SOCY 211

LEARNING ACTIVITY 3

POVERTY:

STUDY UNIT: 2

LECTURER: MS. K. PHAJANE

J.E. COETZEE

33760845

TEL: 0795043183

19 MARCH 2021

1. Introduction

Poverty, although in general thought of negative in nature and detrimental to the impoverished, can be shown to possibly hold some slightly less obvious benefits to both the individual and the larger society.

2. The Functionalist approach to poverty

In order to evaluate the possible benefits of poverty to society and the individual, it is perhaps best to approach the matter from a functionalist point of view.

The first thing we as members of society notice about poverty, is its actual, visible manifestation; presumably so do the authorities and powers that be. Poverty is arguably first and foremost addressed by the State. As such, it is reasonable to argue that the visible manifestations of poverty could compel governments to act through things such as public policy formulation. These policies are created specifically with the purpose of counteracting poverty, which logically would benefit not only the larger society, but the individuals at odds as well. By turning the attention of the state or government to the condition of its impoverished citizens, poverty could likely also prompt the development of various types of social work aimed directly at improving the lives of the people who are suffering. Again, this indicates that poverty itself could benefit the individual South African. At a more societal level, severe poverty may in itself very well be a motivator for people to work hard, which in own turn would arguably strengthen and further develop the working force and subsequently have a substantially positive effect on the economy. Likewise, poverty may serve as a motivator for people to devote more attention and resources to the education of children. This, even in itself would not just have a positive impact on the larger society, but also change the lives of the children who are being educated in terms of their future socioeconomic prospects. Larger still, one could reasonably argue that widespread poverty could both motivate the development of philanthropic enterprises across the globe whilst simultaneously place the proverbial spotlight on humanitarian issues and what exactly can be done about them. In addition to this, poverty could possibly even stimulate a wide variety of research not only within the fields of medicine and the social sciences, but across a broad spectrum of scientific fields that could yield insights that could be invaluable to us in the combating of poverty among countless other things.

3. Conclusion

Thus, it can be said that poverty, when approached from a different angle, can become more than something that ails individuals and threatens the stability and continuity of society. It can, indeed, become impetus we need to find the answers these very problems.