Swadley 1

Alyssa Swadley
Davis
Comp. II 8:30
7 April 2015
Poverty: Inside the stereotypes
When we look at poverty, we see the stereotypes popular culture has built around the
concept, rather than what it truly is. There are three key components that involve these
stereotypes. First, there are the causes behind poverty and the misconceptions of what those
causes are. Secondly, there are the disadvantages these stereotypes create for the poverty-stricken
in their schooling, jobs, and daily lives in general. Finally, it is important to deal directly with
these stereotypes and begin trying to eliminate their involvement in poverty.
First, lets look at the misconceptions involved in the causes of poverty. They say people
are lazy and that this is the primary reason poverty occurs. Yes, some are lazy, but most are
trying to improve their situation and find steady work, but are inhibited due to the lack of trust
and frequent stereotyping of those who live in poverty. Another opinion of the uninformed,
general populace is that we must have the poor in order for our society to flow evenly. In order to
make society a balance beam, they feel that they must have the rich on one end and the poor
on the other. Without this, they believe that our society would crash due to lack of balance. In
order to make our society better, why dont we try to help everyone like the way we help those
around us that are like us? Our society is like a bridge made of rope, if we keep cutting off
loose ends, sooner or later, our bridge becomes a rope hanging with too much weight on it.
Stereotypically speaking, poverty itself is due to the actions and character of the poverty-stricken
person. The person has messed up their life, and they chose this for themselves.

Swadley 2
In Societal Images Of Poverty by Judith Chafel, she states that As individual
members of society seek to understand the reasons for its existence, they form a conceptual
framework (cognitive metatheory) through which they perceive experience, and their attitudes
and actions are influenced by the casual views of poverty that they adopt.
Continuing to take a look at Chafels findings in Youth & Society, we find that
economically, the equality was defined by God, and was necessary because of humanitys
different characteristics and virtues. This theory proposes that it is the inherent flaws of the
person that leads to poverty. Who has the right to define who is poor and who isnt? What
these people are also trying to point out, is that the person themselves is the cure for poverty.
From my point of view, I believe differently. If the person is being stereotyped, then how are
they to change if others wont give them a chance? These stereotypes create limitations that are
impossible for the poverty-stricken to overcome and restrict the possibility of upward mobility. If
someone is judged as being inherently deficient in character and work ethic due to their
economic status, they never have the chance to improve that economic status. Its a vicious cycle.
In most cases, people are born into poverty, and are unable to escape from it. Most believe that if
you are born into it, then you will always be stuck there. I also think that for those people, they
only know what they have been taught. People who are taught a specific thing while growing up,
are more than likely not going to change. Another point, is that location plays a very big part in
poverty. Most people who live in a neighborhood which is in poverty, will more than likely stay
there due to lack of money and ability to move due to possible illnesses, or even due to lack of
motivation to a better life. Maybe, these people see what those hidden within society are masked
of seeing, that we as a society are cruel creatures. We pick on people because they dont live up
to our standards, but why is it our standards that our right?

Swadley 3

When we look into this, we find many things that are the causes of poverty. Government.
Another reason that people are pushed into poverty, is due to the government making them pay
taxes to make up for the rich. People who are lover income, and have less availability to0 money,
have to pay so much in taxes. This not only leads to people becoming lower income, but also
leads to hunger, and inequality. Many governments dont care if you are working three jobs just
to provide for your kids, they still want their money. The government takes so much of their
money away, that they have to pick up extra jobs, and even have one child leave school to help
pay, which leads to lack of education which is an aspect looked for when applying for jobs. As
we keep looking, we find that structure is also involved with causes of poverty. Since people
need money to fund building industries, they take money away from industries that really need it.
They take away from health, education, and other social services needed in todays society to
help those who are less fortunate than others.
Poverty and its involvement with food dumping. Due to food aids, many people can
receive food at a cheaper price, and still afford to pay what they need to that month, but on the
other hand, in order for someone to gain, someone must lose. For instance, farmers. A farmers
main job is to produce, sell, and gain. How is a farmer to make money if someone is outbidding
them and taking their profit? Farmers, are then led into poverty themselves, losing jobs, money,
and their land. Another involvement, corruption. Many people have connections which get them
higher up in life. Many people are sucked into deals that come back to bite them in the butt.

Swadley 4
In order to help solve some of these situations, first people need to become more openminded to change. If we are going to help others, we need to step back and take a look in the
mirror at who they are and who they are impacting with what they do. If we could just stop, and
put ourselves in their shoes, then I believe we could get a lot of things accomplished.
First, lets stop stereotyping all around. If you want these people to feel like humans, and
not like they are being pushed around and used, you have to show that you care about how others
feel. We as individuals should care how we impact one another with what we say and do. I
believe that this would help solve a lot of problems. Another step we could take to show we care
and that we are trying, is we could start helping them within their communities, towns, and
countries. To do this, we could help fix houses, cars, and many other necessities needed. We
have plenty of stuff, how hard is it to help someone when we have plenty?
When it comes to poverty and the impact on jobs, we can help by giving a good word, or
talking to someone we know. We can also try to rid the stereotype to help people hiring
understand that those in living conditions, or hard places, are more than likely the harder worker
than someone who got the job because they had connections.
With society today, we are very needy, but when it comes to some elses needs, its as if
we dont even live on the same planet. Why cant we just get along? I think that if we showed a
little effort, then we could be a society that is looked at with eyes of grace not hate. Our society
is looked at as being cruel, rude, and just plain hateful. I dont know about you, but I dont want
to be remembered that way. I want to be remembered for making a change. I think that we need
to start now before things get worse.

Swadley 5
According to Chafels findings, there is a remarkable similarity in the thinking of adults
and children about poverty. This, means that no matter what the age, if they are being taught
and or seeing the same things occur in society, then they will have the same understanding. This
also means that people are focusing on this part in life. More people focus on what you drive,
where you live, and how much money you have. Chafels findings show that many people failed
to believe that everyone had an equal chance of securing a higher education. Basically, what
these people were saying, is that no matter how hard those tried, they would never achieve
anything because they arent good enough.

Swadley 6
Works Cited
AuthorLastName, FirstName. Title of the Book Being Referenced. City Name: Name of
Publisher, Year. Type of Medium (e.g. Print).
LastName, First, Middle. "Article Title." Journal Title (Year): Pages From - To. Print.