Key TermsKey Terms Bolaria & Wotherspoon’s Main Bolaria & Wotherspoon’s Main

ArgumentArgument Supporting PointsSupporting Points (I) Income Inequality and Poverty(I) Income Inequality and Poverty (II) Income Inequality, Life Chances and Consumption(II) Income Inequality, Life Chances and Consumption (III) Income Inequality and Food(III) Income Inequality and Food Why is Poverty Important?Why is Poverty Important? Critical OverviewCritical Overview Exercise Exercise Our Experience (Conclusion)Our Experience (Conclusion)

PovertyPoverty

Income InequalityIncome Inequality

Life ChancesLife Chances

Welfare StateWelfare State

Food BanksFood Banks

Victim-Blaming IdeologyVictim-Blaming Ideology

““While the significance and concentration of While the significance and concentration of poverty in the Third World cannot be overstated, poverty in the Third World cannot be overstated, neither have the advanced capitalistic countries neither have the advanced capitalistic countries eliminated economic inequalities and poverty. eliminated economic inequalities and poverty. The inequalities of wealth and income produce The inequalities of wealth and income produce unequal life chances. Poverty translates into unequal life chances. Poverty translates into

homelessness, ill health, short life expectancy, homelessness, ill health, short life expectancy, malnutrition, and hunger, to mention only a few malnutrition, and hunger, to mention only a few

of its effects.” (Bolaria & Wotherspoon 73) of its effects.” (Bolaria & Wotherspoon 73)

(I)(I) Income Inequality and PovertyIncome Inequality and Poverty

(II) Income Inequality, Life Chances and (II) Income Inequality, Life Chances and ConsumptionConsumption

(III) Income Inequality and Food(III) Income Inequality and Food

Income inequality is linked to Income inequality is linked to social stratification.social stratification.

Poverty is on the rise in Canada.Poverty is on the rise in Canada. Big business benefits.Big business benefits.

Corporations benefit directly and Corporations benefit directly and indirectly.indirectly.

Poverty and Food BanksPoverty and Food Banks Food Banks are a temporary solution.Food Banks are a temporary solution.

Max Weber’s belief that class is Max Weber’s belief that class is linked to people’s life chanceslinked to people’s life chances

Economic and social inequalities = unequal opportunities Economic and social inequalities = unequal opportunities

Link between income inequality Link between income inequality and consumptionand consumption

Link between income inequality Link between income inequality and nutrition and healthand nutrition and health

Demand for Food BanksDemand for Food Banks

Cut backs on social servicesCut backs on social services

Victim-blaming ideologyVictim-blaming ideology

Causes of hunger and Causes of hunger and povertypoverty

StrengthsStrengths Provides facts to support his Provides facts to support his

argumentsarguments Broad FocusBroad Focus Detailed argumentsDetailed arguments

WeaknessesWeaknessesOne-sided argumentOne-sided argumentPessimistic ViewPessimistic ViewLack of clear SolutionLack of clear SolutionOutdated facts and informationOutdated facts and information

Is Bolaria and Wotherspoon’s arguments persuasive?

Poverty is on the risePoverty is on the rise

Negative health Negative health effectseffects

CycleCycle

Awareness of povertyAwareness of poverty

Debate Exercise: InstructionsDebate Exercise: Instructions 1. Presently you have been divided into two societal 1. Presently you have been divided into two societal

class group. Those of you with the blue paper class group. Those of you with the blue paper constitute the rich, while those of you with green constitute the rich, while those of you with green paper represent the poor.paper represent the poor.

2. We will pose a debate question to the class. Using 2. We will pose a debate question to the class. Using the text and the information provided throughout the the text and the information provided throughout the presentation you will be expected to defend the class presentation you will be expected to defend the class group which you have already been assigned. group which you have already been assigned.

3. You will be given 5 minutes to discuss this question 3. You will be given 5 minutes to discuss this question as a group. You must then choose at least 3 members as a group. You must then choose at least 3 members to present your points.to present your points.

4. Each team will be given time to present their main 4. Each team will be given time to present their main points. Each opposing group will be give adequate points. Each opposing group will be give adequate time to rebut at the end.time to rebut at the end.

5. The group with the most persuasive argument will 5. The group with the most persuasive argument will win!win!

With poverty rates on the With poverty rates on the rise, should the Canadian rise, should the Canadian Government play an active Government play an active

role in promoting the role in promoting the welfare state?welfare state?

Yes, the Canadian government Yes, the Canadian government should play an active role in promoting the should play an active role in promoting the welfare state, because increased welfare state, because increased government funding can help reduce poverty government funding can help reduce poverty rates. As the authors have pointed out food rates. As the authors have pointed out food banks are only a temporary and inadequate banks are only a temporary and inadequate solution to poverty. A move to less solution to poverty. A move to less government intervention will only intensify government intervention will only intensify existing inequalities between the rich and existing inequalities between the rich and the poor. Social programs are necessary in the poor. Social programs are necessary in the fight against income inequalities, the fight against income inequalities, because it gives low-income families a tool because it gives low-income families a tool to stop the cycle of poverty.to stop the cycle of poverty.

Food BanksFood Banks

Good Will/Salvation ArmyGood Will/Salvation Army