Sociology

Sociology:

1. During the early years of this century a group of workers are having their lunch break. The conversation moves around to poverty.

‘Poverty’, continued Jack after a short silence, ‘consists in a shortage of the necessities of life. When things are so scarce or so dear that people are unable to obtain sufficient of them to satisfy their basic needs. Linden is poor. His family are actually starving. There is no food in the house and the children are crying for something to eat. All last week they have been going to school hungry for they had nothing but dry bread and tea every day and this week they don’t even have that.’

For Owen poverty was more than this, ‘Yes, Linden is poor,’ he replied, ‘but poverty should not be counted only as those who are starving. People are poor when they are not able to secure for themselves all the benefits of civilization—not just the necessities, but the comforts, pleasures and refinements of life, leisure, books, theatres, pictures, music, holidays, travel, good and beautiful homes, good clothes, good and pleasant food.’

(Source: The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist)

(A) From the above information, name two things which Owen says all people should be able to enjoy. (1 mark)

Good and beautiful homes; holidays.

(B) According to the above passage, is Linden’s family situation getting better or worse? Give a reason for your answer. (1 mark)

Linden’s family situation is becoming progressively worse. This is made evident in the passage, as Jack describes their impoverished social circumstances declining—one week, the family were consuming food of minimal nutritional value, bread and tea, and the next week, they had nothing.

(C) The Poverty described by Jack and that by Owen are different. What two terms might a sociologist use to describe them? Briefly explain these terms in your own words. (4 marks)

Jack describes subsistence poverty; Owen describes Relative poverty.

Subsistence...