Exam 2

Question 1

Cultural Causes

Answer 1

Modernization theory- poverty from a societies cultural beliefs
Tangle of pathology

Question 2

Structural Causes

Answer 2

Dependency theory- poverty from natural resource exploitation
Discrimination, neighborhoods, incarceration

Question 3

Higher poverty in certain races

Answer 3

Poor live in Poverty Culture (it’s their fault, have weal work ethic, unmotivated, don’t value education)
Discrimination against migrants/failure to accommodate cultural differences for benefit programs
Psychological impact of discrimination in education, employment opportunities, and access to information

Question 4

geographic area with higher poverty

Answer 4

Spatial distribution of poverty associated with race (South AA are in poverty, Southwest NA in poverty, North whites in poverty)

Question 5

poverty by age Elder

Answer 5

65+ poverty has decreased since 1959
Social Security what keeps elders out of poverty
Elderly women higher poverty rate (live longer)

Question 6

poverty by age Children

Answer 6

2008 was 30% 2012 was 33%
Lack of social programs to look out for children
Reflects the parents income/poverty more than kids

Question 7

social capital

Answer 7

Education
Skills
Work Experience

Question 8

recession and poverty

Answer 8

Poverty rate takes longer to decrease even after recession
Poor are always hit harder than the rest
Poor unemployed first in recessions
Over arching macro policies affect poverty
Government spending cuts increases poverty

Question 9

subprime lending Race

Answer 9

African Americans targeted more than any other group
60% AA loans were subprime
People finally had a chance to own a home

Question 10

subprime lending Income

Answer 10

Changes in law meant easier access to loans
Take out mortgages despite persons income
Had low initial interest rates that sky rocketed

Question 11

foreclosure Race & Income

Answer 11

Once evicted you’re black listed from subsidized housing

Bad credit keeps people from getting new place

Question 12

economic shifts

Answer 12

Manufacturing jobs disappearing ($ and jobs overseas)

Automation/ modernization reduces blue collar positions (need education to work on the robots)

Question 13

unions

Answer 13

Lack of unions leads to decline in wages even if productivity continues
If union density was same as 1979 people would make $813/ wk vs. $755/wk now
Unions raise wages for all by keeping it competitive

Question 14

economic shifts

Answer 14

Manufacturing to Service (only the best educated benefit)
Manufacturing jobs disappearing ($ and jobs overseas)
Automation/ modernization reduces blue collar positions (need education to work on the robots)

Question 15

debt buyers

Answer 15

Laws/ tactics that prey on the poor
Charging people for debt based on spreadsheets, zombie debt
Privatizing probation companies charge on unpaid tickets, people can never pay it all off and go to jail
Reinstating debtors prision’s basically

Question 16

unions

Answer 16

Lack of unions leads to decline in wages even if productivity continues
If union density was same as 1979 people would make $813/ wk vs. $755/wk now
Unions raise wages for all by keeping it competitive
Air traffic control strike broken by Reagan destroyed Unions 1980’s

Question 17

parental leave

Answer 17

Only developed nation to not have paid parental leave

Question 18

biological explanations

Answer 18

A social construction of race justified, a racial difference in intelligence, slavery (AA not humans), sterilization of latin, AA, NA women, apartheid
Let the poor parish part of natural selection, competition, fitness and ability to evolve

Question 19

social explanations

Answer 19

Migration breaks down old ways
Immigrants were uprooted, disorganized created confusion of roles, the cultural baggage must fall away and have to assimilate

Question 20

Moynihan report

Answer 20

Poverty in African American families resulted from “matriarchal family form”
Slavery weakened kin ties and men’s role in families; Resulting form was “matriarchal”
Led to a “tangle of pathology” that was the “fundamental source of weakness in the negro community”
Published 1965

Question 21

functional family

Answer 21

Nuclear family (dad, mom, son daughter)
Primary socialization of children so they can truly become members of society into which they have been born
Stabilization of adult personalities of the population of the society

Question 22

structural reasons for race/ ethnic variations

Answer 22

People more likely to be marginalized by race/ethnicity which impacts their education/careers
Psychological impact of discrimination (under constant surveillance, racial profiling)

Question 23

public policies housing

Answer 23

Spacial concentration in poorer areas

Racial profiling

Question 24

labor market segmentation

Answer 24

Routing people into certain types of jobs through education, networks, hiring practices, hostile work environments

Question 25

labor market segregation

Answer 25

Dual Labor Market
Primary = stability, better pay, tends to male
Secondary = high turnover, arbitrary work rules, no promotions, aimed at females

Question 26

mommy track

Answer 26

Creates jobs that don’t have promotions (childcare, elder care, housework)
Hard to have professional career with travel, overtime, and child emergencies

Question 27

cost of childcare

Answer 27

It is not subsidized well enough in our country
Single moms spend 40% income on childcare
Subsidized/ means tested childcare available

Question 28

parental leave

Answer 28

Only developed nation to not have paid parental leave
Family Medical Leave Act 1993, get up to 12 weeks off without loosing job
Some states do have paid parental leave

Question 29

dependency and personal responsibility

Answer 29

Low incomes can lead to dependency for women

Question 30

care work

Answer 30

Reflects the “true” market value, since careworkers paid less
Caring for children devalues a woman’s education

Question 31

reproductive vs. productive labor

Answer 31

Reproductive: work necessary to reproduce society (next gen) contribute to capitalist economy (from buying things for kids, to doing house work, etc)
Productive: work necessary to produce goods, usually done outside of the home and contributed to the capitalist economy