When you think of poverty what does come to mind? As you walk through your towns imagine seeing the homeless rummaging through garbage trying to get their next meal clothed in rags with nothing on their feet. All because of poverty and sadly many people are affected by poverty all over the world. What causes poverty you may ask lack of education, poor health, bad economy etc. and poverty can have diverse effect on countries.
The interactionist perspective theory is an explanation used by sociologist to explain how everyday interactions contribute to someone’s identity. It’s not only limited to personal interactions but also includes how symbols play into it. The interactionist perspective focuses more on a micro or small-scale aspects of …show more content…
It suggests that people who are poor have different cultural values than mainstream society. It is said that you learn certain norms when you grow up in a poor household, and this shapes the choices made in life. Poor people’s lifestyles differ to that on the rich or middle class in society. Oscar Lewis an American anthropologist developed the culture of poverty concept out of this field work in Mexico and Puerto Rico in the late 1950s. According to Lewis the culture of poverty has three levels, individual level, family level, Community level. According to the culture of poverty, the poor in class-stratified capitalist societies lack effective participation and integration with the larger society (Lewis, 1966). Living in a poor community or ghetto the poor feels marginalized helpless and dependent when allows for a feeling of weakness and lack of control. The culture of poverty constitutes a “design for living” that is passed on from generation to the next. People who adopt this culture do not participate in community life. According to Lewis the culture of poverty perpetuates poverty. Children from poor communities by the time they reach the age of seven, eight have already picked up the basic values and attitudes of their subculture they are no longer interested in taking advantage of any opportunities which may happen in their lifetime. Example growing up in my area I knew of a family who was poor and the kids couldn’t afford to go to school regularly they resorted to stealing. One of the kids got an opportunity to go to school and his books were paid for, uniforms the latest shoes. This child was even given a weekly allowance he had a driver pick him up from his home to take him school and back. I thought that was the best thing that could happened to this child he would use this opportunity to change his life around but instead he stopped going to school lied about
The interactionist perspective theory is an explanation used by sociologist to explain how everyday interactions contribute to someone’s identity. It’s not only limited to personal interactions but also includes how symbols play into it. The interactionist perspective focuses more on a micro or small-scale aspects of …show more content…
It suggests that people who are poor have different cultural values than mainstream society. It is said that you learn certain norms when you grow up in a poor household, and this shapes the choices made in life. Poor people’s lifestyles differ to that on the rich or middle class in society. Oscar Lewis an American anthropologist developed the culture of poverty concept out of this field work in Mexico and Puerto Rico in the late 1950s. According to Lewis the culture of poverty has three levels, individual level, family level, Community level. According to the culture of poverty, the poor in class-stratified capitalist societies lack effective participation and integration with the larger society (Lewis, 1966). Living in a poor community or ghetto the poor feels marginalized helpless and dependent when allows for a feeling of weakness and lack of control. The culture of poverty constitutes a “design for living” that is passed on from generation to the next. People who adopt this culture do not participate in community life. According to Lewis the culture of poverty perpetuates poverty. Children from poor communities by the time they reach the age of seven, eight have already picked up the basic values and attitudes of their subculture they are no longer interested in taking advantage of any opportunities which may happen in their lifetime. Example growing up in my area I knew of a family who was poor and the kids couldn’t afford to go to school regularly they resorted to stealing. One of the kids got an opportunity to go to school and his books were paid for, uniforms the latest shoes. This child was even given a weekly allowance he had a driver pick him up from his home to take him school and back. I thought that was the best thing that could happened to this child he would use this opportunity to change his life around but instead he stopped going to school lied about