A Framework for Understanding Poverty

Chapter Four:
The Situated Learning Reality of
Generational Poverty: How it impacts
Navigation of Ones Life
By: Daniela Denis

2 Types of Poverty
Generational Poverty: having been in poverty for at
least two generations

Situational poverty: lack of resources due to a particular

event
Death, chronic illness, divorce, etc.

Prevailing Attitude
Key indicator of whether its generational or situational

Generational: society owes me a living

Situational: one of pride and great reluctance to accept
charity.

Reality of Generational Poverty

Instability of housing
Violence
Food insecurity

Unemployment/
underemployment

Unaddressed health issues

Frequent exposure to
addiction

Predators (both inside and

outside the group)

Periodic homelessness

Crowded housing/lack of
personal space

Lots of time at agencies getting

assistance

Uneducated/ undereducated
adults

Limited knowledge bases

Death
Incarceration

Case Studies
Walter (Caucasian male)

Humor involved in story

Way to mask the deep pain and disgust for what happened

Sandy Smith
Following the path of others
Turned life around after being held gunpoint (6 months
pregnant)
Believes her way out of poverty is to complete education

Lack of Understanding of Money in

G.P.
Difficulties in learning how to handle money

How to manage what you never had

Ex: Checking account, checks bouncing
Not knowing checks represent money but arent cash

Organization of Space and Paper

in G.P
Space is where your body goes and how often you
keep track of things.

Skills may have not been learned

Middle class homes= space assigned a function
Ex: bedroom people sleep

Organization function
Ex: drawer will have the silverware, drawer for plates

Moving= less space and no time

Homework, organization

Characteristics may surface with

adults and students from poverty
They
Get mad and quit their job/work. If they dont like the boss/teacher,

they will quit. The emphasis is on the current feeling, not the longterm ramifications
Will work hard if they like you
Either use humor as a conflict-resolution tool or physical assault
Use survival language, tending to operate out of casual register
More opening display feelings and emotion. They dont have the
reserve of wealth or the caution of middle class.
Have an extreme freedom of speech, enjoy a sense of humor, use
the personality to entertain, have a love of stories about people.

Role of Gender Identity/

Rite of Passage
Primary role of real man:
Physically work hard
Be a physical fighter
To be a lover

Of the three responses to life- to flee, flow, or fight

He can only fight or flee
Stress gets high he fights flees from the law and
people closet to him leaves his home heat dies
down returns home cycle continues.

Generational Povertys Family Structure

Synonymous with Dysfunctionality
Dysfunctionality is to which an individual cannot get
his/her needs met.

Fewer the resources= greater change of dysfunctionality

because of the scarcity of resources

Many financial resources but have dysfunctional

household.
Resources not available
Emotional resources
Relationships or role models

What does it all mean?

Education is the key to getting out of and staying out of,
generational poverty.

Individuals leave poverty for one of the four reasons:

A situation that is so painful that just about anything would
be better
A goal or vision of something they want to be or have
A specific talent or ability that provides an opportunity for
them
Someone who sponsors them
An educator or spouse or mentor or role model who shows
them a different way or convinces them that they could live
differently

How to help your students

Keep your expectations for poor students high. Poverty
does not mean ignorance

Your rules may be different than the rules they have at

home
At school we

Listen to them and help when you can/they allow

You value your students character and not possessions

Resources
A Framework for Understanding Poverty By Ruby Payne