| There are so many factors underlying poverty that we could not begin to uncover all of them.� However, there are a few circumstances that we are exposed to everyday, though most of us don't even realize it.� When people do take the time to consider poverty, they tend to look at it so broadly that they feel there is no way they could do anything about it.�� Maybe what we need to do is just look around us.� We may be surprised at what we find. |
| We have high unemployment for reasons such as disabilities, lack of education, and a lack of jobs. Employers usually require experience, making it extremely difficult for people who have not yet had a job or perhaps have worked in a different field.� Then, there are those who will choose someone who does not have a family to support over a single parent, because they are afraid that the single parent will miss more work.� This not only creates poverty, but it also forces people to remain there.� If we could get these employers to realize that this problem exists, then maybe they would become willing to come up with a plan that enables them to take the risk. |
| Another supporting factor to poverty is the lack of incentive for people to try and better themselves.� A person can live more comfortably with the help of government aid programs than they could with a job.� Therefore, they may feel it is pointless to work.� When they do enter the work force, they have to worry about the high costs of daycare and transportation.� Also facing them is the likelihood of losing any medical benefits they may have received from welfare.� What incentive is this for working?� Maybe it would be helpful if the government could provide funding for small businesses so that they can provide higher wages and medical benefits. |
| Lack of education also plays a major role in poverty.� Most jobs today require at least a high school diploma, making it difficult for people who do not have much education.� Consider, for example, someone who had to drop out of high school fifteen years ago and go to work to help support his family.� He may have worked with the same company for fourteen years, and for the last year has had a number of turndowns because of his limited schooling.� What is the outlook for his family's future?� Because of this high demand for education, a lot of hard working people have become poor.� |
| To take a different view of the factors lying behind poverty, we can look at teenage pregnancy.� Although some teenagers do not intentionally become pregnant, there are those who do.� For some, it may be the desire to feel needed.� For others, it may be the idea that a baby will provide security with her partner.� Whatever the case may be it often leads to single mothers in poverty.� These teens apparently do not understand how much it costs to take care of a baby.� Neither do they understand how hard it is to find employment and affordable babysitting.� This issue really needs to be stressed to them.� Parents need to talk to their children about parenting and safe sex and not depend on the schools to do all of the teaching.� Also, if parents make more room for family time, their children may not feel the need to have a baby.� As far as the schools are concerned, they should make it mandatory for all students (male and female) to take parenting classes. |
| Finally, above all of these contributions to poverty is the negative way that people view it.� If a person has not experienced something so negative, it is hard for them to understand or empathize.� Blame is commonly directed toward the victims. Instead of trying to lend a helping hand, society will often label poor people as "lazy."� They do not understand that laziness is generally not the case.� Perhaps if these negative thinkers were to broaden their sociological perspectives, they could help find a solution instead of being part of the problem.� |
| A Look at Poverty |
| March 17, 2002 |
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