Definitions of poverty (absolute and relative)

    AQA
    GCSE

    Candidates must analyse the contested nature of poverty definitions, distinguishing rigorously between absolute poverty (fixed biological subsistence) and relative poverty (comparative disadvantage within a specific society). Mastery requires critical engagement with the shift from Rowntree’s subsistence levels to Townsend’s deprivation indices, evaluating how the operationalisation of these concepts dictates social policy, welfare eligibility, and the statistical measurement of inequality (e.g., HBAI data). Responses must acknowledge the political nature of defining poverty.

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    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Credit precise definitions: Absolute poverty as insufficient resources for basic biological needs (food, shelter, warmth); Relative poverty as exclusion from the standard of living considered acceptable in a specific society.
    • Award marks for application of specific measures: Rowntree's subsistence level vs. Townsend's Deprivation Index or Mack and Lansley's consensual measure.
    • Candidates must link definitions to government policy implications: Absolute definitions lead to basic safety nets; Relative definitions require addressing inequality and social inclusion.
    • High-level responses will critique the subjectivity of 'relative' measures and the rigidity of 'absolute' measures in changing economies.

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Credit precise definitions: Absolute poverty as insufficient resources for basic biological needs (food, shelter, warmth); Relative poverty as exclusion from the standard of living considered acceptable in a specific society.
    • Award marks for application of specific measures: Rowntree's subsistence level vs. Townsend's Deprivation Index or Mack and Lansley's consensual measure.
    • Candidates must link definitions to government policy implications: Absolute definitions lead to basic safety nets; Relative definitions require addressing inequality and social inclusion.
    • High-level responses will critique the subjectivity of 'relative' measures and the rigidity of 'absolute' measures in changing economies.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡When defining relative poverty, explicitly mention 'social exclusion' and 'participation in society', not just income levels.
    • 💡Use the 'Households Below Average Income' (HBAI) standard (60% of median income) to give empirical weight to relative poverty discussions.
    • 💡In 12-mark essays, evaluate the utility of a definition: Does an absolute definition hide the extent of hardship in the UK? Does a relative definition exaggerate it?
    • 💡Always reference a sociologist or study (e.g., Townsend, Rowntree, Mack & Lansley) to move from general knowledge to sociological knowledge.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Conflating relative poverty with income inequality (being 'poorer than the rich') rather than exclusion from societal norms.
    • Using anecdotal examples of poverty instead of sociological concepts (e.g., 'not having an iPhone' vs. 'material deprivation').
    • Failing to acknowledge that absolute poverty still exists in developed societies (e.g., homelessness, food bank usage).
    • Asserting that poverty is solely caused by individual failure (New Right view) without contrasting with structural explanations when discussing definitions.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Identify
    Describe
    Explain
    Discuss
    Evaluate
    To what extent

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