Lucia L. 1. The social problem is Poverty. The reason why Poverty is a social problem is because it’s contributing to poor Health amongst individuals with very low income. Individuals with low income would put their health at risk by working in dangerous jobs in order to provide shelter and food for their households. Also when a poor person becomes very ill, the cost of doctor’s fees such as hospitalization, surgery, and medicine become nearly impossible to pay. The reason that they may become ill in the first place is that these individuals are not eating healthy foods because healthy foods such as organic products are not attainable for them since they are more expensive than fast foods. To have a better understanding of this social problem we can apply the Functionalist perspective.
2.A Functionalist would say that the various parts of society will compensate naturally for any problems such as poverty. Also that poverty could contribute in some way or another to the larger system’s stability. A functionalist would also say that Poverty allows for the creation of jobs because there are people who specialize in providing services to individuals who live in poverty such as those working at the Department of Job and Family Services, Non-Profit Organizations focusing on homeless and low income individuals. Without poverty and individuals living in poverty, those who serve them would basically be unemployed.
3.The reason why I chose to respond to this specific topic is because I believe that poverty has always been a social problem. I believe that we all deserve to have an equal amount of resources. One solution would be developing a concrete action plan that will make social assistance more effective at getting people into jobs by connecting them with the right education and training opportunities, while providing security and support for those who cannot work due to disabilities. Also to create a plan that provides financial help for the special diets needed by people with certain identified health problems. We need to work for a society that recognizes the rights of everybody because we are all human beings with needs.
Dewan A • Poverty has become a huge issue in social life these days. Unemployed and low income people faces many problems due to poverty. One of them is health problem. They have to cut down their grocery shopping. They cannot buy organic fruits and healthy foods. Healthy foods are very expensive. They have to buy high calories foods which are cheaper. Its affects their health. Another problem is children. Due to poverty families have to move in smaller areas. There is lots of noises and neighborhood disturbance. Children do not get well sleep. It affects their education. They start to smoke and drink alcohol. They become affected with many health problems such as high blood pressure and depression. • In my opinion, it is a conflict theory. Conflict theorists would argue that education is one of the biggest factor in social inequality. Children living in wealthier areas have access to better schools, better teachers, better peers, and great health facilities. There is no noise pollution. On the other hand, children living in poor areas do not get good health facilities and good education. They have to stop their education and work at factories. They have to stay away from their families for long hours. They work day and night. It is very risky for their health. They faces many accidents. It affects their health. So conflict theory is education inequality between social classes sustain poverty and health issues. • I think health issues are increasing day by day because of poverty. Many low income parents cannot give good health facilities to their children. They cannot take their children to good hospitals. And due to this some children becomes affected with many diseases all their life. One of the solution can be government assistance. Government should set up a system which will take care of unemployed and low income families. They should provide free health care for families, free education for poor children, and provide them good secured jobs. So they can live in good areas and buy healthy foods. It will improve the distance & social inequality between social classes.
1) Research has shown that unstable income has harmful effects on one's health. If people do not have sufficient amount of money to spend on nutrition or housing they become stuck below the poverty level. An unhealthy diet, as experienced by Anna Bear, was deteriorating her health. However, she was helpless and hopeless, just like Daniel, Pease-Greene, and many others. They knew what harmful effects their lifestyle had on them, yet were unable to make any changes without a steady income. This type of lifestyle creates excess stress leading to serious health disorders like heart attack, stroke, emotional problems, etc . Children living below the poverty line are more likely to be exposed to acts labeled by society as deviant. The lack of money cause long term effects on individuals.
2) A interactionist would say cultural poverty plays a huge role in health, for example, the amount of money one makes or the family one grows up in. It all comes down to income. Those with high income do not realize and often take for granted the luxuries they are blessed with. An interactionist will take a glimpse into the reality of how the lack of money, low paying jobs, or unemployment increases health problems. Poverty comes with bad housing, inadequate diet, and childhood abuse and neglect. Once you are poor, your values prohibit you from ever getting out of poverty. Living in bad neighborhoods is dangerous due to numerous shootings, robberies, and the use of drugs. Being raised in such environments exploits children to such behaviors society has labeled as “deviant”. Therefore, these children are more likely to grow up juvenile delinquents, doing as they have seen. The emotional burden these children and future adults carry is traumatizing, following a need for therapy. The constant worry taunts these individuals thinking of when “the next shoe will drop”. In the US we have created an idea of the “American Dream” according to Merton. We strive for opportunity, freedom, and posterity, but many fall short due to the lack of capital.
3) In my personal opinion, money runs the world. Those who make enough money to afford decent food, housing, and basic necessities are always at an advantage than those who are financially unstable. Those who have a stable income are usually unaware of what disadvantage others may be facing. I chose to respond to this topic cause many people say you do not need money to be happy. However, I completely disagree. Financial stability is the biggest factor in living a happy, healthy, and successful life. Government aide is a alternate way for providing for yourself and your family. I believe if it was easily accessible and less seen by society in negative perspective people would be more likely to take advantage of such programs that are their for those in need. Things such as Food Stamps, EBT, or GR give the unprivileged the chance to attain daily necessities.
1. The problem being discussed in this article is about how people with low incomes tend to struggle to stay healthy. Having a lack of money becomes a downward cycle to poor health. For example, the family has to live in a rundown neighborhood for cheap rent. Then, they have to live with the stress of trying to stay alive and away from violence. This may cause PTSD or depression but instead of being able to get help, they may rely on drugs or alcohol. Then they have to hope that the house that they are living in does not have any indoor hazards to bodily health. Lower income families cannot afford healthy fresh foods, so they have to rely on sodium induced canned goods and many other ingredients that are only meant as a preservative. This then lends itself to becoming another health issue. The person may need to see a doctor but the doctor costs money. Using the money to see a doctor may be the money that was supposed to pay for rent.
2. A conflict theorist would say that these problems are here to stay because the rich are exploiting the poor. They would say that the rich are here to oppress the lower class and that the rich are always seeking to maintain their dominance. The rich know that the lower class people are struggling but bear no mind to it. If a poor person dies, the rich can always replace that person with another one. A conflict theorist would say that the rich only want to benefit from the poor. The rich do not want the poor to gain class consciousness and so, in order for the poor people to stay distracted, the poor people cannot leave comfortable enough for them to even wonder if the government is taking advantage of them. Once the poor are deteriorating, the rich want nothing to do with them. The poor people are just basically modern day slaves to the rich. The poor cannot get out of this loop. Even if the poor were to try and form any kind of group to confront this issue, it would get annexed from the top.
