Factors Affecting Poverty
Sociology: AQA GCSE, topic 5.2.2
Factors Affecting Poverty
Ethnic minorities, women and children are most at risk of poverty.
Ethnicity and poverty
- People in UK households headed by someone from a minority ethnic group are particularly at risk of living in low-income households.
- Minority ethnic groups, for example, are generally disadvantaged in terms of unemployment, pay and the quality of their jobs.
- Explanations for this include racism and discrimination in the labour market.
Gender and poverty
- Women are more at risk of poverty than men.
- Women have longer life expectancies than men but are less likely to have occupational pensions.
- Women are more likely than men to head lone-parent families with low incomes.
- Many female-dominated jobs are relatively poorly paid.
- Women are more likely than men to be in part-time employment.
Child poverty
- Children are particularly vulnerable to poverty if they live in a family:
- With four or more children.
- Where the head of the household is a lone parent.
- Where the head of the household is from a minority ethnic group.
- Where the head of the household is workless.
Life chances
- Poverty has a negative impact on children’s life chances including their life expectancy, health, housing, educational attainment and job prospects.
Test yourself on Factors Affecting Poverty
Which of the following is NOT a group at high risk of poverty?