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Poverty and Affluence in Canada

Poverty and Affluence in Canada. Defining Poverty. Low-income cut-of line (LICO) : The “poverty line” – lacking a socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions. Karl Marx – the first sociologist to study inequalities in society

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Poverty and Affluence in Canada

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  1. Poverty and Affluence in Canada

  2. Defining Poverty Low-income cut-of line (LICO): The “poverty line” – lacking a socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions

  3. Karl Marx – the first sociologist to study inequalities in society • Income Inequalities – the gap between what the rich and the poor earn

  4. Structural-Functionalism • Because inequalities exist in all societies, it must be an inherent part of human structures • Regard inequalities as a characteristic of society that they should try to understand rather than eliminate

  5. Public policy questions – significant questions about social problems that politicians and social agencies are obliged to discuss & come up with possible solutions • i.e. Does society have an obligation to help poorer people via support programs (daycare, free medical prescriptions, etc.)? • i.e. Does providing such programs reduce the desire for self help?

  6. Statistics In Canada, there are drastic income inequalities based on gender and race • Two parent families - highest incomes • Single mothers - lowest incomes (45% live in poverty) • Uneducated single mothers – 90% live in poverty • Visible minorities have lower average incomes than the rest of society Why does this imbalance in income distribution exist?

  7. Key Questions • Does society have an obligation to individuals/families in poverty – to introduce social change/programs to assist those in need? OR… • Should this be a matter for the individuals/ families themselves to deal with?

  8. Systematic Discrimination • Systems that favour one or some groups over others in terms of hiring, benefits, promotions and pay increases • i.e. height or strength requirements (police officers, fire fighters, etc.) that often rule out women or members of particular visible minority groups from qualifying • Minorities, Aboriginals and people who are mentally or physically challenged face many barriers

  9. The Employment Equity Act (1986) • Purpose: to tackle systematic discrimination • Act identifies four main groups: minorities, Aboriginals, people with mental and physical disabilities • Requires employers to provide these groups with equity by setting hiring goals for each group (reflective of these groups in Canadian workforce)

  10. Welfare in Ontario • Easiest short-term tool for raising income level of the poor = $ • Money is required for survival and some people are unable to earn money for various reasons • i.e. severely disabled, mentally ill, woman with children who has left an abuse husband, single parent attending school, etc.

  11. Problems with Welfare How much do you give? To whom? Disincentives: Discourages some recipients from finding employment Functional Repercussions: Logical outcome of “high” payments – people receiving welfare didn’t feel a need to look for work

  12. What are some alternatives to welfare?

  13. Competing Perspectives Does welfare discourage people from looking for work? Or, is it a myth put forward by people unfamiliar with the reality of life on welfare?

  14. Social Class in Canada Wealthy Upper Class Middle Class Working Class Poor

  15. Wealthy Upper Class 3-5% of the population of Canada Income is mostly inherited, some have earned it 1996, each of the 50 richest families in Canada were worth at least $145 million Interact (living quarters, schools, etc) with others of the same class and so establish valuable network of connections Kenneth Thomson – wealthiest in 1996 – publishing company owner -- $23.5 billion

  16. Middle Class Can be defined by income and goods/services one can afford Can be defined by type of work a person does Medical Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, Office managers, factory owners “white collar” workers 40-50% of the population

  17. Working Class Defined by Karl Marx as the people who “sell their labour” to the factory owners Today, this class describes the kind of work done – people who work in factories or at manual labour “blue collar” Used to earn less than middle class workers, but is not always the case today 30% of Canada’s work force

  18. The Poor Make up about 20% of population Life is unstable, insecure Can not get basic necessities Can’t get work because of disability, lack of training, age, family responsibilities In poorer neighbourhoods Often go hungry Often, attempts to improve situation actually hinder it!!!

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