Sociology and Communication Essay

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Communication and Sociology

Sociology and Poverty

Poverty, in absolute terms, is defined as a lack of the things considered basic for human survival. There are many causes of poverty; sociologists, however, explain the existence of poverty using two major approaches -- the structural-functionalism approach and the conflict approach (Andersen & Taylor, 2007). The structural-functionalism theory postulates that poverty is inevitable and is in fact one of the human processes that are necessary for the stability and continuity of society (Andersen & Taylor, 2007). Just as is the case with inequality and stratification, poverty is beneficial to society because it creates a balance that ensures that the best people occupy the most important positions, and the less worthy remain at the bottom (Andersen & Taylor, 2007). The conflict approach agrees with the argument that poverty is inevitable, but disputes the idea that it is beneficial, arguing that poverty exists only because the people at the top of the hierarchy are always inclined to increase their wealth at the expense of those at the bottom (Andersen & Taylor, 2007).

Currently, 7 million families in America are living below the poverty line (Kornblum, 2007). However, poverty affects black and Hispanic families, more than it does white families. One of the obvious reasons a family would be poor is that it does not receive or earn sufficient income.

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However, why they do not earn sufficient income has a lot to do with race, gender, and ethnicity. In absolute terms, women are affected by poverty more than men are, just like Hispanics and blacks are affected more than whites are. The reason is obvious -- disadvantaged minorities form a bulk of the lower class, and the upper class considers any attempt to improve their statuses "undemocratic transfers of wealth to undeserving members of society" (Kornblum, 2007, p. 392). This is perhaps one of the reasons why most members of the upper class have in the past been opposed to programs such as Medicaid, despite the worthy cause they intend to serve. The rich keep getting richer, pay their way to obtain everything in life; while the poor have to work to even pay their college fees. In the end, it becomes a vicious cycle of poverty.

Although still relatively high, the level of inequality has reduced over the last few decades. I would bet on the trend to continue because Americans are becoming more informed and more aware of their rights by the day. Today, policies of equality are among the key things that Americans look for when electing a leader; and of course, with the internet and increased information-sharing, it could only get better.

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