Poverty as a Social Issue

Poverty is a social issue that disproportionately affects certain social groups, highlighting societal differences and stratification.
It is typically defined by a lack of financial resources, but can also include a lack of access to services and opportunities, known as social poverty.
The measurement of poverty can be absolute, based on the minimum income necessary to meet basic needs, or relative, based on society’s average standard of living.

Poverty is closely linked to social class, with lower social classes more likely to experience poverty.
Lower social classes may have difficulty escaping poverty due to limited access to quality education and well-paying jobs, creating a cycle of poverty.
Marxists argue that this is a result of the economic system of capitalism, which favours the rich and exploits the poor.

Gender plays a significant role in poverty, with women often having a higher risk of poverty, a situation referred to as the gender-poverty gap.
Factors contributing to this include: wage inequality, part-time work, and the burden of unpaid care work.
Feminist sociologists call for changes to societal structures, institutions, and attitudes to address this systemic issue.

Ethnic disparities contribute to higher poverty rates in ethnic minority groups.
Discrimination, both direct and institutional, can limit access to education, employment, and housing opportunities.
Ethnic inequalities often intersect with class and gender inequalities, further complicating individuals’ experiences of poverty.

Age plays a significant role in poverty, with children and the elderly frequently at higher risk.
Older people may be vulnerable due to limited income sources in retirement, whilst children are dependent on their caregivers’ financial situation.
Age-based poverty highlights the need for supportive social policies for older and younger individuals.

Disabled people have a higher risk of living in poverty due to barriers to employment, increased living costs, and inadequate state benefits.
The social model of disability argues that the limitations faced by disabled people are a result of societal barriers and attitudes, not just their impairments.
Therefore, society needs to address these barriers to alleviate poverty among people with disabilities.

Government policies play a crucial role in alleviating or exacerbating poverty.
Policies related to welfare, employment, education, and housing all influence the poverty levels.
Critics argue that policies often maintain poverty through inadequate minimum wage, welfare cuts, and lack of affordable housing.