3. I believe not being able to get proper nutrition and basic health needs is a big issue. With current technological advances, we as a society should be able to provide our community with fundamental health needs for our citizens. I commented on this issue because even though my problems may not be as major as the people in the article, I feel as though I can relate and that I can at any moment be thrown into lower class with a major medical bill, student debt, or family death. I can also relate because with the knowledge we have today, I learned that eating healthy is crucial but eating healthy is also very expensive. The price I pay to eat healthy food is a struggle to keep but I know that it is something that will benefit my life. One solution for the problem is for the government to provide their citizens free health care. This solution is needed because major health problems are something lower class citizens cannot afford. If relieved of the stress of having to save up in case of a major accident, this would allow lower class people to use the money they earned on other things such as food or better housing.
1.The biggest impact on a person’s health is, unfortunately, money. Many studies and polls showed that people who had lower incomes than average suffered negative impacts to their health. Not having a stable income to buy simple necessities such as fresh fruits and vegetables, and instead having to buy canned and processed foods, can ultimately take a toll on an individual’s health. Another issue thats effects health is not having the money to live in a safe and clean environment which can also cause severe problems and disease. A study by the University at Albany, State University of New York showed that individuals who lost their job had increased odds of developing stress related health conditions by 83 percent. These lower income individuals can gain consciousness of their situation and strive to build a better life for themselves and for the sake of their health. 2.A conflict theorist would say those that are wealthier are in power because they get access to better healthcare and better living situations because of what money can buy. They view that the problem in society arises when a group, in this case lower income individuals, believes that their best interests aren’t being met, which is access to healthcare and better living situations, which would in turn lead to a healthier life style. Society is composed of different groups, the “haves” and the “have nots”, that are both fighting for better health care and resources to achieve this. The poor need to achieve a class consciousness and be aware of their social position and oppression they are facing when matters of money are effecting their health. 3.In my opinion, no matter how much people try to deny it, money would solve a lot of social problems we face today. Not being able to buy healthy food, live in normal conditions, and suffer from stress everyday is not a way to live. I commented on this because not having health care has become a big issue in the U.S in recent years. Hearing about cases where someone can’t go to the hospital because they can’t afford it and end up getting a severe disease is sad to hear when we live in one of the richest countries in the world. I think a great way to solve this issue would be for the U.S government to give free health care to everyone by cutting unnecessary outside spending. Everyone should have access to some kind of health care no matter what their income. The well being and health of the individuals living in this country should be a top priority before anything else.
Eduardo G. 1) Two social factors in which people have bad health, one being poverty and the other being income (money). Individuals are taking the risk of taking on jobs that will somehow affect their well-being one way or the other, regardless of the risks because they’re on what I call “survival mode” doing whatever it takes to get past another day. I don’t blame them though, they’re doing what they have to do to sustain themselves and their family if they have any. Families whose income comes in less than $25,000 a year are most likely not able to afford healthcare due to the cost of plans and you have to keep in mind that they have to provide food for themselves, transportation (if they don’t drive), gas, rent, utilities, school supplies (if they have children), college tuition (Ex: Ana Beer). All these factors cost money and not just cheap money, but expensive money. For example, what is Ana Beers husband supposed to do with only ten dollars an hour, that’s ridiculous. Now, since Anna isn’t making as much money with her husband like she was before, her health is at risk because all she eats are frozen foods, which may be cheap, but she pays with her health and her migraines are higher. Money is also a huge factor in which why these individuals live in poverty, which eventually leads to poor health. Money talks now a days, if you have money then god bless you, but if you don’t (like Anna and Uzuri) then best of luck to you. That isn't how things should be played out, but it is what it is. Very unfortunate that low paying jobs won’t get you far or even nowhere and the fact that unemployment leads to health problems like depression. Daniels health for example all originated from the treatment he received from his neglected and abusive father. He said that an abusive Sunday is typical for the family and that ultimately became his normal of life. Afterwards, at such a young age he consumed bad substances and overtime he developed obesity and PSTD. Bad health is the issue, and with no money coming in for these individuals, it leads to their demise and ultimately death in some cases. A Conflict Theorists would view this as a struggle for the poor to attain resources (Money and Health).
Eduardo G. 2)So a Conflict Theorist would approach and analyze the problem with the have-nots struggle of having access to better wages, better jobs, and health insurance. Someone like Karl Marx sees Economic Inequality, which can be seen through this problem. In the article it had mentioned that families or someone who makes over $75,000 a year would have no problem accessing healthcare, but those who make less than $25,000 can’t even afford it. There’s a social inequality here, why not lower prices for the poor people and make it affordable for everyone, and literally make it affordable. This way a conflict theorist can observe and see that both sides have access to healthcare. The rich also manipulate the healthcare system in my opinion, that’s totally not fair because they’re exploiting the poor when they have control of such an important resource for all. Conflict theory would view this as tension between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, the have-nots demanding healthcare at an economical price and everyone having the right to access it with the ability to pay, meanwhile the bourgeoisie have no interests in lending a hand to the proletariats because they are a self-interest group who only look to profit, monopolize, and look out for each other. Now the bourgeoisie also know how much to pay its employees and a conflict theorist would look at how money is distributed and what benefits the employees get. Not much I would suppose, and that leads for its employees to fall below the poverty line, which leads to poor diet, and ultimately health problems. A conflict theorist would see this as a problem starting at the top with those in power and how they are not distributing wealth equally amongst the proletariats who work their butt of to live another day. It’s the system that’s not in the favor of the have-nots, but is for the haves. It’s those in power a conflict theorist would argue that make resources not accessible to the have-nots with incredibly high prices and no interest in helping out.
