Podcast
Questions and Answers
Typically, low-income families do NOT use one of the following strategies to cope with poverty.
Typically, low-income families do NOT use one of the following strategies to cope with poverty.
Which demographic is highlighted in this course as having a particularly high level of income poverty compared to other groups?
Which demographic is highlighted in this course as having a particularly high level of income poverty compared to other groups?
What is a significant trend among families with young children regarding employment?
What is a significant trend among families with young children regarding employment?
What aspect notably contributes to economic disadvantage in low-income families?
What aspect notably contributes to economic disadvantage in low-income families?
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Which statement about older Canadians and poverty is accurate?
Which statement about older Canadians and poverty is accurate?
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Which demographic is highlighted as experiencing more job loss following the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Which demographic is highlighted as experiencing more job loss following the COVID-19 Pandemic?
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What has been observed in British Columbia regarding hopefulness between 2016 and 2021/2022?
What has been observed in British Columbia regarding hopefulness between 2016 and 2021/2022?
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Which type of poverty refers to the inability to meet basic physiological needs?
Which type of poverty refers to the inability to meet basic physiological needs?
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Which of the following crises has NOT been mentioned as impacting Canadian families?
Which of the following crises has NOT been mentioned as impacting Canadian families?
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How has the North American economy been characterized in the text?
How has the North American economy been characterized in the text?
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What is a primary focus of the discussion on Canadian families?
What is a primary focus of the discussion on Canadian families?
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What does relative poverty involve?
What does relative poverty involve?
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What can be inferred about the impact of social inequalities on families?
What can be inferred about the impact of social inequalities on families?
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What impact did the conservative government policies have during the early 1990s?
What impact did the conservative government policies have during the early 1990s?
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What family structure became the norm in Canada regarding household earnings in the 21st century?
What family structure became the norm in Canada regarding household earnings in the 21st century?
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Which demographic group is reported to have a higher likelihood of living in low-income situations?
Which demographic group is reported to have a higher likelihood of living in low-income situations?
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What was one consequence of the reforms in the 1990s regarding the welfare of children?
What was one consequence of the reforms in the 1990s regarding the welfare of children?
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What methodological improvement did the 'Market Basket Measure' bring to poverty assessment?
What methodological improvement did the 'Market Basket Measure' bring to poverty assessment?
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Who is most at risk of persistent poverty according to the content?
Who is most at risk of persistent poverty according to the content?
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Which characteristic does NOT contribute significantly to child poverty according to the content?
Which characteristic does NOT contribute significantly to child poverty according to the content?
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What aspect of economic measurement is highlighted as a limitation in income-based measures of poverty?
What aspect of economic measurement is highlighted as a limitation in income-based measures of poverty?
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Which group is highlighted as being particularly overrepresented among welfare recipients?
Which group is highlighted as being particularly overrepresented among welfare recipients?
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What relationship exists between family changes and child poverty levels?
What relationship exists between family changes and child poverty levels?
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What factor contributes to the higher risk of poverty among recent immigrants?
What factor contributes to the higher risk of poverty among recent immigrants?
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The increase in average family income over the decades has eliminated financial setbacks for all families.
The increase in average family income over the decades has eliminated financial setbacks for all families.
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Canada's official poverty line has remained unchanged for several decades, allowing for consistent historical analysis.
Canada's official poverty line has remained unchanged for several decades, allowing for consistent historical analysis.
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Family poverty is always predictable and controllable based on the family's circumstances.
Family poverty is always predictable and controllable based on the family's circumstances.
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Debates about the progress in reducing poverty in Canada are primarily focused on demographic changes rather than income levels.
Debates about the progress in reducing poverty in Canada are primarily focused on demographic changes rather than income levels.
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Relative economic hardship remains a key aspect of discussions regarding poverty in Canada.
Relative economic hardship remains a key aspect of discussions regarding poverty in Canada.
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Poverty can be defined solely based on an individual's absolute lack of financial resources.
Poverty can be defined solely based on an individual's absolute lack of financial resources.
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The decline in hopefulness among Canadians from 2016 to 2022 was most pronounced in Ontario.
The decline in hopefulness among Canadians from 2016 to 2022 was most pronounced in Ontario.
