Mini Lit 1
The Sociology of Poverty
In this article, author focuses on the discussion regarding sociology of poverty and sociology of deprivation. The article tells that poverty of an individual in the society is wealth of other individual, and minimal standards in industrial and developed societies can be considered as idealistic goals and objectives in underdeveloped societies. Deprivation is in the society because of improper distribution of wealth and income (Coser). Under-privileged individuals, however, make comparison of their lot with that of privileged individuals. A poor man can be defined as an individual whose economic means are not proportionate with the economic ends that he seeks, but this is not included in scrutiny. However, there is dissatisfaction at all the levels in the society having lack of social and ethical standards. Such societies emphasize on creation of new needs. Also in such societies, there is lack of consistency between the ends for which individuals are struggling and means that are available in order to attain the ends.
The Uses of Poverty: The Poor Pay All
In this article, author wants to develop understanding in reader regarding the poor, and the role played by them in the United States, besides getting space in shelters and approaching vehicles for change. Author, however, talks about benefits that can be taken from the poor, and condition of America without poverty. Elimination of poverty will put work burden on bourgeois or affluent class, and bring extreme modifications to everyday life. The poor help in ensuring accomplishment of dirty work of the society, expand the economic usefulness as well as benefits of the undesired goods, helps in creation of more jobs in which poor people are required, helps in upwards mobility of individuals and groups, and serve as measuring rod for making comparison of status. Many people, however, became part of middle class after facilitating the poor with goods and services. They also play significant role in stabilization and facilitation of political processes of America, help in absorbing cost of growth and change in the society, and improve visibility of aristocracy. The poor, however, also provide delegated participation in the deviant actions of the society in which they are presumed to participate. However, the poor’s moral deviancy helps in reducing moral pressure and force on political economy for reduction of poverty (Gans).
The Poor
In this article, author explains that there are legal, conventional, moral, and several other types of rights of an individual living in the society. The reality that an individual is poor does not represent that he/she belongs to a particular category of the poor, it is merely from the moment the poor are helped that they become member of a group, which is characterized by poverty. However, the group does not consider remaining together and united via interaction of its members; they remained together by the collective attitudes prevailing in the society. Further, quantitative state of poverty is not effective in defining poverty, rather it is social reaction arising from a particular situation that defines poverty. Poverty is, however, a unique and exceptional sociological phenomenon in which people are occupying a specific place and position, and this place is not decided by condition and fate (Jacobson). It is determined by other people living in the society, and they also try to make improvement in this position of people.
References
Coser, Lewis A. "The Sociology of Poverty: To the Memory of Georg Simmel." Social Problems 13.2 (1965): 140-144
Gans, Herbert J. "The Uses of Poverty: The Poor Pay All." Social Policy (1971): 20-24.
Simmel, Georg, and Claire Jacobson. "The Poor." Social Problems 13.2 (1965): 118-40.