Eduardo G. 3) I chose to comment on this social problem because money and healthcare is key in ones survival in this corrupt world. Money talks almost everywhere and anywhere, it’s very unfortunate in my opinion because some of us don’t have the luxury to vacation, like others or buy the things we’d like to buy because we have horrible low paying jobs that exceed a lot of labor. Not being able to purchase healthy food is taking the toll on individuals and families, when one goes from a healthy diet to an unhealthy health problems arise. Then with not having enough money to afford healthcare, it just leads the individual to tough it out or eventually die. The solution is simple, yet very complicated for those in power. Raise the minimum wage to make life sustainable and not worry whether someone has enough for the groceries, power, rent, etc. Secondly, make healthcare affordable because some families can’t pay huge amounts every month for every individual in the family. Last I would say for the government to stop spending funds on unnecessary things like bigger jail facilities for those who have possession of an illegal substance or non-violent crimes. That would give funding extra money for increase in minimum wage, more healthcare programs at an affordable price for everyone and anyone. We have to prioritize the lives of our people because society can’t function as a whole, when we have people going homeless because of minimum wage and specially let people die because healthcare is just too expensive.
Palmira G. 1. Families and individuals with low income are at greater risk for health issues. Due to the lack of money, low income families primarily live in neighborhoods with high crime rates and live in polluted areas, which may lead to health issues such as asthma and stress. The article also gives the example of how poor food quality, which tends to be cheaper, can also lead to health issues, including diabetes. Both emotional or psychiatric conditions may also result from losing a job or having a low income.
2. A conflict theorist would say that there is an imbalance of power within this social issue. People who are financially stable,or are of a higher class, live in cleaner and more safe neighborhoods do not worry as much and don't tend to be surrounded by factories that pollute the air they breath. They are also able to afford high quality, or fresh food and therefore have healthier lifestyles. Lastly, most people who are financially stable have health insurance and have access to clinics who aren’t overcrowded and are better staffed. Although people with low
3. This issue was the most interesting to me because I, personally, believe that a healthy living should not be based on the amount of income that people make. Part of the solution to this problem could be to supply individuals with access to more clinics so that they won't be overcrowded and may be seen at a good timing.
Naineh T. In respond to Lucia L. 1.I agree that poverty is a social problem because most of the humanity lives on just a few dollars a day. As result, of that we can see high level of income inequality among people. According to Lucia.L when poor person becomes very ill, the cost of doctor’s fees such as hospitalization, surgery, and medicine become nearly impossible to pay. As a consequence, the poor people will have less access to health. I chose to comment on this peer’s entry because poverty became a serious social issue and today most of Americans live in poverty and the effects of poverty are extremely serious. I think about this topic because poverty creates ill-health because it forces people to live in environments that make them sick, without decent shelter, clean water or adequate sanitation. Poverty also creates hunger, which in turn leaves people vulnerable to disease.
2.An Interactionist would say that poverty is based on culture of poverty, a set of norms, values, and beliefs that encourage and perpetuate poverty. Interactionist says poor are socialized differently and are likely to pass this value on their children. In addition, poor parents have poor children, who in turn become poor adults. Interactionist would provide welfare program for low income families .This program offer food stamp or cash grant when there is no absolutely other form of help or assistance given.
3.I think welfare program is beneficial for poor people and it’s feasible. Inaddition, this will save many Americans lives and not only for certain group of people such as immigrants. By giving them food stamp they can at least but organic foods which prevent them from being sick until they find a job. U.S should also increase job opportunities so people will be able to earn more money and have access to basic necessities. I think that a good health is crucial to protect the family from poverty, so better health is central to poverty reduction. Improving the health of the poor must become a priority, not only for public health but also for other rectors of development such as economic, environments and social.
Chris S. In response to Palmira G. 1. I Agree with Palmira’s response, because many of the points she makes are relevant and the issue of low income and health problems associated with it seems to be a very serious matter. What stood out to me was when Palmira points out how low income families live in poor quality locations where crime rates are high and the areas are polluted. I feel that it’s bad enough these families have to live in poverty, but the geographic positioning only worsens the stigmatization they face. They can’t afford to live in safe, clean places, thus perpetuated their problems and quality of life. I chose to comment on Palmira’s writing because I honestly look down in disbelief as to how greedy and ignorant people really are, which she makes clear with the facts alone. I feel that all people deserve to live happy and safe lives, one in which money doesn’t determine if one lives or dies. The one thing that dehumanizes us is our greed; our want for money. It’s sickening to think we allow people to live their lives in shambles, thus I felt it was necessary for me to mention my concern. I think the topic is rather saddening and is definitely a serious social problem. It’s a problem that shouldn’t exist, but unfortunately, in the modern day the value of currency seems to outweigh the value of human life which to me is beyond baffling and needs to be changed. 2. A functionalist would say low income families are a natural aspect of our society. There exists different social classes for a reason and each one is interconnected to the other. In regards to low income families and health problems, I feel the health problems are viewed as a manifest function. I say this, because of the commonality of poor people tending to live in poor conditions, and everyday people recognizing the poor as being unhealthy. It’s sad but again in our society there has always existed the various social classes and unfortunately at the bottom exists the disadvantaged poor. When there exists a top one percent who holds an unnecessary amount of wealth it’s only expected that there will be a polar opposite to balance the extreme which again is the poor people in society. 3. I feel the most human and absolutely necessary solution to this problem is to have all people realize through mass protest and settlements in government and Supreme Court that the value of life should far outweigh the value of currency. It’s simply not constitutional for people to be dying or coming very close to it because of poor living conditions out of necessity. By dying these very people lose their freedom, liberty and ability to pursue happiness – the key values of the US Constitution. I understand the US wishes to be unique and not adopt systems such as socialism, or communism, but basic human rights/ civil rights need to be the priority. People created money to function efficiently, and exchange with equivalency. The moment money became more valuable than a human was the same moment society deviated away from humanity and common morality. This issue needs to be solved and can be solved if the masses stand up for what’s right and heck I wouldn’t mind spear-heading that movement if I had to. I’ll become the Malcolm X of solving the issue of poverty, but it’s going to take a lot of support and recognition.
1. I agree with what Fernando had to say about this issue, because of how spot on it is. The thing that stood out to me about the issue is how the poor and their lifestyles are connected to so many other things that require for them to have money in order to survive, especially the fact that when the poor get sick, they need to spend even more money just to see a doctor. I chose to comment on it because of the fact that it saddens me to learn that the food they have to live off is hurting them so much without them knowing it, because they can't afford or just simply know better. This is a real social problem because our society is getting hurt, and real lives are on the line here.
