaged. The ‘underclass’ are just the most disadvantaged and exploited of the working class. If any of the working class became sick, disabled or unemployed, they could join.

Question 20

Marxists contrasting Murray.

Answer 20

Murray: the underclass are genetically pre-disposed to poverty and have an inherent cultural difference.
Marxists: anyone can fall into poverty in the right circumstances. The cycle of deprivation and capitalism leads to poverty, not genetics. The communist revolution will get rid of the lowest of the proletariat.

Question 21

Structural explanations of poverty.

Answer 21

Functionalist, Marxist, feminist. The structure of capitalism and patriarchy lead to poverty. Wealth is unequally distributed due to this

Question 22

Functionalism+structural explanations (Gans.)

Answer 22

Poverty has a positive impact on society.
-Gets dangerous+ dirty work done eg bin men.
-Creates jobs eg social workers, healthcare workers.
-Guarantee the status of the rich.

Question 23

Marxism+ structural explanations.

Answer 23

Poverty is inevitable in a capitalist society- the ruling class exploit the proletariat, leading to a life of poverty. The welfare state exists to stop a revolution and protect the interests of the bourgeoisie: the fake caring face of capitalism.

Question 24

Social democrats+ structural explanations.

Answer 24

Social reform is better than a revolution. A weak market position is what causes poverty: the working class are disadvantaged through education.

Question 25

Feminism+ structural explanations.

Answer 25

Women are more like to be in poverty, having roots in the patriarchy. Women are encouraged to do domestic, rather than economic, contributing to the gender pay gap (take care of children.) Glass ceiling: do not get promoted to higher paying conditions.