Sociological Perspective On Poverty

Hunger and hardship go hand in hand. Most people cannot imagine not knowing where their next meal is coming from, let alone worry about water, electricity, soap, or toilet paper. It is a hopeless situation in which they feel they are hanging by a thread. It is difficult for needy households to endure the challenges faced when trying to secure basic needs, food, and necessary medication, often doing without. Low-income families face poor health and lack of well-being. Parents in this situation are under strenuous limitations, constantly worrying about their children’s shame among peers, overall health, and future life chances. Upward mobility is often out of reach for America’s poor. A closer look at this issue may open up understanding and
The functionalist perspective examines society with a view on the inevitability of inequality contributing to stable, smooth functioning civilization. From a conflict perspective, society is based on power within a capitalist versus working class structure, everyone having their place. The symbolic interactionist perspective is concerned with a comprehensive micro level study examining individuals’ and smaller groups’ daily lives. The use of postmodern perspective typically rejects the other three perspectives and is based on rapid social changes being the factors that cause harmful effects experienced by society. (Kendall, 2014, pp. 23, 25, 28, 29) Using sociological perspective to analyze poverty in the United States through research can help gain an understanding of the inequalities of poverty in society, get insight on the effect on the local community, find out who is hit the hardest by destitution, and possibly uncover solutions for those in need. (Kendall, 2014, p. 37) Similarities between the functionalist and conflict perspectives are that there are haves and have-nots in both
Men typically dominate the workplace as the primary owners of business and property of the leading capitalist class. Most women typically work in lower paying jobs with less opportunity for advancement in the workplace. Women are often exploited because of their femininity leading to gender bias and discrimination in the job market. The feminization of poverty is a growing issue in due partially to the fact that women are paid approximately 77 cents on the dollar compared to the wages a man makes in the same occupation. (Kendall, 2014, p.244) This seriously undermines a female supported household’s ability to provide for themselves and their children. Conflict perspective with a view into poverty clearly demonstrates male controlled capitalist power, even with a female/male working