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Social inequality and poverty have been persistent challenges in Canadian society over the past several decades.
Social inequality and poverty have been persistent challenges in Canadian society over the past several decades.
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Relative poverty means that a person's financial situation is assessed in absolute terms without any comparison.
Relative poverty means that a person's financial situation is assessed in absolute terms without any comparison.
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The economic conditions for low-income families worsened significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The economic conditions for low-income families worsened significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Study Notes
Sociology of Families (SOCI 371)
- Course Instructor: Dr. Gbenga Adejare
- University: University of Calgary
Canadian Hope for the Future
- Canadians are feeling less hopeful about the future compared to 2016.
- The extent of the decline varied between provinces.
- British Columbia had the largest decline, dropping from 76% to 62%.
- Statistics Canada data
Household Spending Cuts
- 66% of Canadians are cutting back on discretionary spending.
- 50% of Canadians are delaying major purchases.
- 42% are driving less.
- 40% are canceling or scaling back travel.
- Data from 2022 Angus Reid Survey (over 5000 participants).
Introduction to Crises and Families
- The world is prone to various crises (natural disasters, economic downturns, social upheavals, political issues).
- These crises have direct and indirect effects on families.
- The impact varies based on families' social, economic, and political situations.
Introduction: Continued
- Social inequality and poverty have long been characteristics of Canadian society.
- Recent decades have seen economic ups and downs, including the recessions of the 1980s, early 1990s, 2008, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- This study focuses on the economic circumstances of low-income families from the 1980s to 2018, preceding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Poverty as a Fallout of Global Crises
- Poverty is the state of lacking a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions, preventing the satisfaction of basic needs.
- Poverty can be classified as absolute (physiological needs unmet) or relative (comparison to others).
Poverty as a Fallout of Global Crises cont'd
- Average family income has increased in real terms over several decades (after accounting for inflation).
- Still, a part of families experiences significant financial setbacks.
- Family poverty is connected to key events which can't be fully predicted or controlled.
Has the Problem of Poverty Worsened in Recent Decades?
- Research on poverty has used multiple, differing definitions.
- Statistics Canada's Low-Income Cutoffs (LICO) are used to track poverty changes but limitations exist in decisive progress metrics.
Has the Problem of Poverty Worsened in Recent Decades? cont'd
- If Canada's living standards improved dramatically, the definition of poverty would change.
- The current "official" poverty line is only a couple of years old, limiting historical trend analysis.
- Debating the degree of Canada's success in reducing poverty or addressing the issue of relative economic hardship continues.
Has the Problem of Poverty Worsened in Recent Decades? cont'd
- The late 1980s economic upturn led to decreased poverty.
- This reversal occurred during the subsequent early 1990s recession.
- Conservative government policies that cut social assistance programs impacted the most vulnerable, including low-income families.
Shifts Over Time Using Statistics Canada's LICO
- Low-income rates and median incomes are broken down by family type.
- Income poverty rose between 1980 and 1985 as median incomes dropped (1980-2018 dollars).
- High unemployment and declining real earnings marked the early 1990s economic climate.
Shifts Over Time Using Statistics Canada's LICO cont'd
- Canada's economic health improved with declining poverty and unemployment rates, leading to an unemployment rate below 7% by 2000 (the first time since 1976).
- By 2008, two-thirds of Canadians aged 15+ were part of the labor force (full-time or part-time, or actively seeking employment).
Shifts Over Time Using Statistics Canada's LICO cont'd
- Canadians recovered from the two prior recessions by 2005. Median family income rose to $80,900, up from $71,700 ten years earlier.
- The 2008-initiated recession did not completely offset the gain, with incomes reaching $86,200 by 2010.
Shifts Over Time Using Statistics Canada's LICO cont'd
- Two wage earners have become the norm in households.
- The early 2000s was a period of higher median family incomes and apparent progress in reducing low income.
Low Income, Family Type, and Number of Earners
- Some groups face a higher risk of economic hardship than others, including people with disabilities, divorced women, migrant families, LGBTQ+ families, the elderly, racialized people, and female-headed, lone-parent families.
