Poverty and Social Inequalities in the Structure of Society

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Poverty and Social Inequalities in the Structure of Society

Poverty can be defined differently, those of contradictory opinions on

poverty will probably also have dissimilar opinions on the causes of

poverty and the measurement of poverty. For example Marxists and

Feminists have ideologies based on conflict. Marxists believe that

there is a class struggle, and that the exploitation created by

capitalism creates poverty. Feminists believe that Patriarchy builds

in social inequalities and their ideologies are demonstrated by the

inequalities in salary between women and men. There is also research

proving that there are more women than men in poverty, and 93% of lone

parents in poverty are women. However conflicting arguments are held

by the New Right. Their supporters include Margaret Thatcher, Charles

Murray and David Marsland and their ideology is based on the

individual, and not society as a whole. The New Right believes that it

is through the individuals' laziness that poverty is caused.

Those that agree with the view that poverty is caused by the social

inequalities that are built into society are Marxists, Feminists and

Social Democrats. Marxists believe that the capitalist society is

structured by the economy, and this structure needs to be totally

transformed to be able to eradicate poverty. This would include a

revolutionary overthrow of capitalism because eventually the situation

will progress to a small minority of the bourgeoisie (ruling class)

and a pool of cheap labour, this is a strong view because there are

more people in poverty than those who are rich, and Marxists explained

this by suggesting that institutions in th...

... middle of paper ...

... the institutions that make up the superstructure of society, this is

proved to be true by statistics and opposing views cannot deny these

inequalities. However those that blame the individual for there

inability to escape the poverty trap are also backed by research and

there are examples in everyday life of individuals in poverty that do

not suffer social inequalities. I agree more with those that agree

that there are social inequalities built into society, but I do not

believe that they are the sole cause of all poverty, for example lone

parents in poverty are mostly women, and these women are paid fewer

benefits because they are assumed to have a male breadwinner in the

family who supports them. However I also believe that some poor people

are living off benefits because they choose to rather than being

forced to.

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