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The Poor In Society - Online Term Paper

The Poor In Society

In the article, "The Uses of Poverty: the poor pay all," Gans introduces us to a new perspective of analyzing the functionality of usefulness of the poor and poverty in American society. The author enumerates thirteen (13) functions that make the poor an essential part of the American social system, whose functionality may be social, economic, or political.
Social functions of the poor in the society, according to Gans, include the reinforcement of the social class and norms in the society. Social class is reinforced because of the existence of the poor class, and since there are people belonging to the "lower rung" of the social ladder, then there will also be people who belong to its ...

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is desirable for everyone-that is, every rule or norm not subsisted to by the poor.
Economic functions of the poor to the society include, among other things, the assurance that there will be people who are willing to handle "dirty jobs" or menial work. Gans noted that since the poor do not have the choice to be "unwilling" to take on these menial jobs, they then become the people who handle physical work and more often, those who receive low wages. This buffers the effect on middle- and upper-class members of the society, whose jobs are mostly clerical or managerial and receive wages higher than the poor people's wages. Another economic benefit that poverty results in is the availability of jobs "about the poor"-that is, jobs concerning the study of poverty in society, the welfare of the poor, and regulation of poverty and the poor in the society. The helping profession such as social work and service profession like the law enforcement forces are examples of jobs "about ...

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The Poor In Society. (2016, November 13). Retrieved January 11, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Poor-In-Society/105980

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 11/13/2016 06:39:15 AM
Category: Social Issues
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 588
Pages: 3

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