Understanding Poverty as a Social Issue
Poverty is one of the most persistent social problems affecting millions of people worldwide. It's not just about not having money – it impacts education, health, housing and life chances. In sociology, we study poverty to understand its causes, effects and possible solutions.
Key Definitions:
- Poverty: A state where people lack the resources to meet their basic needs and participate fully in society.
- Social Issue: A problem that affects many people within a society and is viewed as needing addressing.
- Deprivation: The lack of access to resources and opportunities that most people take for granted.
Quick Facts: Global Poverty
📈 About 9.3% of the world lives in extreme poverty (less than $2.15 per day)
🌎 Nearly half the world's population lives on less than $5.50 per day
🏠 Over 1 billion people live in slum housing conditions globally
🍳 Around 690 million people go hungry each day
Absolute vs Relative Poverty: The Two Main Concepts
Relative poverty means missing out on what most people have
When studying poverty, sociologists distinguish between two main types: absolute and relative poverty. These concepts help us understand different aspects of poverty and how it affects people in various contexts.
🚨 Absolute Poverty
Absolute poverty refers to a condition where people cannot meet their basic survival needs. It's about not having enough resources for physical subsistence – food, shelter, clothing and basic healthcare.
Key features:
- Based on a fixed standard (e.g., income below $2.15 per day)
- Focuses on basic survival needs
- Can be applied across different countries
- Often used in global development contexts
📝 Relative Poverty
Relative poverty is defined in relation to the average standard of living in a particular society. It's about having significantly fewer resources than what is considered normal in your society.
Key features:
- Measured against average standards in a specific society
- Changes as society's overall wealth changes
- Focuses on social exclusion and inequality
- Often used in developed countries
Measuring Poverty
How do we know who is poor? Different approaches are used to measure both absolute and relative poverty.
💲 Income Thresholds
Absolute: The World Bank uses $2.15 per day as the international poverty line.
Relative: In the UK, households with income below 60% of the median are considered in relative poverty.
🛒 Basic Needs Approach
Measures whether people can afford essential items like food, housing and clothing.
Used mainly for absolute poverty measurement.
👥 Deprivation Indices
Measures access to resources beyond just income, like education, healthcare and social participation.
The UK uses the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) to identify deprived areas.
Real-World Examples of Absolute Poverty
Absolute poverty is most visible in developing countries but exists everywhere. Here are some examples:
- Rural Sub-Saharan Africa: Families surviving on less than $2 per day, with limited access to clean water, adequate food, or healthcare.
- Urban slums in South Asia: People living in makeshift housing without sanitation, clean water, or reliable electricity.
- Homeless people in the UK: Those sleeping rough without shelter, regular meals, or access to basic hygiene facilities.
Case Study Focus: Absolute Poverty in Niger
Niger is one of the world's poorest countries, with about 40% of the population living in extreme poverty. Many families struggle with:
- Food insecurity and malnutrition
- Limited access to clean water (only 56% have access)
- High child mortality rates
- Low school attendance (many children work instead)
Climate change and desertification are making these challenges worse, showing how environmental factors can intensify absolute poverty.
Real-World Examples of Relative Poverty
Relative poverty is particularly important in understanding inequality in wealthier countries:
- Working poor in the UK: Families who work but still can't afford holidays, school trips for their children, or unexpected expenses like replacing a broken fridge.
- Pensioners: Older people who can afford basic needs but can't heat their homes properly in winter or participate in social activities.
- Children in single-parent households: Often unable to participate in activities their peers take for granted, like birthday parties or school trips.
Case Study Focus: Relative Poverty in the UK
In 2019/20, about 14.5 million people in the UK (22% of the population) were living in relative poverty. This includes:
- 4.3 million children (31% of all children)
- 8.1 million working-age adults (20% of this group)
- 2.1 million pensioners (18% of all pensioners)
Many of these people are in work but still struggle to make ends meet, challenging the idea that employment is always a route out of poverty.
The Social Impact of Poverty
Poverty isn't just about money – it affects every aspect of people's lives:
🏫 Education
Children from poor backgrounds often:
- Have lower educational attainment
- Miss school more frequently
- Have less access to books, computers and quiet study spaces
- Leave education earlier
🏥 Health
Poverty is linked to:
- Lower life expectancy
- Higher rates of chronic illness
- Poorer mental health
- Less access to healthcare
🏠 Housing
People in poverty often experience:
- Overcrowded living conditions
- Poor quality housing with damp or mould
- Fuel poverty (unable to heat homes adequately)
- Housing insecurity and homelessness
👪 Social Relationships
Poverty can lead to:
- Social exclusion and isolation
- Stigma and discrimination
- Limited social networks
- Reduced social mobility
Different Perspectives on Poverty
Sociologists and policymakers have different views on why poverty exists and how to address it:
💪 Individualist View
Sees poverty as resulting from individual choices, lack of effort, or personal failings.
Solutions focus on changing individual behaviour and reducing welfare dependency.
🏢 Structural View
Views poverty as caused by societal structures like inequality, discrimination and lack of opportunities.
Solutions focus on changing systems, redistributing wealth and ensuring equal access to resources.
🌐 Cultural View
Suggests poverty is perpetuated through a 'culture of poverty' passed down through generations.
Solutions focus on education and changing cultural attitudes towards work, education and self-improvement.
Key Debates: Absolute vs Relative Poverty
Which concept is more useful for understanding poverty in today's world?
💡 Arguments for Absolute Poverty Focus
- Provides a clear, universal standard for identifying the most desperate need
- Allows for international comparisons and global targets
- Focuses attention on those whose basic survival is at risk
- Easier to measure objectively
💡 Arguments for Relative Poverty Focus
- Recognises that poverty is about more than just survival
- Accounts for changing standards of living over time
- Addresses inequality and social exclusion
- More relevant for understanding poverty in wealthy countries
Think About It
🤔 Is it possible to eliminate absolute poverty but still have high levels of relative poverty?
🤔 Should we focus more on absolute or relative poverty in the UK?
🤔 How might your understanding of poverty change if you lived in a different country?
Summary: Key Points to Remember
- Absolute poverty refers to lacking basic necessities for survival and is often measured using fixed income thresholds like $2.15 per day.
- Relative poverty is defined in comparison to average living standards in a society, often measured as having less than 60% of median income.
- Both types of poverty have serious social impacts on education, health, housing and social relationships.
- Different perspectives on poverty (individualist, structural, cultural) suggest different approaches to solving the problem.
- Both absolute and relative poverty concepts are useful, but they highlight different aspects of the problem and may suggest different policy solutions.