Culture of Poverty

The culture of poverty is a theory that ellaborates on the cycle of poverty. This theory was first proposed by anthropologist Oscar Lewis, and explains that poverty remains within a family throughout generations not only because of the lack of resources but also because poverty itself has its own set of consistent ethnic value. For instance an individual born into poverty has very little hope of escaping. After children accumulate the values and customs that come with poverty they are more than like inable to escape that underclass because that individual due to the lack of exposure will not be able to compete well with those who are born into the upperclass.

The culture of poverty theory goes further to explain that the members of the lowerclass due to their seclusion are unincluded in the country whcih they reside. Many of the decisions made are not centered around members of the lower class, and because of the lack of resources these individuals voices are not heard. Lewis believed that because the poor are uneducated they are unaware of occurances outside of their poverished society. Because they are unaware of the outside lifestyles, they lack class consciousness and are unlikely to riot or make a difference. Lewis argued that the moment an individual residing in poverty gains class consciousness they are no longer apart of the culture of poverty.

The culture of poverty is sad yet accurate. Many don't believe that it successfully evaluates the structure of poverty, but personally I do. I do feel that the obstacle for a member of poverty to experiece social mobility is much greater than those of any other group. Actually breaking the chain and getting out of the bondage poverty brings is not as simple as a trip to the nearest library.