Sociology: Study of the Social Sphere, 2/e, 2nd Edition

CHAPTER 16

Poverty and the Poor

All societies distinguish between the rich and the poor. Both of these are relative terms. One is considered poor compared to the rich in one’s society. A rich person in a poor society may be regarded as poor when compared with the members of another society, which may be richer.

Sociologically, it is significant to make a distinction between poverty of an area and poverty of the families. It is possible that a significant number of families belonging to a particular caste, or a tribe, of a given area suffer from poverty. But there could be other families of other castes who may also suffer from indigence because of the underdevelopment of the habitat. However, families can move out of poverty or move into poverty. ...