Herbert J. Gans underlines the importance of people who live in poverty and their roles in society. He mentions that while most people associate negative factors with the poor, there are also some positive attributes that the people in poverty bring to the society. Herbert Gans details the functions of the undeserving poor in the society and he breaks them down into five categories. These five categories are: Microsocial, Economic, Normative, Political and Macrosocial. These category have thirteen sup-parts that detail the negative or positive effect. He names a category and then goes more into detail on the concern or cause effect that the undeserving poor contribute to the society. As an example in no.4 "Supplying illegal goods" Gans argues that immigrants and people in poverty are more likely to distribute illegal goods such as supplies or drugs. With less job opportunities, these people are being subjected to make extra money by illegal means.
I find Herbert J. Gans argument to be valid because he explains not only the negative effects of the undeserving poor, but also presented the ways in which the poor can be stigmatized. Mr. Gans provides opportunities and reason why the poor community should be given a opportunity to work and become stigmatized. He also discusses the importance of stereotyping the ones in poverty and talks about change of norms that we should adjust towards these people. I agree with the fact that by stereotyping we encourage and provoke these behaviors and attitudes rather than changing or improving them. I also agree with the fact that the poor are not driven to commit deviant acts, rather then making these decisions because of need for survival. Poverty is a serious problem which can never go away, but at least we can lower it and accept it without stereotyping.
I completely agree with this. It toally sucks but he has a good arguement and it really makes me think that unfortunately we do sorta need the poor in our society. Also, even though we may need the poor, the criminal sterotyping part I feel is completely unessacary.
ReplyDeleteTotally! I never thought of it like that, but once reading Gans' argument and giving it some thought it actually makes sense. Every society has some sort of lower or poor class to stimulate the community.
ReplyDeleteExactly, I feel Gans, therory is correct in many ways from these five categories: Microsocial, Economic, Normative, Political and Macrosocial. Unfortunately we live in a world/society that makes up who we will become or what opportunities they will have, but nothing last forever. While every state, city, or country needs the poor,they contribute to the society people need to stop sterotyping because we never know when you'll go on hard times.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is true that although people talk about helping the poor and taking away the stigma that ultimately it helps serve as a basis for what the norms are as far as who is rich and who is poor. This being said I think that even though we have alot of talk about taking care of it I think it serves a positive function for the others and therefore unfortunately I doubt there will be change any time soon. Even the people who are involved with the charity stand to lose if things change because then they lose their job.
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