Low Income, Family Type, and Number of Earners cont'd
- Recent shifts in family structures have significant implications for the economic health of families and their children
- Young children's families saw a major shift in parental labour force participation (often driven by return to employment for mothers after childcare leave).
- Roughly three in ten lone mothers under the age of 16 are not employed, contributing to hardship.
Low Income, Family Type, and Number of Earners cont'd
- Families heavily reliant on social assistance experience significant economic hardship.
- The COVID-19 pandemic caused further hardship and challenges for some communities.
- Employment challenges disproportionately affect racialized communities, immigrants, and women.
Poverty among Families in Later Life
- Older Canadians have varied life histories, family structures, and economic situations.
- Many depend on government transfers, raising their risk of poverty.
- A majority of those aged 65 and older live in small households (solely or with their spouse.)
Poverty among Families in Later Life cont'd
- Women are more likely to live alone and face poverty during their later life.
- Expansions of the Canadian welfare state (e.g. OAS, CPP, QPP, GIS) have influenced poverty among the elderly.
Poverty among Families in Later Life cont'd
- Families often pool government transfers for economic stability in later life.
- However, widowed elderly individuals (both men and women) are more at risk for poverty during their spouse's death.
Low Income, Family Change, and Child Poverty
- Government social programs are not consistently supportive during earlier stages of family life.
- Welfare reforms in the 1990s did not address the well-being or school preparedness of children living in poverty.
- Children are significantly more likely to experience poverty than seniors.
Low Income, Family Change, and Child Poverty cont'd
- Major life events and family structure changes (divorce, separation, remarriage) can affect children's poverty level as much as parents' labor market situations.
Low Income, Single Mothers and Unattached Persons
- Single mothers and adults outside family units are among those most consistently at risk of persistent poverty.
- In 2018, 30% of single adult males and 30.9% of single adult women were in low-income situations.
- A review of social assistance usage data often shows a high proportion of single mothers, children, and unattached adults.
Low Income, Single Mothers and Unattached Persons cont'd
- A "Market Basket Measure" is introduced, focusing on detailed analyses of household consumption patterns and costs of necessary goods and services (e.g. food, shelter, transportation, etc.).
Low Income, Single Mothers and Unattached Persons cont'd
- The "poverty line" is adjusted regionally based on location, household size and age (of members).
- Overall, the new poverty line, in combination with regional adjustments, represents an improvement in the measure of economic hardship as compared to pre-existent measures.
Economic Well-being among Indigenous and Racialized Communities
- Indigenous peoples face higher rates of low income compared to all other Canadians.
- Racialized people are more likely to experience poverty than the white majority.
- Recent immigrants and new Canadians face a higher risk of poverty.
Shortcomings of Income-based Measures of Poverty
- Income-based measures in evaluating economic well-being have well-recognized limitations, largely stemming from underreporting or exclusion of sources like in-kind public assistance.
- These measures largely exclude wealth considerations.
Shortcomings of Income-based Measures of Poverty Cont'd
- Wealth and income vary by lifecycle phase (younger vs. older workers).
- Median wealth differs with education, immigration history, and length of Canadian residence.
- Lone-parent families typically report significantly lower wealth compared to dual-parent families.
How Do Low-income Families Cope with Poverty?
- Community support services and in-kind donations grew in response to tightening welfare supports during the 1990s.
- Charitable groups and organizations support low-income families.
- Low-income families employ various survival strategies, including household production, self-sufficiency, reduced spending, and skipping meals.
What Are the Consequences of Poverty?
- Poverty can have negative effects on health (physical, mental, and emotional), academic performance, and psychosocial wellbeing; especially among children.
Conclusion
- Despite Canada's wealth, many low-income families remain poor.
- The high rate of poverty among recent immigrants warrants concern.
- Income poverty among single mothers is noteworthy and should not be overlooked.
- Poverty negatively impacts families and children.
- Poverty should be prevented rather than addressed as a consequence.
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Description
This quiz explores key themes in the sociology of families, including the Canadian perspective on future hope, household spending behaviors, and the impacts of various crises on family dynamics. Analyze statistical data and theoretical frameworks related to social inequality and family responses to economic and social challenges.
