Poverty Case Study

1. There are three major sociological perspectives, these are three major theories are conflict theory, functionalism theory, and interactionist theory. Conflict theory is defined as a theory that focuses on societal groups competing for scarce resources. Functional theory (or also called structural-functional theory) is defined as assumes that all parts of a social structure (groups, organizations, and institutions), the culture (values and beliefs) and social processes (social change) work together to make the whole society run smoothly. Interactionist theory is defined as a theoretical perspective in which society is thought to be a product of the everyday social interactions among millions of people. For example if we were to analyze the issue of poverty in the United States as it relates to these

If we first look at the major theory of conflict in the issue of poverty in the United States would would find that conflict is inevitable in any group or society and even tho the United States is a first world country ( meaning a developed, capitalist, industrial countries) there is still an issue of poverty. Conflict theorist claim that injustice and inequality are the source of conflicts that spread throughout a society. Conflict theorist claim that conflicts in a society are a result of resources and power being distributed unequally in society, where some members have more money, goods, and prestige then others in society. In some cases it has been seen that the rich protect their positions by using the power they have accumulated to keep the less fortunate in their place. From the perspective of poor people it seems as if the rich get all the breaks in life, they have all the nice things in life. This makes people who are poor or in poverty jealous and desperate , at this point the poor will do anything