call to action
As college students, we are often surrounded by the luxuries of education, housing, and freedom, especially within the Clemson University community. While we may be mindlessly paying $5 for a drink at Starbucks, the poor that live on the brink of our confined campus struggle to spare the same amount of money for survival essentials. Society has conditioned our minds to associate our lives with normalcy while reinforcing negative stereotypes for the poor—the outsiders.
Social stigma has embodied this “single story” of poverty that many of us share or confide in and can only be broken if we break down the barriers and seek the truth. It is easy to be caught up in our own lives and dismiss the hardships of others, but it is important for us to open our eyes to this continually growing issue that remains prevalent in our nation and to hinder its persistence.
Although it may seem minimal, our perceptions and actions towards the poor can be moving or distressing, and it starts with self-awareness and knowledge.
Video Essay
PRocess & transcript Links
References
Babjáková, J., Džuka, J., & Gresty, J. (2019). Perceived causes of poverty and subjective aspirations of the poor: A literature review. Ceskoslovenska Psychologie, 63(3), 325-336.
Belcher, J. R., Deforge, B. R. (2012). Social stigma and homelessness: The limits of social change. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 22(8), 929-946. Doi: 10.1080/10911359.2023.707941
Black, M. (2014). Geography of poverty. Magnum Photos. https://www.mattblack.com/the-geography-of poverty/idp5g8h3xnyw3afef56puvetzhu1k8
de Fine Licht, K. P. (2017). Hostile urban architecture: A critical discussion of the seemingly offensive art of keeping people away. Etikk I Praksis - Nordic Journal of Applied Ethics, 11(2), 27-44. https://doi.org/10.5324/eip.v11i2.2052
Fessler, P. (2019, September 10). U.S. Census Bureau reports poverty rate down, but millions still poor. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2019/09/10/759512938/u-s-census-bureau-reports-poverty-rate-down-but-millions-still-poor
Heberle, A. E., & Carter, A. S. (2020). Is poverty on young minds? Stereotype endorsement, disadvantage awareness, and social-emotional challenges in socioeconomically disadvantaged children. Developmental Psychology, 56(2), 336-349. Doi: 10.1037/dev0000883
IVSTATS. (2017). Grants of scholarship aid statistics by income level at Clemson University [Data set]. Univstats. https://www.univstats.com/colleges/clemson-university/financial-aid/
Nadasen, P. (2017, December 21). Perspective | Extreme poverty returns to America. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2017/12/21/extreme-poverty-returns-to-america/
Nichols, A., & McDade, Z. J. (2016, October 10). Long-term unemployment and poverty produce a vicious cycle. Urban Institute. https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/long-term-un employment-and-poverty-produce-vicious-cycle
Plainfield Public Library. (n.d.). Homelessness & poverty. https://plainfieldpubliclibrary.org/topics/homelessness-poverty/
Seider, S. C., Rabinowicz, S. A., & Gillmor, S. C. (2010). Changing American college students’ conceptions of poverty through community service learning. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 11(1), 105–126. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-2415.2010.01224.x
The stigma of poverty: In conversation with Rebecca de Souza. (2019, October 21). The MIT Press Reader. https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-stigma-of-poverty-in-conversation-with-rebecca-de-souza/
Wall Street Journal. (2018, January 26). A portrait of poverty in America: Job insecurity and payday lending [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtqchgO03xI
Credits:
Created with images by Wokandapix - "person homeless bullied" • wal_172619 - "homeless poverty homeless man" • joslex - "coins currency money"