After reading our powerpoint, I was really disappointed while reading that sexism in the labor market still exists. Men are paid more than women for the same work as well as recieving better jobs. Being a woman, this is upsetting. I believe that in the coporate world, women reach a glass ceiling. This is especially hard for women that are the head of their single parent families.
After watching the Pittsburgh and Westmoreland YouTube videos, I was astonished at the figures. First off, over 65,000 people in Pittsburgh live below poverty level. I thought it was interesting that the participants acted as if they were in poor families. It gives you more insight on the high stress levels that poor families have to deal with daily. I had no idea that they had to fill out so much paperwork. It was pretty funny that they were joking around about being evidicted. In both of the videos, people admitted that they frequently turned to crime to make ends meet. Maybe we are being too harsh on the poor if middle class citizens would do the same thing in their shoes? I'll have to admit, this definitely puts some fear in me that I never want to end up poor. I feel sorry that many poor people feel that they HAVE to resort to selling drugs and stealing because there is not other way out.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Session 5
I had learned about the United Nations Millennium Goals in my Human Geography class last year. I remember thinking when I first read the list back in the fall, "WOW..these people have high expectations! This is impossible!" But then I thought, these problems need to be fixed. It is a good thing that they have set the standards so high.
There are 8 goals with the first goal being: Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty.
I am not sure if this one goal will ever be met if the goverment will not step up to the plate.
The remaining goals are all achievable. Such as, achieving universal education and combat HIV/AIDS. I believe that many people in the U.S. can be very selfish and materialistic. We should be activists in playing a huge part in achieving these goals.
I also wanted to share my opinions after viewing PBS News Hour Interview with Jeffery Sachs.
- Sachs states we are not on course to achieve the U.N. Millenium goals right now. However he states that, "We can get on course with modest steps." Sachs continues with
talking about a silent tsunami underway all the time in Africa. Every month 1,500 children die in Africa of Malaria. This disease is preventable by a simple $1 bed net. It is the developed countries obligation to save these children and to distribute medicine. $2 to $3 dollars per person a day could save more than a million lives. Our country needs to at least take small steps towards the direct of irradicating poverty. It is really taking cents off of every paycheck. Americans pride themselves in being one of the most powerful countries in the world. Shouldn't it be our obligation to help the poor who cannot help themselves?
There are 8 goals with the first goal being: Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty.
I am not sure if this one goal will ever be met if the goverment will not step up to the plate.
The remaining goals are all achievable. Such as, achieving universal education and combat HIV/AIDS. I believe that many people in the U.S. can be very selfish and materialistic. We should be activists in playing a huge part in achieving these goals.
I also wanted to share my opinions after viewing PBS News Hour Interview with Jeffery Sachs.
- Sachs states we are not on course to achieve the U.N. Millenium goals right now. However he states that, "We can get on course with modest steps." Sachs continues with
talking about a silent tsunami underway all the time in Africa. Every month 1,500 children die in Africa of Malaria. This disease is preventable by a simple $1 bed net. It is the developed countries obligation to save these children and to distribute medicine. $2 to $3 dollars per person a day could save more than a million lives. Our country needs to at least take small steps towards the direct of irradicating poverty. It is really taking cents off of every paycheck. Americans pride themselves in being one of the most powerful countries in the world. Shouldn't it be our obligation to help the poor who cannot help themselves?
The Geography of Poverty: Session 4
For this post I decided to update my answer to the question:
"What do you think is being done about poverty?" as well as respond to the video "Do Neighborhoods Matter?"
After watching the video clip "Do Neighborhoods Matter?" I believe that children are greatly surpressed when they are brought up in a poor environment. Professor George Galster explained that center city locations with bankrupt city school systems are creating a minority status for children. This in turn leads to the children making wrong descions. These children have little opportunities to get far in life.
Professor Galster gave many insightful ideas to reduce poverty as well. We should try to achieve a society where poverty concentrations are low. Crime is therefore kept low and property values will go up. The State and Local governments should be more involved in zoning and make sure that their are not pockets of all poor neighborhoods. There should be a variety of income levels throughout an area. When families are given an opportunity to live in an area with a strong public school system, their children are less likely to increase the cycle of poverty. Children will have more opportunities and will be encouraged to obtain a degree and hopefully go to college.
"What do you think is being done about poverty?" as well as respond to the video "Do Neighborhoods Matter?"
