Is poverty in western societies, which give fair opportunities to each of their members, predominantly the result of a series of bad choices made by the affected individual, or is the society to blame?
2006-09-30 10:19:58 · 20 answers · asked by Rufus 2 in Social Science ➔ Sociology
Hmmmn... It is possible that the answer is both.
In one circumstance, the individual may be failed by the school system. They may have behavioural or educational needs that are not catered to, or have been bullied and ropped out of school. With no GCSE level qualifications, the individual may not then enter into college, or university. They must start in a low grade job, as even some office jobs require an English GCSE at C level nowadays. The individual will then start working somewhere like a shop as a sales assistant, or in a fast food restaurant, where they are paid peanuts. Since they have no qualifications, this may be their long term job.
Individuals who are forced to leave home at the age of sixteen due to family circumstances, and who do not have good grades at school may find themselves in a similar situation. Add to this the burden of themhaving to find a home for themselves. This may be council accomodation.
The biggest problem in terms of poverty is the Poverty Trap. When these people start to have children, they may have to drop out of work to care for their children asthey cannot afford daycare or a childminder etc. They then go on the dole, and live on this until they can return to work. However, when they wish to return to work, they realise the're not going to break even anymore, or that they will earn just a tiny fraction more which does not seem worth working for. Here individuals either CHOOSE to live off of the handouts they have become accustomed to, as working seems utterly fruitless, or they go back to work and struggle, bringing in less money than they had when on benefits.
As for the homeless, this can be circumstance and social problems combined. Something may happen to the person that tips them over the edge. Society may the fail the person, with few second chances, and help not available when they need it. They may turn to drugs or drink, or gambling to ease their pain, and thus they begin their downward spiral to the cardboard box and begging bowl in a shop doorway.
As such, I would suggest a combination of both. If society fails and individual, or circumstances force them to drop out of education, roleave home young, they fall into the poverty trap, where poverty becomes self-reinforcing, and the individual either accepts it, and never returnd to work, or fights it, and remains poor due to their lack of education etc. Likewise, those who turn to substance abuse or gambling may have been failed in some way, and not offered help when it was most needed. They subsequently choose a poison, and are seized by addiction.
Nobody chooses directly to be poor, but life choices and circumstances indirectly lead to poverty choosing you.
2006-09-30 23:18:53 · answer #1 · answered by old_but_still_a_child 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a complicated mixture of all sorts of different issues. What one person may call 'personal choice' someone else may call, ignorance, limited aspirations, environmental or family factors. For example, we grow up believing that what we experience as children is reality; therefore it can be very hard to break out of the cycle of poverty when education and working hard are not valued.
Watching the 'X Factor' tonight it struck me that so many of the people there thought that their only way to a better life was to become a pop star - doesn't that show how low people's horizons are. There are many ways people can 'get on' in today's society but very few take advantage of the opportunities there are out there.
2006-09-30 10:39:04 · answer #2 · answered by Jude 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mostly, personal choices. Society gives you so many opportunities. the job may not pay much, but if you have the drive and know how to make pennies stretch then you can make it. In South Carolina I worked 2 full time jobs, and I bicycled 25 miles a day round trip. I had a roof over my head and could eat. I wasn't prime rib, but it worked. Children complicate things but again if there is a will there is a way. Determination will see you through.
2006-09-30 10:31:54 · answer #3 · answered by Cat C 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's a little bit of both. Some people make really stupid choices, such as dropping out of school or going to jail. This makes it harder to find a good job. Other people make really good choices but somehow end up living in poverty. Some people get laid off suddenly and can't find another job right away. I think it is more personal choice, but society is partially to blame.
2006-09-30 10:30:20 · answer #4 · answered by Angry 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
western societies that give fair opportunities to each of their members? do they exist? or is it just fair opportunities to those who have had the advantages of education, stable family life, economic advantages, good health care and genetics. Poverty is a result of a combination of factors, social, economic, genetic and opportunity not to mention psychological factors that can affect a persons life. We can all be quick to judge sometimes but remember until we have walked in their shoes we have no right to judge, just support and empower to allow them to overcome their personal difficulties.
2006-09-30 11:47:18 · answer #5 · answered by dlauksa 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Social justice
2015-05-31 01:33:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is very much the kind of debate that occured in the early twentieth century when the Liberal Reforms and the welfare state were introduced in the Uk. For the first time people began to think that not all people living in poverty were so because of their own vices. I think that regardless of how they got there, we have a social and moral responsibility to aid people in dire need.
2006-09-30 10:27:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it is a choice. I don't know how many people I have had to joy to talk to that said that they can make more money staying home and living off the state, than if they went to work. With the people I know, and know of, it is a choice, and I have no problem telling them how I feel having to work to put food on my table, and theirs. But, I am not totally unaware, that there are those who have no choice.
2006-09-30 10:35:17 · answer #8 · answered by Mimiat41 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Poverty is usually a combination of things. Drive is the #1 factor though. If you have enough desire you can will yourself out of poverty. Of course if you have a disability, it may prevent you or be a big hindrance. This pertains to developed countries like the U.S. Just my opinion.
2006-09-30 10:24:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Poverty is the result of multifactor consequences: social, economic, political, educational and cultural. The predominance of any or several of these consequences depends on where poverty is rooted.
2006-09-30 10:28:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