The Many Definitions of Poverty
The definition of poverty will always be different. What is poverty? Can the definition ever be determined? With so many factors determining if someone is in poverty or not, how can anyone ever tell? Everyone has a different case and another side to a story always exists. If this is true, the definition to poverty will never be the same. Factors, such as job opportunities and lack of food, tend to sway people’s views on poverty (“A Dollar,” 2006).
Is poverty defined as not having food to eat or not having proper nutrition? If the lack of food is what defines someone as being in poverty, then the pounds and pounds of food being thrown away would have helped many people. Not everyone will have proper nutrition, but if they have the money to get proper food are they in poverty (Siddiqi, 2004)? Therefore, who can decide if a person is in drastic need of financial aid compared to someone who wants help for their own beneficiary comfort?
on May 18th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I did not really understand what your stand was on poverty from your blog. I think that if people were not so lazy and would get up off their rears and get a job, then they would not have a problem with poverty. If you think about how people became poor, then you will see that either they did not finish high school, they did not go to college, they just did not pursue a career in any way, or they did not get a job that pays enough. I believe that financial help, including food stamps, ABC education, or anything else involving giving money to anyone without consequences or without intentions of paying it back, should only be given to the employed persons.
on May 18th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
I don’t know if poverty will EVER be defined to a specific guideline or not, but there is a lot of food that people Do waste in the world and now I’m going to think twice before getting over the amount of food I actually need.
on May 19th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Poverty is a sad reality in our world. Some people say that determing whether poverty has increased or decreased is difficult considering that more people in present times have put forth more effort to end poverty. I agree with the statement,”Not everyone will have proper nutrition, but if they have the money to get proper food are they in poverty?.” I agree with this statement because some people have the money to provide nutritional food for their family, but they choose to spend nutritional food money on other unneccesary items. I consider this wasteful, which makes me a hypocrite because I spend my money on unnecessary items instead of on necessary objects.
on May 20th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I get what you mean Carrie
I mean like… if a definition is never clearly defined.. then those getting financial support may not really need it as much as someone that isn’t getting help.
Some people take advantage of others’ generosity.
on May 22nd, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I think there are several types of poverty. There is the poverty in America where someone loses their home because they can’t pay the morgage. They will probably be able to find a cheaper home or somewhere to stay until they can get back on their feet and most likely won’t go hungry during that time. Then there is the poverty in Africa where children are living in a cardboard box and have to work every day just for that day’s food, and they still sometimes go hungry. There is no possible definition for poverty because the poverty level is related to the standard of living in that particular area.