As part of our curriculum, we as students were challenged to lead a class discussion pertaining to a central topic of social inequality or financial differences. Topics discussed are below, along with various subpages containing more information accessed by the (v) next to the page heading.
This presentation delves into the "poverty trap" and the true costs of poverty experienced by those facing homelessness or single-parent households. Government assistance programs are also analyzed, as well as the topic of welfare stigma. A primary thought to keep in mind while viewing this section: “Many poor people distrust the government policies and programs that were ostensibly designed to help them.”
This weeks discussion focuses on the psychological impacts of wealth on a person. The class discussion leader dives into the ideas of a narcissism epidemic in the United States and the observed erosion of empathy. To further support these statements, studies about implicit biases towards higher-income communities and the ideas of self-enhancement bias are discussed. Specifically, this topic attempts to explain the diminishing aspects of community and social relations in our world that may be caused by the psychological effects of wealth.
This weeks discussion focuses on the intersection between gender and poverty. First, it is important to note that any issue concerning gender will inherently be intersectional and should be treated as such (any inequalities that negatively impact women or nonbinary people will only be exasperated by racial inequalities). This discussion focuses specifically on impact of poverty on the gender gap in accessible healthcare and paid parental leave, the gap between men and women's ability to simply have money rather than accrue wealth, and ultimate issue of equality verus equity in the context of gender and poverty.
In the face of all these issues that the world is facing, it's easy to lose hope and resign yourself to the idea that you are just one person with no hope of changing anything for the better. That's exactly what they want you to think. In reality, a series of small changes from a large amount of people is how things get done. Revolution is not a single event where we all riot and bring out the guillotine, but a continual process of change and commitment to a better society.