Author Question: Individual explanations of poverty are easier to accept than structural explanations? (Read 1325 times)

Hawke

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 679
My sociology homework says that it's easier for the Average American to accept individual explanations of poverty than structural explanations. What does that even mean and why is that?



Sandstorm

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 268
It will help if you have some understanding of the distinction between an individual and a structural explanation.  We're dealing with causes... What causes poverty?  Individual explanations could include traits of individuals who are poor.  Can you think of some?.. Hint:  Being lazy.  Structural explanations involve aspects of the society that can cause someone to be poor.  Hint:  Segregated housing & neighborhood schools..  Some parts of town are composed of cheap housing which causes poor and minority people to get concentrated there.  The kids who live in those neighborhoods all go to neighborhood schools which, because real estate taxes are low, don't have a lot of money to hire good teachers or to buy computers and other materials.  The kids end up with a lousy education which means they can't get good jobs and become the next generation of poor people.  Can you see why the two explanations aren't equally easy to understand?  Plus we get to blame poor people for their poverty with the individual explanation.  It takes us off the hook about trying to do something about it.  Regards.
« Last Edit: Jul 16, 2013 by Celeste »



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
 

Did you know?

Nearly all drugs pass into human breast milk. How often a drug is taken influences the amount of drug that will pass into the milk. Medications taken 30 to 60 minutes before breastfeeding are likely to be at peak blood levels when the baby is nursing.

Did you know?

When Gabriel Fahrenheit invented the first mercury thermometer, he called "zero degrees" the lowest temperature he was able to attain with a mixture of ice and salt. For the upper point of his scale, he used 96°, which he measured as normal human body temperature (we know it to be 98.6° today because of more accurate thermometers).

Did you know?

If all the neurons in the human body were lined up, they would stretch more than 600 miles.

Did you know?

Giardia is one of the most common intestinal parasites worldwide, and infects up to 20% of the world population, mostly in poorer countries with inadequate sanitation. Infections are most common in children, though chronic Giardia is more common in adults.

Did you know?

Most childhood vaccines are 90–99% effective in preventing disease. Side effects are rarely serious.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library