After
working effectively at this unit you will be able to:
discuss
different issues in terms of social policy, suggest solutions to
various problems in this sphere;
take
notes, use them in discussing problems concerning social policy; write
essays suggesting solutions to problems; express
agreement/disagreement with some of the points in
the
speaker’s speech;
Learning outcomes:
SUB-UNIT 5.1. Values and the Study of Poverty
WARMING-UP:
Task 1. Have you ever thought what are the criteria of the people whom we can call “poor”? What is the definition of the issue “poverty”? And thus, how can sociologists measure the level of poverty in a certain country? Below you can see several definitions of this key term How can you comment on them? How do they differ? Which of them do you find more relevant and why?
“the denial of opportunities and choices most basic to human development – to lead a long, healthy, creative life and to enjoy a decent standard of living, freedom, dignity, self-esteem and the respect of others”(from the Human Development Report, 1997)
“the state of being poor, want of the necessities of life” (The Canadian Oxford Dictionary, 1998)
“the lack of people’s minimum biological and physical needs for survival, such as food, clothing and shelter”(K.Browne “Values and ...”)
Task 2. Now go through the list, ticking () 10 items which you think all adults should be able to afford and no one should have to go without. Compare your list with that of your group-mates. How do your decisions compare with others? Were some items clear-cut (easily understood and chosen by majority) and others - borderline? Discuss the reasons for any differences in the opinions about what count as necessities. What contributed to your making a certain choice?
What are the bare
necessities of life?
1)
Beds and bedding for everyone 20) Collect
children from school
2)
Heating to warm living areas of the home
21) Telephone
3)
Damp-free home
22) Appropriate
clothes for job interviews
4)
Visiting friends or family in hospital
23) Deep freezer/fridge freezer
5)
Two meals a day
24) Carpets in
living rooms and bedrooms
6)
Medicines prescribed by doctor
25) Regular savings (of £10 per month)
for
rainy days
7) Refrigerator
26) Two pairs of
all-weather shoes
8)
Fresh fruit and vegetables daily
27) Friends of family round for a meal
9)
Warm, waterproof coat
28) A small amount of money
to spend on self
10)
Replace or repair broken electrical
weekly, not on family
11)
Visits to friends or family
29) Television
12)
Celebrations on special occasions 30)
Roast joint/vegetarian equivalent once
a week
13)
Money to keep home in a decent state
of 31) Presents
for friends/family once a year
decoration
32) A
holiday away from home once a year,
not with
14)
Visits to school, e.g. sports day
relatives
15)
Attending weddings, funerals
33)
Replace worn-out furniture
16)
Meat, fish or vegetarian equivalent 34)
Dictionary
every
other day
35) An outfit
for social occasions
17) Insurance of contents of
dwelling
18)
Hobby or leisure activity
Adapted
from: Poverty and Social Exclusion in Britain
19)Washing
machine
Joseph Rowntree Foundation,
2000
Task 3. The article you are going to read is named “Values and the Study of Poverty”. Make suppositions concerning its topic. Brainstorm the problems that in your opinion might be discussed in it.
Task 4. The body of the article consists of a number of paragraphs each having its own title. Scan the text and match the paragraph with an appropriate heading. Explain your decision.
1) What are the solutions?
2) What is relative poverty?
3) Measuring poverty
4) What is poverty?
5) Is it all a matter of opinion (спорный вопрос)?
6) Criticisms of relative measures
VALUES AND THE STUDY OF POVERTY by Ken Browne
Should or could research in the natural or social sciences be considered objective and value-free? The study of poverty provides a useful illustration of the problems of value judgements in social research, as the definitions and measurement of and solutions to poverty rely to some extent on the value judgements of researchers. This case study can be read on its own, but you will learn even more if you consider it in relation to the objectivity debate
Title A:________________________________
Poverty is defined in terms of people's minimum biological and physical needs for survival, such as food, clothing and shelter. However, assessing what these minimum needs are is fraught with value judgements. For example, Rowntree drew up a list of nutritional and other requirements essential for life. However, he was criticised for relying heavily on the values and opinions of those who drew up the list. In particular, his list involved a no-waste budget and reflected the nutritional, cooking and shopping skills of middle-class researchers rather than the reality of the choice of food and the resources of the poor.