Question 1

What is the difference between absolute and relative poverty?

Accepted Answer

Absolute poverty is a condition where individuals lack the basic necessities for survival, such as food, clean water, and shelter. It is often measured by a fixed threshold, like the World Bank's $1.90 a day. Relative poverty, on the other hand, is defined in relation to the economic standards of a particular society. In the UK, it is commonly measured as households with income below 60% of the median. Relative poverty means being unable to participate fully in normal social activities, such as having a birthday party or affording a winter coat. Sociologists like Peter Townsend argue that relative poverty is more relevant in wealthy countries because it captures social exclusion.

Question 2

How does the welfare state reduce poverty?

Accepted Answer

The welfare state reduces poverty through a system of benefits and services designed to provide a safety net. Key mechanisms include means-tested benefits like Universal Credit, which top up low incomes, and universal services like the NHS, which ensure access to healthcare regardless of ability to pay. Child Benefit and state pensions also help prevent poverty among families and the elderly. However, critics argue that welfare conditionality (e.g., sanctions for not seeking work) can push people deeper into poverty. The effectiveness of the welfare state is debated: while it has reduced absolute poverty, relative poverty persists due to low benefit levels and rising living costs.

Question 3

What is the feminisation of poverty?

Accepted Answer

The feminisation of poverty refers to the trend that women are disproportionately likely to experience poverty compared to men. This is due to several factors: the gender pay gap means women earn less over their lifetimes; women are more likely to work part-time or in low-paid sectors; and women are often primary carers for children and elderly relatives, limiting their earning potential. Single mothers are particularly vulnerable—around 40% of single-parent families live in poverty. Sociologists like Glendinning and Millar highlight that welfare policies often assume a male breadwinner model, failing to address women's specific needs. This concept is crucial for understanding how gender intersects with class and ethnicity in shaping poverty.

Question 4

What is the cycle of deprivation?

Accepted Answer

The cycle of deprivation is a theory that poverty is passed from one generation to the next. It suggests that children growing up in poverty experience poor education, low aspirations, and unhealthy lifestyles, which then lead to low-paid jobs and poverty in adulthood. This cycle can continue for generations. The concept was popularised by Sir Keith Joseph in the 1970s and is often used to justify early intervention programmes like Sure Start. However, critics argue that it blames individuals and families for poverty, ignoring structural factors like deindustrialisation, discrimination, and inadequate welfare. Research shows that social mobility is limited, but the cycle is not inevitable—many people escape poverty through education and employment.

Question 5

How do Marxists view poverty and welfare?

Accepted Answer

Marxists see poverty as an inevitable feature of capitalism. They argue that capitalism requires a reserve army of labour—unemployed or underemployed workers who can be hired cheaply and fired easily. This keeps wages low and profits high. Welfare, from a Marxist perspective, is a tool to manage this reserve army and prevent social unrest. It provides just enough support to keep workers from revolting, but not enough to eliminate poverty. Marxists like Ralph Miliband argue that the welfare state is a 'safety valve' that maintains capitalism by making inequality seem tolerable. They criticise functionalist views that poverty is functional, instead arguing that it is a product of exploitation.

Question 6

What is the underclass thesis and why is it controversial?

Accepted Answer

The underclass thesis, popularised by Charles Murray, suggests that a distinct group at the bottom of society has developed a culture of dependency on welfare, with values that differ from mainstream society. Murray argued that this underclass is characterised by single parenthood, crime, and worklessness. The thesis is highly controversial because it blames the poor for their own poverty, ignoring structural factors like job shortages and discrimination. Sociologists like Westergaard and Rex argue that the term 'underclass' is stigmatising and that poverty is caused by economic changes, not individual failings. The concept has been used to justify welfare cuts, but most empirical research finds little evidence of a distinct underclass culture.

Work, Poverty and Welfare

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Related Topics in AQA A-Level Sociology

Beliefs in Society

Crime and Deviance

Culture and Identity

Education

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