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Question

10.6. Apply the theories of key thinkers on class and inequality to real-life situations.
Even though the United States is one of the richest countries in the world, poverty is significant and persistent. Identify the characteristics of poverty in the United States.
Characteristic of Poverty in the United States
Over 39.7 million people live in poverty in the United States.
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The largest group of the nation’s poor are White people.
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Hispanics have proportionally the highest percentage of people living in poverty in the United States.
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The U.S. government’s definition of poverty for a family of four is an income at or under $30,000 a year.
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Not a Characteristic of Poverty in the United States

Answer 1

Certainly! Here are some identified characteristics of poverty in the United States based on the information provided:

1. **Over 39.7 million people live in poverty in the United States**: This quantifies the extent of poverty within one of the richest nations globally, highlighting the vast number of individuals experiencing socioeconomic hardship.

2. **The largest group of the nation’s poor are White people**: This indicates that while poverty affects all racial and ethnic groups, the majority of the poor population in raw numbers are White Americans, reflecting the demographics of the wider population.

3. **Hispanics have proportionally the highest percentage of people living in poverty in the United States**: This suggests that among different racial and ethnic groups, Hispanics are disproportionately affected by poverty. This could involve various factors including immigration status, employment opportunities, and educational attainment.

4. **The U.S. government’s definition of poverty for a family of four is an income at or under $30,000 a year**: This provides a concrete benchmark for understanding the federal poverty threshold and gives a clear monetary figure to assess what constitutes poverty for a typical family of four.

A characteristic not listed above but critical to understanding the context could include aspects such as the impact of healthcare costs, educational disparities, geographic variations (urban vs. rural poverty), and the role of social safety nets (or lack thereof).

In applying the theories of key thinkers on class and inequality, such as Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Pierre Bourdieu, to these characteristics:
- **Karl Marx** would likely focus on the systemic economic structures that lead to such disparities, including the dynamics between the bourgeoisie (those who control the means of production) and the proletariat (working class).
- **Max Weber** might emphasize the multidimensional aspects of social stratification, incorporating factors such as status and power, in addition to economic class.
- **Pierre Bourdieu** could bring in the importance of cultural capital and social capital, considering how different groups accumulate and utilize resources beyond just economic means.

By applying these theoretical perspectives, one can better understand the complexity and persistence of poverty within the United States despite its overall wealth.