2. The interactionist perspective would be the fact that these lifestyles are passed down to other generations. Families can't afford for their children to get higher educations, which also leads back to the article I had to comment on where families couldn't even get their kids to kindergarten classes because they couldn't afford transportation which sent the kid back in his education. Also, this comes back to the "knowing better" fact as mentioned before, because that's how these kids are raised, and they simply don't know better than the foods they eat and the lifestyles they live.
3. I most definitely agree with Fernando about the fact that free health care would help us out with keeping this class someone healthy, but something needs to be done with how they end up sick to even need this free health care. Free health care can be realistic considering other countries have this system, but in my opinion we need to have an actual realistic start. In my opinion, a solution would be to start with a small step like raise awareness to other people who had no idea what these people are going through. Maybe a documentary, or just some other sort of media. With awareness, and maybe sympathy of others, we can propose solutions like free health care or a system of buying foods and other important needs that have better nutritional content.
Before getting into my analysis I wanted to write a word about this NPR article… I believe that this article veered completely off the rails when it went from lack of income all the way to childhood abuse. The amount of money a person makes does not define the character of the person… Some may not agree but those are my personal thoughts and opinions. I feel that the mention of both physical and sexual abuse are absolutely unrelated to the topic of the article. Having said that, let’s get into the actual assignment…
1) I would have to agree with Erlin’s statements made in her analysis of this NPR article regarding poverty’s effects on health. Money absolutely does rule the world and those that don’t have the advantage of a comfortable income are exposed to things others may not be which includes poor health due to diet, unclean living circumstances, and lack of medical care.
2) A conflict-theorist would explain that the rich keep getting richer and leave the poor out to dry. Karl Marx would examine the imbalance and the injustice behind the research that clearly shows the effects of low income on families. He would point the finger at the government and say that the haves have access to so much more to keep themselves healthy while just because of income inequality, other human beings are unable to afford the bare necessities.
3) I can agree with Erlin’s solution for further government aid by providing additional resources such as the food stamps, EBT, etc but I feel that alone is far too easy of an action to take on the government’s behalf. In addition, I would suggest that the government provide even more accessible health care which includes psychiatric help as well as the basic doctor visits examining physical health.
unctionalists point to the ironic dual role of education in both preserving and changing culture. Studies show that, as students progress through college and beyond, they usually become increasingly liberal as they encounter a variety of perspectives. Thus, more educated individuals are generally more liberal, while less educated people tend toward conservatism. Moreover, the heavy emphasis on research at most institutions of higher education puts them on the cutting edge of changes in knowledge, and, in many cases, changes in values as well. Therefore, while the primary role of education is to preserve and pass on knowledge and skills, education is also in the business of transforming them.
Siranush M. In response to Dewan A, 1. I agree with his ideas as, nowadays, the poverty remains one of the biggest social problem. Day by day poverty rate is getting increased. Many people can hardly provide themselves with basic needs of everyday life. A lot of children cannot afford to continue education. As we all know the higher education the person has the lower poverty condition he or she might have later on. Not having enough money and living in poverty could have more causes of more health problems as well especially when people don’t have enough money to afford organic food. Mostly they would prefer to eat more fast food which is obvious that is cheaper. 2. According to a functionalist perspective, differences in power, wealth and other rewards within the social structure are justified, because they motivate the most qualified people to exercise their talents in the most important jobs. A problem with this view is that it is difficult to determine the functional importance of any job. Functionalist theorists equate society with the way the human body works: they see society as being made up of interrelated parts that must all work in harmony for the larger system to perform. As a lens from which to consider social inequality then, functionalists highlight the ways in which inequality is functional for society 3.Income inequality has been a central issue of social research for decades among political scientists, sociologists, economists, and policy analysts. Many factors have been investigated as the central cause for income inequality in the United States. Additionally, there has been a growing concern regarding the gap between the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor. Understanding the process of, and the factors contributing to, income inequality and the growing disparity between the wealthy and the poor helps scholars better understand the adverse consequences of inequality for individual health and personal security. Functionalists point to the ironic dual role of education in both preserving and changing culture. Studies show that, as students’ progress through college and beyond, they usually become increasingly liberal as they encounter a variety of perspectives. Thus, more educated individuals are generally more liberal, while less educated people tend toward conservatism. Moreover, the heavy emphasis on research at most institutions of higher education puts them on the cutting edge of changes in knowledge, and, in many cases, changes in values as well. Therefore, while the primary role of education is to preserve and pass on knowledge and skills, education is also in the business of transforming them. Overall, society needs more educated people, and that way they will have higher income and more problems won’t occur. However I do agree with his solutions as government should set up some rules and give people opportunities for low income people. That way they will have less issues about income and health.
• While there is much left to be discussed from such a broad topic, I felt that Fernando was able to nicely lay out the topic of interest and offer an interesting approach. I agree with his approach, and decided to comment on this post because I found it interesting that he mentioned the parallels of mental illness and its relationship to physical health in the context of SES. The issue of overall health within low-SES communities is undoubtedly a social issue because quality of life, access to nutritious food, and the poor are topics that are of interest on more than a micro-level. • From the interactionalist perspective; Healthcare, poverty, coping mechanisms, disposition to mental illness, nutrition, and an individuals susceptibility to substance abuse greatly increases if the modeling within the individuals primary family does not have the financial, educational, or community resources to un-learn destructive patterns in behavior. The cycle is vicious in that these behaviors are learned. For example: if a mother living on welfare (low-SES) raises her child on food that is significantly deficient in macronutrients or micronutrients, the chances of the child becoming malnourished greatly increases. The child is also more likely to model those same behaviors in their adult life. • I think Fernando makes a good point. Within the context of college students, for those who live independently, work, and go to school full-time, a financial crisis could mean the difference between the ability to provide for oneself and falling into the threshold of poverty. California has Medical for families, children, and individuals who live at or near the poverty line, and provides EBT for those who are in need of assistance. Both of these programs take time, a willingness to be proactive, and the ability to wait on a system that is in many ways over-run with people who need assistance. In addition to the programs already in place, I would suggest an increase in general awareness of these programs, doctors, food suppliers, which would (hopefully) bring down the negative stigma attached to people living in poverty, or using government assistance.
16 comments:
Lucia L.
