Poverty and the Working Class in Canada

Poverty In CanadaThe working Poor and Marginalized The Working Poor: People who's incomes fall below the given poverty line POVERTY DOESN’T EQUAL JOBLESSNESS a significant portion of Canadians who live in poverty are employedAbsolute Poverty VS Relative Poverty Absolute Poverty: the actual needs of the poor A family is poor of they cannot afford to eatRelative Poverty: what is normal for the society - This level changes in relation to the society in which they belong (luxuries become necessities) - lack resources to obtain lifestyle customary in the societies in which they belong Socially Progressive: Places that make progress in the community (community focused) LICO: Low Income Cut-Off Line determined by STAT Canada any family spending at least 56% of its total income on necessities falls below the LICO Media refers to this as the ‘Poverty Line” Food Prices in Nunavut : Nunavut Bargains - Nunavut prices are beyond reasonable ($11 for a single green pepper) Public (outsiders) aren’t taking the issue seriously Public awareness did lead to minor change Conflict Theory: more populous areas = cheaper food costs Functionalist Theory: working together to get by Employment and Identity : often, especially in north America, it defines who we are Employment and Education Canada - Knowledge based economy rising cost of education increasing rise in “haves” and “have-nots” to access to education Government funding of education decreasing close link between education and future income Trends in the Workplace Work is for Men: Many ads depict “workers” as malethe only exception is if the work applies to housework or “stay-at-home” workers, then they're female. IT HAS BEEN NORMALIZED to be a WOMAN Women make up 50% of workforce in Canada Minimum Wage and Housing Costs: cost of living rises as minimum wage fall behind housing costs should be 1/3 of a household income but youth, women, and lower educated people are more likely to be paid minimum wage Apple and Slave Labour: Apple’s slave labour was uncovered SO why do we feed this behaviour? BRANDING trend: consumers are ignoring the global effect of their springing in turn for a “trendy” brand Women would Rather Divorce than Be a Housewife: Women and Men would rather be equal than anything, women would rather be “self-reliant” than be “neo-traditional roles” (be the fifties mom) society expects women to be mothers and men to be providers Enculturation: Process of which members of a culture learn and internalize characteristics and norms of a culture or group by a person, another culture, etc..