Assess The Impact Of Intergenerational Poverty

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Intergenerational poverty is when a family is poverty-stricken in between at least two generations. It occurs when children who grow up in families with incomes below the poverty line are poorer than adults (National Academies). Children born in low income housing between 1970-1990 live an average of 13.8 years out of 15 years of their childhood in poverty (NCCP). This can be seen as a disadvantage during one’s life because the person will not be able to develop their talents properly. Being able to develop properly would help end the cycle of poverty. With proper development, one would be able to hold a job that pays well enough so that their family can be able to participate in the community without worrying about what they are going to eat. …show more content…
Data has also been shown that it is not race exclusive, but some races have a greater advantage than others. In 2018 the poverty rates for white children are around 10% to 15%, while on the other hand black and hispanic children range from 25% to 50%. Intergenerational poverty has impacted our society by causing people to lose opportunities to wealthy families (Brookings). Generational poverty violates the CST theme Rights and Responsibilities because the government is not sacrificing enough resources to help the vulnerable get out of the vicious cycle of poverty to be able to participate in the community. I will begin by discussing the ways in which the United States government is violating basic human rights; from there I will discuss how the government is suppressing people’s potential while adding struggle to their lives. The United States government violates basic human rights in view of the fact that the distribution of resources often leads to inequality and exclusion of certain groups within society This unequal distribution of resources makes it harder for people to succeed, which creates more challenges for people which in turn holds them back from …show more content…
Children that come from low-income families are more likely to attend a school that has lower funding, with poorly funded schools often lacking the essential resources and quality of education which puts them at a disadvantage early on in life (Source 6 NCES). Children living in poverty lack access to nutritious food, stable housing, and quality healthcare, which can negatively affect their physical and intellectual development. Furthermore, the stress of living in poverty can hinder their ability to focus and learn in school, which can widen the gap between them and their peers from other schools. Without the proper support and resources the children are at a higher risk of dropping out of school, which when done so would further the cycle of poverty due to a lack of resources. The systemic inequalities that are currently present in one’s society take away many opportunities from the children, stripping away their chances of getting out of the cycle. Intergenerational poverty also has a serious impact on mental health and overall