Understanding Poverty

To understand the causes of poverty, it is necessary to understand why social

stratification exists. Symbolic interactionism may fail to show why the stratification exists but

conflict and structural theory do. Because it is micro oriented, symbolic interactionism attempts

to look at the social stratification and especially poverty by considering people’s interactions and

perceptions in their day-to-day lives. Through structural theory, we also find that the different

stratification are necessary for the society to exist. For every social strata, we have jobs that they

qualify for, hence the view that some jobs are important than others. To avoid poverty,

individuals thus should strive to get skills that help them qualify for the highly-regarded jobs.

However, conflict theory, poverty is due the poor lacking opportunities because of discrimination

and unfairness from the upper social classes. Those who are at the top of the society hence stay

at there and the poor stay poor. The structural theory implies that poor people in the society exist

because they don’t have the capability to get the skills and qualifications for a well-paying job.

In tackling poverty, though it does less to identify the causes of poverty in the society,

symbolism would be the best approach. When some individuals rise from poverty, they inspire a

lot who are in the social class. Take an example of the African-American community in the US.

It accounts for the largest group of the poor in the county. However, majority of them have been

able to rise against the odds. There are many who are rich athletes and musicians. They thus

become an inspiration for the young kids who are growing. With a positive mindset, they also

believe that they can come from poverty no matter the racial and social discrimination that exists

in the society. They are not only a symbol for the community but a source of pride as they know
that they can produce some of the best athletes in the world. It also has helped other minority

communities in the US to fight poverty.

References

Wiggins, David K. "Symbols of possibility: Arthur Ashe, Black athletes, and the writing

of a hard road to glory." Journal of African American History 99.4 (2014): 379-402.

Barkan, S. “The Conflict Approach.” The Cambridge Handbook of Social Problems.

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (2018): 241-258.