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Sociological Approaches and Poverty

Theories are claims that answers a question or explains a phenomena. In sociology, there

are theories that helps people predict or explain the social world we live in. These theories are

called the three main sociological perspectives and it consists of three approaches called the

symbolic interactionist perspective, functionalist perspective and conflict perspective (Mooney et

al. 54). In this paper, these approaches will be used to analyze a sociological issue called poverty

that has been going on for centuries.

The relevance of social structure and poverty has been a popular issue especially in the

1970's and 1980's (“Sociological Perspectives on Poverty”). Different people has different

perspectives and uses different approach towards the issue of poverty. First, the functionalist

approach. The functionalist approach argues that poverty serves a important positive function to

society. It believes that stratification is inevitable and necessary. The most important jobs has

higher pay while the least important jobs has a lower pay, it argues that economic status is earned

by merit and the poor does their role in society by taking jobs the the others do not want to take.

Second approach, conflict perspective. The conflict approach argues that poverty is caused by

unequal oppurtunities and prejudice against the poor. It believes that stratification is not needed

and is not inevitable. Stratification is believed to be caused by the conflict between the ones on

the top and bottom. The powerful take advantage of their positions leaving the weak with

nothing.
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Third approach, symbolic interactionist perspective. Unlike the other two that explains

why stratification and poverty exists. Symbolic interactionist tries to understand stratification. It

examines poverty by observing people’s interaction and understandings in their daily lives. It

claims that poor often live a life of desperation in silence and they are always trying to find ways

of surviving in a society that favors the ones on the top.

From the approaches, the difference in opinions towards poverty is seen. Some believe

the poor is at fault for their lack of merits, while the some blames that society caused the poor to

be poor. Poverty is an issue that has been going on forever, to solve this issue different solutions

have been used. In conflict approach, that believes poverty is due to unequal oppurtunities. The

following can be practiced to help eliminate poverty. First, free education, the reason why the

poor cannot get jobs is due to improper eduaction. Only the rich and middle class have access to

this because it costs a fortune to get education which is why making eduaction free can help

create more equal oppurtunities for the poor. Next, end the poverty tax. Poor people can rarely

buy their needs due to the goverment taking the little that they have. Ending poverty tax would

help the poor save up and move up the middle class. Once they moved out of poverty, they can

finally pay tax and in the same time buy their needs. Last, increase employment, due to lack of

jobs, the competition is tight and obviously the poor have a disadvantage in this situation which

is why creating more jqobs would help in eliminating poverty.

To sum up, people have can have different views on poverty which is why the three main

sociological perspectives are created. These perspectives help in analyzing issues like poverty.

People who use functionalist approach in finding out the cause of poverty will believe that it is

due to their lack of skills, while people who believe in conflict approach will believe that poverty
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is due to prejudice agianst them. There is also symbolic interactionist that believes the

differences in status experiences different daily interactions. Furthermore, depending on what

approach you believe there are different methods that can be used to solve poverty. Greater

access to education, increase in employment and ending poverty tax are just some of the methods

that can be used to eliminate poverty.

Works Cited

Mooney, Linda, et al. Understanding Social Problems (Available Titles CengageNOW). 5th ed.,

Thompson/Wadsworth, 2021.

“Sociological Perspectives on Poverty.” JRF, 27 July 2018, www.jrf.org.uk/ report/

sociological- perspectives-poverty.

"Research Guides: MLA Citation Style Guide: 8th Edition: In-Text

Citations". Libguides.Wvu.Edu, 2018, https://libguides.wvu.edu/c.php?

g=486188&p=3325207. Accessed 12 Feb 2019.