1. The social problem is Poverty. The reason why Poverty is a social problem is because it’s contributing to poor Health amongst individuals with very low income. Individuals with low income would put their health at risk by working in dangerous jobs in order to provide shelter and food for their households. Also when a poor person becomes very ill, the cost of doctor’s fees such as hospitalization, surgery, and medicine become nearly impossible to pay. The reason that they may become ill in the first place is that these individuals are not eating healthy foods because healthy foods such as organic products are not attainable for them since they are more expensive than fast foods. To have a better understanding of this social problem we can apply the Functionalist perspective.
2.A Functionalist would say that the various parts of society will compensate naturally for any problems such as poverty. Also that poverty could contribute in some way or another to the larger system’s stability. A functionalist would also say that Poverty allows for the creation of jobs because there are people who specialize in providing services to individuals who live in poverty such as those working at the Department of Job and Family Services, Non-Profit Organizations focusing on homeless and low income individuals. Without poverty and individuals living in poverty, those who serve them would basically be unemployed.
3.The reason why I chose to respond to this specific topic is because I believe that poverty has always been a social problem. I believe that we all deserve to have an equal amount of resources. One solution would be developing a concrete action plan that will make social assistance more effective at getting people into jobs by connecting them with the right education and training opportunities, while providing security and support for those who cannot work due to disabilities. Also to create a plan that provides financial help for the special diets needed by people with certain identified health problems. We need to work for a society that recognizes the rights of everybody because we are all human beings with needs.
Dewan A
• Poverty has become a huge issue in social life these days. Unemployed and low income people faces many problems due to poverty. One of them is health problem. They have to cut down their grocery shopping. They cannot buy organic fruits and healthy foods. Healthy foods are very expensive. They have to buy high calories foods which are cheaper. Its affects their health. Another problem is children. Due to poverty families have to move in smaller areas. There is lots of noises and neighborhood disturbance. Children do not get well sleep. It affects their education. They start to smoke and drink alcohol. They become affected with many health problems such as high blood pressure and depression.
• In my opinion, it is a conflict theory. Conflict theorists would argue that education is one of the biggest factor in social inequality. Children living in wealthier areas have access to better schools, better teachers, better peers, and great health facilities. There is no noise pollution. On the other hand, children living in poor areas do not get good health facilities and good education. They have to stop their education and work at factories. They have to stay away from their families for long hours. They work day and night. It is very risky for their health. They faces many accidents. It affects their health. So conflict theory is education inequality between social classes sustain poverty and health issues.
• I think health issues are increasing day by day because of poverty. Many low income parents cannot give good health facilities to their children. They cannot take their children to good hospitals. And due to this some children becomes affected with many diseases all their life. One of the solution can be government assistance. Government should set up a system which will take care of unemployed and low income families. They should provide free health care for families, free education for poor children, and provide them good secured jobs. So they can live in good areas and buy healthy foods. It will improve the distance & social inequality between social classes.
Erlin K.
1) Research has shown that unstable income has harmful effects on one's health. If people do not have sufficient amount of money to spend on nutrition or housing they become stuck below the poverty level. An unhealthy diet, as experienced by Anna Bear, was deteriorating her health. However, she was helpless and hopeless, just like Daniel, Pease-Greene, and many others. They knew what harmful effects their lifestyle had on them, yet were unable to make any changes without a steady income. This type of lifestyle creates excess stress leading to serious health disorders like heart attack, stroke, emotional problems, etc . Children living below the poverty line are more likely to be exposed to acts labeled by society as deviant. The lack of money cause long term effects on individuals.
2) A interactionist would say cultural poverty plays a huge role in health, for example, the amount of money one makes or the family one grows up in. It all comes down to income. Those with high income do not realize and often take for granted the luxuries they are blessed with. An interactionist will take a glimpse into the reality of how the lack of money, low paying jobs, or unemployment increases health problems. Poverty comes with bad housing, inadequate diet, and childhood abuse and neglect. Once you are poor, your values prohibit you from ever getting out of poverty. Living in bad neighborhoods is dangerous due to numerous shootings, robberies, and the use of drugs. Being raised in such environments exploits children to such behaviors society has labeled as “deviant”. Therefore, these children are more likely to grow up juvenile delinquents, doing as they have seen. The emotional burden these children and future adults carry is traumatizing, following a need for therapy. The constant worry taunts these individuals thinking of when “the next shoe will drop”. In the US we have created an idea of the “American Dream” according to Merton. We strive for opportunity, freedom, and posterity, but many fall short due to the lack of capital.
3) In my personal opinion, money runs the world. Those who make enough money to afford decent food, housing, and basic necessities are always at an advantage than those who are financially unstable. Those who have a stable income are usually unaware of what disadvantage others may be facing. I chose to respond to this topic cause many people say you do not need money to be happy. However, I completely disagree. Financial stability is the biggest factor in living a happy, healthy, and successful life. Government aide is a alternate way for providing for yourself and your family. I believe if it was easily accessible and less seen by society in negative perspective people would be more likely to take advantage of such programs that are their for those in need. Things such as Food Stamps, EBT, or GR give the unprivileged the chance to attain daily necessities.
Fernando L
1. The problem being discussed in this article is about how people with low incomes tend to struggle to stay healthy. Having a lack of money becomes a downward cycle to poor health. For example, the family has to live in a rundown neighborhood for cheap rent. Then, they have to live with the stress of trying to stay alive and away from violence. This may cause PTSD or depression but instead of being able to get help, they may rely on drugs or alcohol. Then they have to hope that the house that they are living in does not have any indoor hazards to bodily health. Lower income families cannot afford healthy fresh foods, so they have to rely on sodium induced canned goods and many other ingredients that are only meant as a preservative. This then lends itself to becoming another health issue. The person may need to see a doctor but the doctor costs money. Using the money to see a doctor may be the money that was supposed to pay for rent.
2. A conflict theorist would say that these problems are here to stay because the rich are exploiting the poor. They would say that the rich are here to oppress the lower class and that the rich are always seeking to maintain their dominance. The rich know that the lower class people are struggling but bear no mind to it. If a poor person dies, the rich can always replace that person with another one. A conflict theorist would say that the rich only want to benefit from the poor. The rich do not want the poor to gain class consciousness and so, in order for the poor people to stay distracted, the poor people cannot leave comfortable enough for them to even wonder if the government is taking advantage of them. Once the poor are deteriorating, the rich want nothing to do with them. The poor people are just basically modern day slaves to the rich. The poor cannot get out of this loop. Even if the poor were to try and form any kind of group to confront this issue, it would get annexed from the top.