After watching the video clip "Do Neighborhoods Matter?" I believe that children are greatly surpressed when they are brought up in a poor environment. Professor George Galster explained that center city locations with bankrupt city school systems are creating a minority status for children. This in turn leads to the children making wrong descions. These children have little opportunities to get far in life.
Professor Galster gave many insightful ideas to reduce poverty as well. We should try to achieve a society where poverty concentrations are low. Crime is therefore kept low and property values will go up. The State and Local governments should be more involved in zoning and make sure that their are not pockets of all poor neighborhoods. There should be a variety of income levels throughout an area. When families are given an opportunity to live in an area with a strong public school system, their children are less likely to increase the cycle of poverty. Children will have more opportunities and will be encouraged to obtain a degree and hopefully go to college.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Session 3
Were you aware of the growing gap between the rich and the poor?
After thinking of my answer...I am now aware that there is definitly a growing gap. The rich have stable jobs and lifestyles. Some rich people continue to climb a corporate ladder which in turn leads to pay raises. While the poor that are trying to make ends meet, become poorer. When they can not pay fees in time, fines continue to pile up leaving the poor even more in debt. According to my teacher Dr. Ohmer, she provided my class this statistic, "Since 2000, the poverty rate has increased every year. Since 2000, the last year before unemployment began to rise, the number of people in poverty has increased by 5.4 million to 36.9 million in 2005."
Source: Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States, 2005. U.S. Census Bureau.
That is a shocking increase! I had never thought that there even was a gap!
Why do you think the U.S. has some of the highest poverty rates among industrialized countries?
I believe that the United States has one of the highest poverty rates industrialized countries due to overspending. Our government is in extreme debt and many people do not know how to save money.
After thinking of my answer...I am now aware that there is definitly a growing gap. The rich have stable jobs and lifestyles. Some rich people continue to climb a corporate ladder which in turn leads to pay raises. While the poor that are trying to make ends meet, become poorer. When they can not pay fees in time, fines continue to pile up leaving the poor even more in debt. According to my teacher Dr. Ohmer, she provided my class this statistic, "Since 2000, the poverty rate has increased every year. Since 2000, the last year before unemployment began to rise, the number of people in poverty has increased by 5.4 million to 36.9 million in 2005."
Source: Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States, 2005. U.S. Census Bureau.
That is a shocking increase! I had never thought that there even was a gap!
Why do you think the U.S. has some of the highest poverty rates among industrialized countries?
I believe that the United States has one of the highest poverty rates industrialized countries due to overspending. Our government is in extreme debt and many people do not know how to save money.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Who is Poor? Session 2
Hi all! As a second year student at Georgia State University and lifelong suburbanite, I just started taking a class called Culture and Poverty. This blog is an assignment to show what I have learned. I do not know much about poverty aside from volunteering at a soup kitchen and walking past homeless people daily to and from my classes in downtown Atlanta. So forgive me if I sound a little naive on the subject matter. This is simply my opinion. I have also had a few uncomfortable experiences on MARTA where a drunk homeless-looking man came on the train drunk yelling, "hey pretty lady" every 5 minutes. I have mixed feelings on whether I feel pity toward these people or if I think that becoming homeless was their own fault. When I see homeless people I tend to ask myself, "Is poverty avoidable?" Here are a few of my discoveries after reading the first few chapters of John Iceland's Poverty in America:
1.) Who do you think is poor, both in the United States and globally?
It is difficult to pinpoint the exact definition of the word "poor". In some circumstances it is evident that people living on the street are poor, but what about the people who have a home and cannot afford to buy three meals a day? Are they poor as well? In everyone's eyes, the word "poor" ranges. Some people believe that a family can live off of a minimum of $100 a week while others claim to need a minimum of $1,000 a week. Let's not even think about what we have seen or read that celebrities need to simply survive! People also range in their answers of what is a considered necessity versus a luxury. According to statistics, as well as the author, Mr.Iceland, minority groups, children, and one parent families usually face poverty. In my experience I have found that war veterans and schizos are among the poor in downtown Atlanta. I also believe that people who commit acts of crime are poor, or in some circumstances simply believe that they are poor.
2.) Why do you believe people are poor in the United States and globally?
