Structural Causes of Poverty
Topic: Understanding Poverty Through the Eyes of Inequality, Access, and Long-Term Impact
Any use of AI will receive an automatic 0
Assignment should include summary and outline
The purpose of this assignment is for you to provide information from current publications about your research topic. You will also state your research question/provide a thesis and include an outline for your upcoming final project.
Directions:
This week we focus on a review of the sources you have found for your Final Project. The purpose is to provide information on current publications about a particular topic. Literature reviews are highly condensed and heavily documented. Begin with stating your research question or thesis, also summarizing your selected topic. Next, summarize 5+ peer-reviewed articles you’ve found so far for the final project, applying your sociological understanding of the literature on the background about your topic. The literature review will become part of your final project. Also include an outline of how you plan to construct your final project.
Check out our Essay writing services
Structural Causes of Poverty
Economic Inequality and Income Gaps
Economic inequality plays a central role in reinforcing poverty. In the U.S., the wage gap between low-income workers and the wealthy has widened over the decades. This disparity limits savings, investment in education, and the ability to meet basic needs. As cost of living rises but wages remain stagnant for many, financial insecurity becomes chronic. Without equitable access to well-paying jobs, many families remain trapped in poverty across generations.
Barriers in Education Access
Education is a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty, yet access remains unequal. Poor communities often lack properly funded schools, experienced teachers, and educational resources. Students in these areas may face overcrowded classrooms, outdated materials, and lower academic expectations. These educational disparities lead to lower college enrollment and graduation rates, limiting future job prospects. Structural inequities in schooling contribute directly to long-term economic hardship.
Healthcare Inequity and Well-Being
Lack of access to affordable healthcare is both a cause and consequence of poverty. Without insurance or financial means, many individuals delay or forgo medical treatment. This leads to worsened health outcomes, lost work days, and higher long-term costs. Chronic illness can reduce employability, pushing families deeper into poverty. Structural healthcare barriers, including systemic racism and provider shortages, disproportionately impact marginalized groups.
Intergenerational Impacts of Poverty
Poverty is rarely temporary when structural barriers exist. Children born into impoverished families often inherit the same systemic disadvantages—poor schools, unhealthy environments, and limited networks. These conditions influence their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Without intervention, these disadvantages are passed from one generation to the next. Addressing structural causes is essential to breaking the cycle and fostering long-term social mobility.