Understanding Poverty in America

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Questions and Answers

Define and differentiate between absolute and relative poverty.

Absolute poverty refers to a condition where individuals live on less than $2 a day, impacting their ability to live and survive, while relative poverty is defined by community standards, affecting self-worth and identity.

Who are 'the working poor'?

Individuals working and earning less than the poverty line (correct)

Individuals unemployed

Individuals in high-paying jobs

Individuals earning above the poverty line

What factors influenced the growth of the working poor since the 1990s?

The gender roles switched due to the Great Recession.

Indicate how the poverty line is drawn.

The poverty line is drawn using a low-cost food budget multiplied by 3. Signup and view all the answers

How many poor people are currently in the U.S.?

There are 46.5 million poor Americans. Signup and view all the answers

How did the rate of poverty change in the U.S. since 2000?

The poverty rate has not budged, with approximately 46.5 million Americans living in poverty. Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of short-term poverty?

Short-term poverty lasts up to 1 year due to dramatic life changes like job loss or illness. Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of long-term poverty?

Long-term poverty is related to economic changes and societal factors over an extended period. Signup and view all the answers

What are individual explanations of poverty?

Individual explanations attribute poverty to personal faults like lack of motivation or poor decision-making. Signup and view all the answers

What are structural explanations of poverty?

Structural explanations view poverty as a result of economic and political failings in society. Signup and view all the answers

Is the majority of the population in the U.S. aware of class inequalities?

False Signup and view all the answers

How has media coverage responded to the increase in poverty since the recession?

Media has largely ignored the dramatic increase in poverty. Signup and view all the answers

How does the media depict the poor?

The media depicts the poor as lazy and responsible for their own poverty. Signup and view all the answers

According to the media, who is to blame for people being poor?

The poor are considered to be at fault for their situation. Signup and view all the answers

What is wrong with media depictions of charitable activities?

Media portrays charity as an individualistic solution, ignoring structural issues. Signup and view all the answers

What does Mantsios mean by poverty being a 'systematic' characteristic of society?

Poverty is viewed as nonexistent or temporary and often blamed on the poor themselves. Signup and view all the answers

Who are 'the wealthy' according to the media?

The wealthy are often portrayed in news coverage where their issues dominate discussions. Signup and view all the answers

How does the media depict the middle class?

The media creates a universal middle class and blurs the lines between classes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the media's view on the relationship between 'the middle class' and the wealthy?

Media suggests there is no significant difference between the middle class and the wealthy. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definitions of Poverty

Absolute Poverty: Living on less than $2 a day, leading to starvation and inability to survive.
Relative Poverty: Being considered poor based on community standards, typically calculated as cost of food multiplied by three; impacts self-worth and identity.

The Working Poor

Individuals earning less than the poverty line while being employed.
Numbers increased during the 2000s due to gender role shifts and economic downturns.

Poverty Line and Characteristics

Poverty Line: Determined by a low-cost food budget multiplied by three.
Approximately 46.5 million poor Americans; 11.3 million or 7.3% unemployed.

Poverty Trends in the U.S.

Poverty rate remained stagnant since 2000, with 15.1% of Americans living in poverty as of 2013.

Duration of Poverty

Short-term Poverty: Lasts up to one year due to sudden life changes or events.
Long-term Poverty: Linked to economic shifts like the Great Recession; affects job availability and stability.

Explanations of Poverty

Individual Explanations: Faults lie with individuals, attributing poverty to lack of motivation and poor decision-making.
Structural Explanations: Poverty is a result of systemic issues; behaviors of the poor reflect societal norms rather than individual failings.

Awareness of Class Inequalities

Majority of the population is largely unaware of class distinctions.
Media portrayal of wealth creates a misleading perception of American society, obscuring real poverty.

Media's Role in Poverty Awareness

Media largely ignores the dramatic increase in poverty since the recession, with limited coverage of its implications.
Depictions of the poor often frame them as lazy and solely responsible for their circumstances.

Blame Attribution

Media generally attributes blame for poverty to individual shortcomings rather than systemic factors.
Individualistic narratives dominate, overshadowing structural explanations.

Charitable Activities and Poverty

Charitable efforts are seen as inadequate, serving as temporary solutions to deeper structural issues.
Calls for systemic changes like increasing minimum wage rather than reliance on charity.

Systematic Nature of Poverty

Poverty in America is viewed as an unfortunate statistic, often perceived as temporary or self-inflicted.

Media Coverage of Wealthy

A significant portion of media is devoted to wealthy individuals and their concerns, such as stocks and foreign policy.
The issues of the wealthy are framed as universally relevant.

Personal Characteristics of Different Classes

The media creates stereotypes, positioning the poor as "them" and the middle/wealthy as "us" to suggest moral superiority.

Relationship Between Classes

Media blurs distinctions between the middle class and the wealthy, presenting them as a homogenous group.
Wealthy individuals are depicted as ruling the society, holding disproportionate influence over income and political spheres.
Class tensions are inverted, causing blame to fall on the poor rather than the wealthy, who control the economic narrative.

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Description

Explore the critical concepts of poverty, including absolute and relative poverty, the characteristics of the working poor, and the poverty line. This quiz examines poverty trends and the duration of poverty experiences in the United States. Test your knowledge on this important social issue and its impact on millions.