Sign In
Not register? Register Now!
You are here: HomeEssaySocial Sciences
Pages:
1 page/≈275 words
Sources:
4 Sources
Level:
APA
Subject:
Social Sciences
Type:
Essay
Language:
English (U.S.)
Document:
MS Word
Date:
Total cost:
$ 3.6
Topic:

Sociological Perspective on Povery in the US (Essay Sample)

Instructions:

the essay required the writer to discuss social issues such as poverty. it required a description of the problem, an anlysis on how the issue discussed fits sociological theories, and provide an analysis of what sociologists claim about poverty in the U.S. Society - that is their arguments.

source..
Content:


Poverty in the U.S.: A Sociological Perspective
Student Name
University
Course
Professor Name
Date
Poverty in the U.S.: A Sociological Perspective
The United States is among the wealthiest countries, yet many people live in poverty. This year, the condition has likely escalated as Americans grapple with the effects of COVID-19. With many individuals unable to afford a minimum standard of living, disparities in social-economic development occur, lead to poverty, and contribute to social issues. Among these issues, there is the proliferation of homelessness due to inadequate housing and the prevalence of under-resourced education systems that adversely influence children’s prospects. Also, unsafe neighborhoods lacking basic amenities and social services such as healthcare emerge. From the numerous theories on the cause and effect of poverty, sociologists agree that four define poverty in United States; however, they differ regarding the economic ordering and the societal structures attributed to advancing poverty in the United States.
From the numerous sociological theories interpret poverty’s causes and effects on various demographics, four emerge to explain poverty in the context of the United States. They are social policies, cultural norms, inadequate social capital, social stratification. Under social stratification, Beeghley (2015. p.1) notes that stratification and “unequal possession of resources affects people’s life chances and their ability to share in the available goods and services,” thus increasing their chances of ending up poor. Although stratification affects people disproportionately, the theory on stratification highlights the structural interactions between variables associated with poverty.
An attempt to explain sociologist’s theories has focused on America’s inner cities with some findings revealing the causes and consequences of poverty as being multidimensional. For instance, Desmond and Western (2018) categorized poverty into two; “individualistic approaches that explain variation in economic standing by reference to variation in personal attributes, such as education and social background” (p. 310). The authors contend that these attributes cause poverty across generations. The theory explains that the near predictable consequence of being born in a specific demographic and live in certain neighborhoods condemns many to poverty with limited chances to adjust one’s aspirations and condition.
In contrast, the theories on the lack of support from social capital offer a more comprehensive view of deprivation across multiple demographics. The lack of capital and social support among family members remains the most significant cause of poverty and constraint to social mobility. It inhibits access to education and economic resources crucial to its eradication (Lukasiewicz et al., 2019). In this context, poverty passes down between generations through inequalities from stratification that cause unequal income distribution and lack of access to the social welfare system. The social capital theory further defines social capital to include societal relationships among community members and family members. The theory ascertains the role of human capital, social networks, and relationships in improving the majority’s social-economic status.
In counter-arguments, some scholars posit that poverty results from social policies based on an incentive to fail. Some demographics, such as African Americans, show an unwillingness to work when offered social support. Under the social policies theory, it emerges that continuously giving aid capsules the poor in a cycle of poverty as the beneficiaries view help as an alternative to afford a decent lifestyle. Arguably, socioeconomic variables are not the cause of poverty, but a series of systems established in social welfare designed to make sure people stay poor by making them lazy (Chung et al., 2018). Besides, the social policies theory, as argued by some scholars, explains the welfare system’s role in advancing poverty among minority communities.
There is no single definition of poverty in sociology following the requirement for it to contain a morally imperative statement and a commitment to improve the solution. However, many sociologists explain poverty based on people’s ineptness and moral failings. To some sociologists, poverty occurs because of the unequal distribution of resources and opportunities in society (Roy et al., 2019). The definitions also extend to sociological theories, where some view economic factors as sustaining poverty. Sociologists premise this school of thought on the economical production and sustenance of inequality and its influence on a few elites’ power and status. However, a different school of thought exists whose views on poverty pivot on social inequality.
Overall, two ideologies explain the cause of poverty: personality traits and societal failing. Sociologists, among them DeFronzo & Gill (2019), argue that anyone can succeed if they work hard. The ideology stems from an analysis of the effects of meritocracy and the fact that suc

...
Get the Whole Paper!
Not exactly what you need?
Do you need a custom essay? Order right now:

Other Topics:

  • Sparking Change Amid Modern Day Crisis: A Reminder to Filipino Youths
    Description: There lays a heavy responsibility on the shoulders of the Filipino youth: the fate of our country. Those who preceded us leave the helm of our island nation for us to take control of—unintentionally accompanied by a host of engine problems we’re left to solve (e.g., global warming, deforestation, economic...
    1 page/≈550 words| 1 Source | APA | Social Sciences | Essay |
  • Raleigh Community: The Theories and Effects of Changes in Community Composition
    Description: Raleigh community comprises various groups in which people from various origins come and grow together as one. Raleigh is the place where I have been since I was born, and I have seen various changes as they happen and as the community builds up and grows. There have been various revolutions in terms of...
    3 pages/≈825 words| 4 Sources | APA | Social Sciences | Essay |
  • Ethics and Human Services Educators
    Description: In the provision of education, various stakeholders must play specific roles to ensure efficiency in education services. Parents, teachers, and board members are among the key stakeholders in the education sector since they double their contribution at home and school....
    1 page/≈275 words| 3 Sources | APA | Social Sciences | Essay |
Need a Custom Essay Written?
First time 15% Discount!