SOCI WEEK3 summary:
Social inequality in Canada
Unfortunately in Canada as in other countries exists social inequality which is a huge issue for
certain groups. It refers to the unequal distribution of goods, services, and opportunities for
certain people and groups. Further in Canada exist social classes (Set of individuals who, in a
society, differ in terms of different positions occupied in productive activity, in the hierarchy of
power and / or wealth) which leads to social stratification, the condition of the social layers,
composed of individuals or groups, placed on a scale of relative superiority or inferiority according
to wealth, power and prestige.
We don't have an official definition of poverty but we can use different indicators that help us:
-Low-income cut-off: it represents the income level at which a family may face hard times because
it has to spend a bigger portion of the income on foods, shelters and clothing than an average
family.
-Low-income measure: a measure of poverty used usually for making international comparisons
-Market basket measure: a measure of low income based on the costs of a specif basket of goods
and services representing basic standards of living in comparison to the rest of the society.
These different measures help us to define also the different types of poverty that exists in our
society which are:
-Absolute poverty refers to a person who is not able to get the basic resources for survival which
means that these people live without food, clothes and other necessities.
-Relative poverty happens when a person lacks basic resources for survival compared to other
people in the society.
-Transitional poverty refers to a situation where a person lives in poverty for a certain amount of
time due to a particular event
-Marginal poverty happens when a person lacks stable employment for an extended period.
-Chronic poverty refers to a person who lives in a state of poverty for an extended period of time
which interferes with his well-being
-Intergenerational poverty is a situation where children and young people live and grow up under
poverty harming their opportunities in life which leads to a new cycle of poverty for the next
generations.
Poverty in Canada it's an important problem as it affects over 3 million people who are mostly
immigrants, children, Indigenous people, lone parents and people with disabilities. This issue
affects their opportunities in life but also their physical and mental health.
Another important issue related to poverty is Student poverty which does not receive that much
attention. It refers to students who make certain choices (save on food in order to study) as today
the tuition fees are very high and not everyone is able to pay them, which can also prevent them
from continuing their studies and making so many sacrifices that other wealthy students don't
have to make.
besides that precarious employment is affecting many people and it refers to employment that
includes, part-time, temporary, or contract with uncertain hours, low wages and limited to no
benefits. These people have low job security with very low wages.
Social inequality in Canada
Unfortunately in Canada as in other countries exists social inequality which is a huge issue for
certain groups. It refers to the unequal distribution of goods, services, and opportunities for
certain people and groups. Further in Canada exist social classes (Set of individuals who, in a
society, differ in terms of different positions occupied in productive activity, in the hierarchy of
power and / or wealth) which leads to social stratification, the condition of the social layers,
composed of individuals or groups, placed on a scale of relative superiority or inferiority according
to wealth, power and prestige.
We don't have an official definition of poverty but we can use different indicators that help us:
-Low-income cut-off: it represents the income level at which a family may face hard times because
it has to spend a bigger portion of the income on foods, shelters and clothing than an average
family.
-Low-income measure: a measure of poverty used usually for making international comparisons
-Market basket measure: a measure of low income based on the costs of a specif basket of goods
and services representing basic standards of living in comparison to the rest of the society.
These different measures help us to define also the different types of poverty that exists in our
society which are:
-Absolute poverty refers to a person who is not able to get the basic resources for survival which
means that these people live without food, clothes and other necessities.
-Relative poverty happens when a person lacks basic resources for survival compared to other
people in the society.
-Transitional poverty refers to a situation where a person lives in poverty for a certain amount of
time due to a particular event
-Marginal poverty happens when a person lacks stable employment for an extended period.
-Chronic poverty refers to a person who lives in a state of poverty for an extended period of time
which interferes with his well-being
-Intergenerational poverty is a situation where children and young people live and grow up under
poverty harming their opportunities in life which leads to a new cycle of poverty for the next
generations.
Poverty in Canada it's an important problem as it affects over 3 million people who are mostly
immigrants, children, Indigenous people, lone parents and people with disabilities. This issue
affects their opportunities in life but also their physical and mental health.
Another important issue related to poverty is Student poverty which does not receive that much
attention. It refers to students who make certain choices (save on food in order to study) as today
the tuition fees are very high and not everyone is able to pay them, which can also prevent them
from continuing their studies and making so many sacrifices that other wealthy students don't
have to make.
besides that precarious employment is affecting many people and it refers to employment that
includes, part-time, temporary, or contract with uncertain hours, low wages and limited to no
benefits. These people have low job security with very low wages.