I believe that poverty is partailly based on the economy. When the economy is at its lowest, people are out of work and are in desperate need to find a job. I also believe that poverty comes from a lack of education. The illiterate and uneducated struggle to find good paying jobs and often rely on government subsidies. Speaking of the government, I think the government has perpetuated poverty in our country by creating generations of families reliant on food stamps and subsidized housing, a failed public school system and turning a blind eye to the starving of our nation while they dole out billions of dollars to other nations. Politicians should be developing programs that encourage common place decency, literacy, good nutrition and simple math - how to balance a family budget - to break the need of the poor to rely on hand outs instead of a hand up.
3.) What do you think is being done about poverty (e.g., current policies and programs in the United States and globally).
Many people believe that it is the government's job to fix this problem. In my opinion, it is more often that not that the private sector, or the every day Joe, that volunteer their time or donate their hard earned money when there is a need by the poor or misfortuned. Many programs have already been implemented in hopes of solving poverty. TANF, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families provides financial help for families with children. Monthly cash payments help them with their basic needs. Other programs such as Habitat for Humanity help build homes for the poor. The Salvation Army sponsors soup kitchens and homeless shelters in nearly every state.
4.) How well do you think poverty is being addressed currently in the United States and globally?
Many people overlook poverty. As a child I was always told to not give money to homeless people because they will spend it on things that are not necessities such as drugs or alcohol. I believe that this is a touchy subject matter because some people simply do not care or they feel that it is impossible to truly help these people. Poverty should be of more concern in our society because this increases the percentages of job loss, depression, and criminals.
5.) What do you personally think should be done about poverty in United States and globally (e.g., policies, programs you would suggest).
Poverty could be eradicated by implementing a stronger importance of education in our society and reducing the levels of unemployment. People should also become more aware of the options they have to be become self-sufficient and less supportive. Before becoming pregnant women need to consider if they can financially support a child before they bring it into this world.
1.) Who do you think is poor, both in the United States and globally?
It is difficult to pinpoint the exact definition of the word "poor". In some circumstances it is evident that people living on the street are poor, but what about the people who have a home and cannot afford to buy three meals a day? Are they poor as well? In everyone's eyes, the word "poor" ranges. Some people believe that a family can live off of a minimum of $100 a week while others claim to need a minimum of $1,000 a week. Let's not even think about what we have seen or read that celebrities need to simply survive! People also range in their answers of what is a considered necessity versus a luxury. According to statistics, as well as the author, Mr.Iceland, minority groups, children, and one parent families usually face poverty. In my experience I have found that war veterans and schizos are among the poor in downtown Atlanta. I also believe that people who commit acts of crime are poor, or in some circumstances simply believe that they are poor.
2.) Why do you believe people are poor in the United States and globally?
I believe that poverty is partailly based on the economy. When the economy is at its lowest, people are out of work and are in desperate need to find a job. I also believe that poverty comes from a lack of education. The illiterate and uneducated struggle to find good paying jobs and often rely on government subsidies. Speaking of the government, I think the government has perpetuated poverty in our country by creating generations of families reliant on food stamps and subsidized housing, a failed public school system and turning a blind eye to the starving of our nation while they dole out billions of dollars to other nations. Politicians should be developing programs that encourage common place decency, literacy, good nutrition and simple math - how to balance a family budget - to break the need of the poor to rely on hand outs instead of a hand up.
3.) What do you think is being done about poverty (e.g., current policies and programs in the United States and globally).
Many people believe that it is the government's job to fix this problem. In my opinion, it is more often that not that the private sector, or the every day Joe, that volunteer their time or donate their hard earned money when there is a need by the poor or misfortuned. Many programs have already been implemented in hopes of solving poverty. TANF, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families provides financial help for families with children. Monthly cash payments help them with their basic needs. Other programs such as Habitat for Humanity help build homes for the poor. The Salvation Army sponsors soup kitchens and homeless shelters in nearly every state.
4.) How well do you think poverty is being addressed currently in the United States and globally?
Many people overlook poverty. As a child I was always told to not give money to homeless people because they will spend it on things that are not necessities such as drugs or alcohol. I believe that this is a touchy subject matter because some people simply do not care or they feel that it is impossible to truly help these people. Poverty should be of more concern in our society because this increases the percentages of job loss, depression, and criminals.
5.) What do you personally think should be done about poverty in United States and globally (e.g., policies, programs you would suggest).
Poverty could be eradicated by implementing a stronger importance of education in our society and reducing the levels of unemployment. People should also become more aware of the options they have to be become self-sufficient and less supportive. Before becoming pregnant women need to consider if they can financially support a child before they bring it into this world.
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