Social Exclusion

3128 Words7 Pages

Social Exclusion

Introduction

The task at hand, is to define and discuss various types of poverty,

social exclusion, oppression and social policy, whilst indicating an

understanding of sociological theories and the impact of social policy

on society. In completing this assignment I hope to show that I have

assimilated some knowledge through reading, research, and the college

sequences so far. I will breakdown the assignment into its constituent

parts, and discuss each part under a clear heading. Throughout the

essay I will endeavour to show an awareness of sensitive issues,

anti-discriminatory practice, and how this affects the delivery of

social work services.

Defining Poverty

Poverty has been with us for hundreds of years, and research into this

subject dates back to the earliest day of sociology. Poverty may be

described as some individuals, and or groups who are disadvantaged in

comparison to others, and that the poor do not have enough to sustain

a decent standard of living. Does this really define poverty? What is

meant by 'decent' standard of living? Poverty can mean having a

'shortage of the necessities of life'. This comes under the concept of

'need'. Equally, it can mean being unable to secure all the 'benefits

of civilisation', which would come under the concept of 'social need'

(1) Townsend (1979) discusses at length the concept of poverty and

deprivation, and concludes that the two main types of poverty are

'Absolute'and 'Relative'poverty (2). Many would argue that there is no

Absolute Poverty in Britain and that it only exists in third-world

countries. Many homeless people in Britain would disagree, they l...

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...lusion Summary.

14. THOMPSON, Neil.,(1993). Anti-Discriminatory Practice. Basingstoke:

MacMillan.

15. TOWNSEND, Peter., (1970). Concept of Poverty. London: Heinemann.

16. TOWNSEND, Peter., (1979). Poverty in the United Kingdom.

Middlesex: Penguin, Harmondsworth.

Websites Visited

http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/sp92.asp

www.researchweb.org.uk/pdfs/jrf8/pdf

http://teenwriting.about.com/library/blank/blstory2180.htm

http://www.dss.gov.uk/publications/dss/1999/poverty/main/chapt2a.htm

http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/sp111.asp

http://www.wtltnet.org.uk/wtltnewsite2/training/m1frpovsocjus.htm

www.eoc.uk/advice/equalpay.htm

www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts.htm

www.online.gov.uk

www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/pankhurst01.html

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