3. I believe not being able to get proper nutrition and basic health needs is a big issue. With current technological advances, we as a society should be able to provide our community with fundamental health needs for our citizens. I commented on this issue because even though my problems may not be as major as the people in the article, I feel as though I can relate and that I can at any moment be thrown into lower class with a major medical bill, student debt, or family death. I can also relate because with the knowledge we have today, I learned that eating healthy is crucial but eating healthy is also very expensive. The price I pay to eat healthy food is a struggle to keep but I know that it is something that will benefit my life. One solution for the problem is for the government to provide their citizens free health care. This solution is needed because major health problems are something lower class citizens cannot afford. If relieved of the stress of having to save up in case of a major accident, this would allow lower class people to use the money they earned on other things such as food or better housing.
Ellen Galstyan
1.The biggest impact on a person’s health is, unfortunately, money. Many studies and polls showed that people who had lower incomes than average suffered negative impacts to their health. Not having a stable income to buy simple necessities such as fresh fruits and vegetables, and instead having to buy canned and processed foods, can ultimately take a toll on an individual’s health. Another issue thats effects health is not having the money to live in a safe and clean environment which can also cause severe problems and disease. A study by the University at Albany, State University of New York showed that individuals who lost their job had increased odds of developing stress related health conditions by 83 percent. These lower income individuals can gain consciousness of their situation and strive to build a better life for themselves and for the sake of their health.
2.A conflict theorist would say those that are wealthier are in power because they get access to better healthcare and better living situations because of what money can buy. They view that the problem in society arises when a group, in this case lower income individuals, believes that their best interests aren’t being met, which is access to healthcare and better living situations, which would in turn lead to a healthier life style. Society is composed of different groups, the “haves” and the “have nots”, that are both fighting for better health care and resources to achieve this. The poor need to achieve a class consciousness and be aware of their social position and oppression they are facing when matters of money are effecting their health.
3.In my opinion, no matter how much people try to deny it, money would solve a lot of social problems we face today. Not being able to buy healthy food, live in normal conditions, and suffer from stress everyday is not a way to live. I commented on this because not having health care has become a big issue in the U.S in recent years. Hearing about cases where someone can’t go to the hospital because they can’t afford it and end up getting a severe disease is sad to hear when we live in one of the richest countries in the world. I think a great way to solve this issue would be for the U.S government to give free health care to everyone by cutting unnecessary outside spending. Everyone should have access to some kind of health care no matter what their income. The well being and health of the individuals living in this country should be a top priority before anything else.
Eduardo G.
1) Two social factors in which people have bad health, one being poverty and the other being income (money). Individuals are taking the risk of taking on jobs that will somehow affect their well-being one way or the other, regardless of the risks because they’re on what I call “survival mode” doing whatever it takes to get past another day. I don’t blame them though, they’re doing what they have to do to sustain themselves and their family if they have any. Families whose income comes in less than $25,000 a year are most likely not able to afford healthcare due to the cost of plans and you have to keep in mind that they have to provide food for themselves, transportation (if they don’t drive), gas, rent, utilities, school supplies (if they have children), college tuition (Ex: Ana Beer). All these factors cost money and not just cheap money, but expensive money. For example, what is Ana Beers husband supposed to do with only ten dollars an hour, that’s ridiculous. Now, since Anna isn’t making as much money with her husband like she was before, her health is at risk because all she eats are frozen foods, which may be cheap, but she pays with her health and her migraines are higher. Money is also a huge factor in which why these individuals live in poverty, which eventually leads to poor health. Money talks now a days, if you have money then god bless you, but if you don’t (like Anna and Uzuri) then best of luck to you. That isn't how things should be played out, but it is what it is. Very unfortunate that low paying jobs won’t get you far or even nowhere and the fact that unemployment leads to health problems like depression. Daniels health for example all originated from the treatment he received from his neglected and abusive father. He said that an abusive Sunday is typical for the family and that ultimately became his normal of life. Afterwards, at such a young age he consumed bad substances and overtime he developed obesity and PSTD. Bad health is the issue, and with no money coming in for these individuals, it leads to their demise and ultimately death in some cases. A Conflict Theorists would view this as a struggle for the poor to attain resources (Money and Health).
Eduardo G.
2)So a Conflict Theorist would approach and analyze the problem with the have-nots struggle of having access to better wages, better jobs, and health insurance. Someone like Karl Marx sees Economic Inequality, which can be seen through this problem. In the article it had mentioned that families or someone who makes over $75,000 a year would have no problem accessing healthcare, but those who make less than $25,000 can’t even afford it. There’s a social inequality here, why not lower prices for the poor people and make it affordable for everyone, and literally make it affordable. This way a conflict theorist can observe and see that both sides have access to healthcare. The rich also manipulate the healthcare system in my opinion, that’s totally not fair because they’re exploiting the poor when they have control of such an important resource for all. Conflict theory would view this as tension between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, the have-nots demanding healthcare at an economical price and everyone having the right to access it with the ability to pay, meanwhile the bourgeoisie have no interests in lending a hand to the proletariats because they are a self-interest group who only look to profit, monopolize, and look out for each other. Now the bourgeoisie also know how much to pay its employees and a conflict theorist would look at how money is distributed and what benefits the employees get. Not much I would suppose, and that leads for its employees to fall below the poverty line, which leads to poor diet, and ultimately health problems. A conflict theorist would see this as a problem starting at the top with those in power and how they are not distributing wealth equally amongst the proletariats who work their butt of to live another day. It’s the system that’s not in the favor of the have-nots, but is for the haves. It’s those in power a conflict theorist would argue that make resources not accessible to the have-nots with incredibly high prices and no interest in helping out.
Eduardo G.
