Theories of Poverty and Welfare
Daniel P. Crise
Wilmington University
April 2, 2016
Theories of Poverty and Welfare
In the book, “So you think I drive a Cadillac”, four main theoretical perspectives are
discussed in relation to the poverty and welfare system. Those theoretical perspectives are
individualism, social structuralism, culture of poverty, and fatalism. Each perspective
looks at welfare and poverty in different ways, and are seen as gender neutral from the
outside.
The first theoretical perspective is called individualism. The individualism perspective is
referred to as a person who is usually responsible for his or her own economic standing
within society (Seccombe, 2015). Those who are classified within the individualism
perspective often strive to work hard, and are determined to make it out of poverty. If a
person remains in poverty, that person in the individualism perspective is usually to blame
since opportunities are available to get the skills, and training needed to get a higher
paying job. Those who came from poverty and went onto to being rich is often a case of
individualism, since those particular people used the education or training, and turned that
work into success through hard work, and a desire to become motivated for a better life.
People who are in the individualism perspective who failed to make success are often
considered lazy and unmotivated, since the resources and skills are available, but fail to be
used for a chance for success (Seccombe, 2015). For some people however, lack of
education or even simple skills are not readily available. For those who lack the education
and training needed, education or skills training may not be an option. Those people may
still be able to work a job, but it will often be low paying and below poverty level
(Trattner, 1986). Race and gender discrimination if often not found using the individualism
perspective, since all races and genders usually have the same barriers.
The second type of theoretical perspective is called social structuralism. Social
structuralism is how economic and social imbalances involved in our social structure
restrict opportunities are some people (Seccombe, 2015). Those imbalances that can place
barriers include organizations, groups, statuses, and values within our culture. The idea is
based on those who are born to rich parents, may not necessarily be destined to success
financially, just as those who are born to poor parents, may not necessarily be destined for
poverty. An example is Ben Carson, who was born to poverty, but with a desire and an
