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Poverty In The United States

Better Essays

Latoya Williams
SOCI 3510
Dr. Nees
April 30, 2018
Final Paper
Poverty
Many individuals all over the world are affected by poverty. In order to completely understand the cause, the effect, and the solution to ending poverty, we must first understand the meaning of poverty. Poverty is the condition where an individual’s basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter are not being met (business dictionary). According to the World Bank Organization, poverty is also the lack of healthcare, education, information, and jobs. There are two general types of poverty: Absolute and Relative. Absolute poverty occurs when individuals cannot obtain adequate resources to support a minimum level of physical health. Relative poverty occurs when individuals do not …show more content…

Our failing economy plays a huge role in this issue, as well as, many other factors but there is no one cause of poverty (UNESCO). Gottdiener, Hutchinson, and Ryan suggest that the uneven development of the economy can be a factor that causes poverty. It is also suggested that poverty maybe caused by both the behavior of individuals and political/economic structures and everything in between (Payne). Overpopulation, changing trends in the economy, lack of education, epidemic diseases, and environmental issues are also factors of poverty (UNESCO). In my opinion, I believe poverty influences problems like hunger, malnutrition, and disease that distresses individuals in poverty. I also think that racial/population segregation play a major role as well as a cause of why so many individuals are forced to live in poverty. As a consequence of our current economic meltdown, unemployment and poverty have hit unprecedented levels and the problem remains an extremely important issues (Gottdiener, Hutchinson, & …show more content…

Living in poverty has a wide range of negative effects on the physical and mental health and well being of individuals (apa.com). Hunger, child development, risk of infectious disease, low social mobility, inadequate and affordable housing, economic isolation, homelessness, lack of education and information, unemployment, violence, health issues, drugs and drug use are some of the effects of poverty in society. All of the characteristics of poverty are devastating but some are more complex than others. In my opinion, the major problems are crime, education, housing, unemployment, and the lack of food. I think that some of the affects of poverty can cause other problems to arise. For example, when individuals live in inadequate homes (roaches and rats everywhere, no clean running water, and there’s mold everywhere) living in unsanitary conditions can cause disease and other health

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