Question 1

Which perspective is concerned with the effects of being labelled "poor"?

Accepted Answer

The symbolic interactionist perspective focuses on how individuals interpret and respond to symbols, including labels such as "poor." This perspective would be concerned with how being labelled as "poor" affects the individual's self-concept and interactions with others.

Question 2

Statistics Canada developed which of the following measures of poverty?

Accepted Answer

LICO stands for Low Income Cut-Off and it is a measure of poverty developed by Statistics Canada. The other options (A) LCBO is a liquor store, (C) LMPO is not a known measure of poverty, and (D) HPI stands for House Price Index and is a measure of the change in value of housing in a particular market.

Question 3

According to Karl Marx, what does the term "bourgeoisie" refer to?

Accepted Answer

According to Karl Marx, the term "bourgeoisie" refers to the owners of the means of production, such as factories or land. The bourgeoisie are the capitalist class who control society's wealth and are in opposition to the working class, or the proletariat.

Question 4

To the Dinka, an ethnic group in sub-Saharan Africa, which of the following forms a large part of wealth measurement?

Accepted Answer

According to Dinka culture, owning cattle is a symbol of wealth and a measure of one's social status. Cows are used for milk, meat, and as a form of currency in exchange for goods and services. Therefore, owning more cows represents more wealth and prestige in Dinka society.

Question 5

According to Marx, how do the bourgeoisie develop their wealth?

Accepted Answer

According to Marx, the bourgeoisie develop their wealth by extracting surplus value from the proletariat. The bourgeoisie own the means of production and employ the proletariat in order to extract as much value as possible from their labor while paying them the minimum amount necessary to sustain their lives. This creates a surplus value that is then appropriated by the bourgeoisie as profit, which they reinvest in their businesses to continue accumulating wealth.

Question 6

Which of the following is a major flaw with the LICO measure of poverty in Canada?

Accepted Answer

The LICO measure of poverty in Canada fails to take into account that some own their homes free and clear, which can significantly affect their overall financial situation.

Question 7

Among the 17 industrialized countries for which the Human Poverty Index was calculated in 2001, which country had the lowest rate of human poverty?

Accepted Answer

According to the information given, among the 17 industrialized countries, Sweden had the lowest rate of human poverty in 2001. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Question 8

According to the low income cut-off line, families or individuals who spend a certain portion of their pre-tax income on food, clothing, and shelter would be in financial difficulty. What is that portion?

Accepted Answer

The low income cut-off line is defined as families or individuals spending 54.7% or more of their pre-tax income on necessities like food, clothing, and shelter.

Question 9

An individual who has basically lived in poverty their entire life is probably a member of which group?

Accepted Answer

The term "underclass" is used to describe a group of individuals who experience persistent poverty and are often excluded from mainstream society. This term is commonly used to describe those who have lived in poverty for most, if not all, of their lives. Neither A, B, nor D accurately describe this group.

Question 10

Which perspective's work on poverty uses unique methods such as narrative analysis?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which perspective's work on poverty uses unique...

Question 11

According to Lewis (1966), what is the "culture of poverty" characterized by?

Accepted Answer

Lewis (1966) characterized the "culture of poverty" as a relative lack of participation in society's major institutions such as education and politics, leading to a sense of hopelessness and resignation to a life of poverty. He also suggested that this culture was perpetuated across generations and could lead to a range of maladaptive behaviors such as substance abuse and teenage pregnancy. Male-centred households, an emphasis on deferred gratification, and a belief in the value of the work ethic are not explicitly mentioned as characteristics of the "culture of poverty" according to Lewis.

Question 12

According to a study that followed the same families over a five-year period in six countries (Canada, the United States, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom), in which country were the poor LEAST likely to leave poverty from one year to the next?

Accepted Answer

The study found that the United States had the lowest rate of upward mobility, meaning that those who started in poverty were less likely to leave poverty from one year to the next compared to the other countries studied. Germany had the highest rate of upward mobility. Canada and the Netherlands were in the middle, and Sweden and the UK were not included in the analysis.

Question 13

Which perspective emphasizes that norms, values, and beliefs are learned through social interaction and that social interaction influences the development of one's self-concept?

Accepted Answer

The perspective that emphasizes that norms, values, and beliefs are learned through social interaction and that social interaction influences the development of one's self-concept is the symbolic-interactionist perspective. This perspective focuses on the meaning that individuals give to social phenomena and how they learn these meanings through interaction with others.

Question 14

Which of the following is a major criticism of the market basket measure of poverty?

Accepted Answer

The major criticism of the market basket measure of poverty is that it may not include items that are considered necessaries, leading to an underestimation of the number of people living in poverty. This is because the market basket measure is determined by the average cost of a basket of goods and services that are considered necessary for a basic standard of living, but what is considered necessary can vary by location and time. Additionally, the market basket measure does not take into account other factors that may impact a household's ability to make ends meet, such as high medical expenses or childcare costs.

Question 15

In Canada, low income cut-off lines are primarily based on size of family and one other factor. What is it?

Accepted Answer

The low income cut-off lines in Canada are primarily based on the size of family and the size of the community in which one lives. This is because the cost of living can vary greatly between different areas within Canada, and low income cut-off lines take into account these regional differences.

Question 16

Which perspective takes the view that an unequal economic reward system helps to assure that the person who performs a particular role is the most qualified?

Accepted Answer

The structural-functionalist perspective views society as a system where each part has a specific function that contributes to the overall stability of the society. In this perspective, the unequal economic reward system is necessary because it ensures that the most qualified individuals are performing the roles that require higher skill levels and education. This helps to maintain the stability of the society by ensuring that each role is filled by the most capable individuals.

Question 17

According to Davis and Moore, class divisions are which of the following?

Accepted Answer

According to Davis and Moore's functionalist perspective, class divisions are a natural and necessary result of society's need to allocate its most important positions to those who are most qualified and capable. Therefore, the answer is C, which states that class divisions are inevitable.

Question 18

To assess low income, Statistics Canada has established a figure for the needs of one adult and proceeded on the assumption that family needs increase in proportion to the size of the family, with each additional adult increasing the family needs by 40 percent of the first adult and each additional child increasing the family's needs by 30 percent. What is this statistical tool called?

Accepted Answer

The low-income measure (LIM) is a statistical tool used by Statistics Canada that adjusts for family size by assuming that family needs increase with each additional family member, with specific percentages for adults and children.

Question 19

Which of the following is suggested by the Global Poverty Report (2000)?

Accepted Answer

The Global Poverty Report (2000) suggests that there has been a moderate decrease in global poverty.

Question 20

Which view of poverty has received a great deal of criticism from contemporary sociologists, who point out that many important occupational roles (such as child care worker) are poorly paid, whereas many individuals in nonessential roles (such as entertainers) earn astronomical sums of money?

Accepted Answer

The structural-functionalist view of poverty emphasizes that poverty exists because some positions in society are more important than others and therefore command higher incomes. However, contemporary sociologists argue that the value of a particular occupation is not always reflected in its income, as some essential roles (such as child care workers) are poorly paid, while some nonessential roles (such as entertainers) can earn astronomical sums of money. This critique shows that the structural-functionalist perspective does not fully explain the complexities of poverty and income inequality in modern societies.

Quiz 10: Poverty: National and International Issues