Sociological Views on Poverty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Sociological Views on Poverty - Essay Example It would then be followed by a critical examination of the arguments taken by authors and commentators and would end in a conclusion that shall emphasize the role of the global interrelation and effort to resolve the problems of poverty. Poverty as stated by Ruby Payne in her book, Framework for Understanding Poverty, is the condition in which the person does not have enough resources. She further clarifies that there are different types of resources with which poverty could be identified with. First and the most popular concerns financial resources which refers to monetary value that shall enable the individual to purchase services and goods. The others include emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, support systems such as friends and family networks, role models and knowledge of habits. However, financial resources have been the most popular since it was the most obvious, regardless of this; the other resources are also important and relevant if one would like to counteract poverty as a whole. (2005, pages4-8) Since usually poverty is seen as a lack of financial resources, it has been customary for people to respond to poverty through financial support. This is primarily done through donations and grants. It is also in line with this view that people thinks that people are poor because they do not work hard enough in able to sustain their basic needs. People who looked like rubbish or are not presentable are often seen as poor. (Payne, 2005, page 4-9) Another author, Farley, believes that poverty is something that is rooted on sociological relationship such as the economic production, the political system, the institution that is present in the society, the predominant culture prevalent in the society. Thus, poverty in this view is not a problem in the individual level but in a societal level which could only be remedied through sociological programs and changes. To further clarify his view, he provided an introduction to two relevant perspectives that shall explain his belief. (2000, 173) The Functionalist perspective is a view, wherein the whole society is likened to a living organism wherein each cells are relevant and relatively connected to one and another. As the name of the theory implies, it insist that each part of the society is present due to a certain function that it must perform. (Kitano, 1985:40). In line with this perspective, poverty is viewed as a necessary part of society. Poverty has a function in the society in which it could be found. Looking closer, poor people resembles certain characters that set them aside from the rest of the society. The differences in values and in culture have made the poor different from other members of the society. Now this attitude would be inherited by their children thus explain the expansion of poverty. Most commonly the poor people think as if they could not change their life and life style since they were born that way. (Eitzen and Baca-Zinn, 1994 page 173-175) However, this kind of approach to poverty is too limited and very illogical. Poverty might indeed be natural but this does not mean that it should be left in its own. Time before