3) I chose to comment on this social problem because money and healthcare is key in ones survival in this corrupt world. Money talks almost everywhere and anywhere, it’s very unfortunate in my opinion because some of us don’t have the luxury to vacation, like others or buy the things we’d like to buy because we have horrible low paying jobs that exceed a lot of labor. Not being able to purchase healthy food is taking the toll on individuals and families, when one goes from a healthy diet to an unhealthy health problems arise. Then with not having enough money to afford healthcare, it just leads the individual to tough it out or eventually die. The solution is simple, yet very complicated for those in power. Raise the minimum wage to make life sustainable and not worry whether someone has enough for the groceries, power, rent, etc. Secondly, make healthcare affordable because some families can’t pay huge amounts every month for every individual in the family. Last I would say for the government to stop spending funds on unnecessary things like bigger jail facilities for those who have possession of an illegal substance or non-violent crimes. That would give funding extra money for increase in minimum wage, more healthcare programs at an affordable price for everyone and anyone. We have to prioritize the lives of our people because society can’t function as a whole, when we have people going homeless because of minimum wage and specially let people die because healthcare is just too expensive.
Palmira G.
1. Families and individuals with low income are at greater risk for health issues.
Due to the lack of money, low income families primarily live in neighborhoods with high crime rates and live in polluted areas, which may lead to health issues such as asthma and stress. The article also gives the example of how poor food quality, which tends to be cheaper, can also lead to health issues, including diabetes. Both emotional or psychiatric conditions may also result from losing a job or having a low income.
2. A conflict theorist would say that there is an imbalance of power within this social issue. People who are financially stable,or are of a higher class, live in cleaner and more safe neighborhoods do not worry as much and don't tend to be surrounded by factories that pollute the air they breath. They are also able to afford high quality, or fresh food and therefore have healthier lifestyles. Lastly, most people who are financially stable have health insurance and have access to clinics who aren’t overcrowded and are better staffed. Although people with low
3. This issue was the most interesting to me because I, personally, believe that a healthy living should not be based on the amount of income that people make. Part of the solution to this problem could be to supply individuals with access to more clinics so that they won't be overcrowded and may be seen at a good timing.
Naineh T.
In respond to Lucia L.
1.I agree that poverty is a social problem because most of the humanity lives on just a few dollars a day. As result, of that we can see high level of income inequality among people. According to Lucia.L when poor person becomes very ill, the cost of doctor’s fees such as hospitalization, surgery, and medicine become nearly impossible to pay. As a consequence, the poor people will have less access to health. I chose to comment on this peer’s entry because poverty became a serious social issue and today most of Americans live in poverty and the effects of poverty are extremely serious. I think about this topic because poverty creates ill-health because it forces people to live in environments that make them sick, without decent shelter, clean water or adequate sanitation. Poverty also creates hunger, which in turn leaves people vulnerable to disease.
2.An Interactionist would say that poverty is based on culture of poverty, a set of norms, values, and beliefs that encourage and perpetuate poverty. Interactionist says poor are socialized differently and are likely to pass this value on their children. In addition, poor parents have poor children, who in turn become poor adults. Interactionist would provide welfare program for low income families .This program offer food stamp or cash grant when there is no absolutely other form of help or assistance given.
3.I think welfare program is beneficial for poor people and it’s feasible. Inaddition, this will save many Americans lives and not only for certain group of people such as immigrants. By giving them food stamp they can at least but organic foods which prevent them from being sick until they find a job. U.S should also increase job opportunities so people will be able to earn more money and have access to basic necessities. I think that a good health is crucial to protect the family from poverty, so better health is central to poverty reduction. Improving the health of the poor must become a priority, not only for public health but also for other rectors of development such as economic, environments and social.
Chris S.
In response to Palmira G.
1. I Agree with Palmira’s response, because many of the points she makes are relevant and the issue of low income and health problems associated with it seems to be a very serious matter. What stood out to me was when Palmira points out how low income families live in poor quality locations where crime rates are high and the areas are polluted. I feel that it’s bad enough these families have to live in poverty, but the geographic positioning only worsens the stigmatization they face. They can’t afford to live in safe, clean places, thus perpetuated their problems and quality of life. I chose to comment on Palmira’s writing because I honestly look down in disbelief as to how greedy and ignorant people really are, which she makes clear with the facts alone. I feel that all people deserve to live happy and safe lives, one in which money doesn’t determine if one lives or dies. The one thing that dehumanizes us is our greed; our want for money. It’s sickening to think we allow people to live their lives in shambles, thus I felt it was necessary for me to mention my concern. I think the topic is rather saddening and is definitely a serious social problem. It’s a problem that shouldn’t exist, but unfortunately, in the modern day the value of currency seems to outweigh the value of human life which to me is beyond baffling and needs to be changed.
2. A functionalist would say low income families are a natural aspect of our society. There exists different social classes for a reason and each one is interconnected to the other. In regards to low income families and health problems, I feel the health problems are viewed as a manifest function. I say this, because of the commonality of poor people tending to live in poor conditions, and everyday people recognizing the poor as being unhealthy. It’s sad but again in our society there has always existed the various social classes and unfortunately at the bottom exists the disadvantaged poor. When there exists a top one percent who holds an unnecessary amount of wealth it’s only expected that there will be a polar opposite to balance the extreme which again is the poor people in society.
3. I feel the most human and absolutely necessary solution to this problem is to have all people realize through mass protest and settlements in government and Supreme Court that the value of life should far outweigh the value of currency. It’s simply not constitutional for people to be dying or coming very close to it because of poor living conditions out of necessity. By dying these very people lose their freedom, liberty and ability to pursue happiness – the key values of the US Constitution. I understand the US wishes to be unique and not adopt systems such as socialism, or communism, but basic human rights/ civil rights need to be the priority. People created money to function efficiently, and exchange with equivalency. The moment money became more valuable than a human was the same moment society deviated away from humanity and common morality. This issue needs to be solved and can be solved if the masses stand up for what’s right and heck I wouldn’t mind spear-heading that movement if I had to. I’ll become the Malcolm X of solving the issue of poverty, but it’s going to take a lot of support and recognition.
Michael A.
In response to Fernando L.
1. I agree with what Fernando had to say about this issue, because of how spot on it is. The thing that stood out to me about the issue is how the poor and their lifestyles are connected to so many other things that require for them to have money in order to survive, especially the fact that when the poor get sick, they need to spend even more money just to see a doctor. I chose to comment on it because of the fact that it saddens me to learn that the food they have to live off is hurting them so much without them knowing it, because they can't afford or just simply know better. This is a real social problem because our society is getting hurt, and real lives are on the line here.
2. The interactionist perspective would be the fact that these lifestyles are passed down to other generations. Families can't afford for their children to get higher educations, which also leads back to the article I had to comment on where families couldn't even get their kids to kindergarten classes because they couldn't afford transportation which sent the kid back in his education. Also, this comes back to the "knowing better" fact as mentioned before, because that's how these kids are raised, and they simply don't know better than the foods they eat and the lifestyles they live.
3. I most definitely agree with Fernando about the fact that free health care would help us out with keeping this class someone healthy, but something needs to be done with how they end up sick to even need this free health care. Free health care can be realistic considering other countries have this system, but in my opinion we need to have an actual realistic start. In my opinion, a solution would be to start with a small step like raise awareness to other people who had no idea what these people are going through. Maybe a documentary, or just some other sort of media. With awareness, and maybe sympathy of others, we can propose solutions like free health care or a system of buying foods and other important needs that have better nutritional content.
Connor S.
Response to Erlin K.
Before getting into my analysis I wanted to write a word about this NPR article… I believe that this article veered completely off the rails when it went from lack of income all the way to childhood abuse. The amount of money a person makes does not define the character of the person… Some may not agree but those are my personal thoughts and opinions. I feel that the mention of both physical and sexual abuse are absolutely unrelated to the topic of the article. Having said that, let’s get into the actual assignment…
1) I would have to agree with Erlin’s statements made in her analysis of this NPR article regarding poverty’s effects on health. Money absolutely does rule the world and those that don’t have the advantage of a comfortable income are exposed to things others may not be which includes poor health due to diet, unclean living circumstances, and lack of medical care.
2) A conflict-theorist would explain that the rich keep getting richer and leave the poor out to dry. Karl Marx would examine the imbalance and the injustice behind the research that clearly shows the effects of low income on families. He would point the finger at the government and say that the haves have access to so much more to keep themselves healthy while just because of income inequality, other human beings are unable to afford the bare necessities.
3) I can agree with Erlin’s solution for further government aid by providing additional resources such as the food stamps, EBT, etc but I feel that alone is far too easy of an action to take on the government’s behalf. In addition, I would suggest that the government provide even more accessible health care which includes psychiatric help as well as the basic doctor visits examining physical health.
unctionalists point to the ironic dual role of education in both preserving and changing culture. Studies show that, as students progress through college and beyond, they usually become increasingly liberal as they encounter a variety of perspectives. Thus, more educated individuals are generally more liberal, while less educated people tend toward conservatism. Moreover, the heavy emphasis on research at most institutions of higher education puts them on the cutting edge of changes in knowledge, and, in many cases, changes in values as well. Therefore, while the primary role of education is to preserve and pass on knowledge and skills, education is also in the business of transforming them.
Siranush M.
In response to Dewan A,
1. I agree with his ideas as, nowadays, the poverty remains one of the biggest social problem. Day by day poverty rate is getting increased. Many people can hardly provide themselves with basic needs of everyday life. A lot of children cannot afford to continue education. As we all know the higher education the person has the lower poverty condition he or she might have later on. Not having enough money and living in poverty could have more causes of more health problems as well especially when people don’t have enough money to afford organic food. Mostly they would prefer to eat more fast food which is obvious that is cheaper.
2. According to a functionalist perspective, differences in power, wealth and other rewards within the social structure are justified, because they motivate the most qualified people to exercise their talents in the most important jobs. A problem with this view is that it is difficult to determine the functional importance of any job. Functionalist theorists equate society with the way the human body works: they see society as being made up of interrelated parts that must all work in harmony for the larger system to perform. As a lens from which to consider social inequality then, functionalists highlight the ways in which inequality is functional for society
3.Income inequality has been a central issue of social research for decades among political scientists, sociologists, economists, and policy analysts. Many factors have been investigated as the central cause for income inequality in the United States. Additionally, there has been a growing concern regarding the gap between the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor. Understanding the process of, and the factors contributing to, income inequality and the growing disparity between the wealthy and the poor helps scholars better understand the adverse consequences of inequality for individual health and personal security. Functionalists point to the ironic dual role of education in both preserving and changing culture. Studies show that, as students’ progress through college and beyond, they usually become increasingly liberal as they encounter a variety of perspectives. Thus, more educated individuals are generally more liberal, while less educated people tend toward conservatism. Moreover, the heavy emphasis on research at most institutions of higher education puts them on the cutting edge of changes in knowledge, and, in many cases, changes in values as well. Therefore, while the primary role of education is to preserve and pass on knowledge and skills, education is also in the business of transforming them. Overall, society needs more educated people, and that way they will have higher income and more problems won’t occur. However I do agree with his solutions as government should set up some rules and give people opportunities for low income people. That way they will have less issues about income and health.
Gabby H.
In response to Fernando L.
• While there is much left to be discussed from such a broad topic, I felt that Fernando was able to nicely lay out the topic of interest and offer an interesting approach. I agree with his approach, and decided to comment on this post because I found it interesting that he mentioned the parallels of mental illness and its relationship to physical health in the context of SES. The issue of overall health within low-SES communities is undoubtedly a social issue because quality of life, access to nutritious food, and the poor are topics that are of interest on more than a micro-level.
• From the interactionalist perspective; Healthcare, poverty, coping mechanisms, disposition to mental illness, nutrition, and an individuals susceptibility to substance abuse greatly increases if the modeling within the individuals primary family does not have the financial, educational, or community resources to un-learn destructive patterns in behavior. The cycle is vicious in that these behaviors are learned. For example: if a mother living on welfare (low-SES) raises her child on food that is significantly deficient in macronutrients or micronutrients, the chances of the child becoming malnourished greatly increases. The child is also more likely to model those same behaviors in their adult life.
• I think Fernando makes a good point. Within the context of college students, for those who live independently, work, and go to school full-time, a financial crisis could mean the difference between the ability to provide for oneself and falling into the threshold of poverty. California has Medical for families, children, and individuals who live at or near the poverty line, and provides EBT for those who are in need of assistance. Both of these programs take time, a willingness to be proactive, and the ability to wait on a system that is in many ways over-run with people who need assistance. In addition to the programs already in place, I would suggest an increase in general awareness of these programs, doctors, food suppliers, which would (hopefully) bring down the negative stigma attached to people living in poverty, or using government assistance.
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