When did posing in front of derelict sites become an aesthetic? Or dressing in a certain way so that you can appear humble? These acts do nothing but to signal to those living on or below the poverty line that many people in the UK lack basic self awareness and are dripping in privilege. Poverty is not an experience or a spectacle. Run down estates, neglected by their respective councils are not a fashion and not having enough money to eat a balanced diet each week is not a trend.
Definitions of poverty have developed over time and the findings of social scientists such as Booth indicated that there was a strong link between poverty and ill health and that the poor were not to be blamed for their situations. Booth's findings reflect his own interpretation of poverty and his descriptions of poor people being vicious, semi criminal delinquents is representative of the period and bias within society in which the research was carried out however this stereotype has lived on and helps perpetuate classist rhetoric. Rowntrees suggestion of “absolute poverty” is contradictory and implies that all humans irrespective of gender, class or geographical location have the same basic needs of shelter, clothing and food therefore a physical lack of these needs is an indication of an individual suffering poverty. Naturally, this description of what indicates poverty draws a plentitude of criticism as it does not recognise that differing countries have different resources easily accessible. In response to Rowntree’s research, Townsend further developed the term “relative deprivation”. Relative deprivation suggests that people who seriously lack the amount of resources they need to the point they are excluded from social norms and activities are in fact deprived and by way of this deprivation are experiencing poverty albeit in differing levels of severity . Townsend developed a list of 60 indicators which included items such as clothing, food, fuel and electric and family support. Each need a person or family lacks is given a score and the higher the score the more deprivation the individual or family experiences. This description of poverty is largely based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in the way that if an individual does not have their basic needs met they cannot progress onto other levels of the hierarchy (Roach, 1965). Whilst Maslow's approach is more a psychological theory, Townsend considers societal exclusion as a factor and indication of deprivation.
Critics of Townends approach suggest that the indicators of deprivation were erratic and Townsend's method of research failed to notice the choice of how people live (Donnison,1998). The consensual method was then developed to tackle these criticisms (Walker, 1987). The consensual approach is a way to integrate society's perception of poverty. A line of acceptable deprivation was established and any individual falling below that line is perceived to be in poverty. Also people argue that some indicators are not signs of deprivation and rather cultural differences. However Townsend has been credited with many successful byproducts of his research such as the introduction of the minimum wage, tax credits and also by measuring relative poverty rather than absolute poverty Townsends research indicated that poverty was and still is more widespread across Britain than many people initially thought.
As a result of Townsends research, the Labour government commissioned The Black Report which was tasked with looking into health inequalities in Britain. 37 recommendations were made by the report's authors which included free school meals for all, better working conditions, better disability benefits and more spending on housing. Unfortunately, the report was completed under Thatchers’ conservative government which refused to implement the recommendation on the grounds of cost and the conservatives also tried to prevent the publication of the report by releasing it on a bank holiday and making the price of purchase ridiculously high. This lack of commitment from the conservatives to improve the quality of health in the United Kingdom could be argued as a contributor to the rise of poverty in the 21st century. Thatchers’ policies have been described as disadvantaging a large number of poor people in Britain and having devastating effects for decades that came from her time in government.
More recently, under Blair's Labour, the government introduced the 5-a-day initiative aimed at promoting healthy eating however for those in poverty it is often unattainable due to the price of vegetables and the energy per price ratio in fruit and vegetables compared to lower nutritionally dense food such as crisps and chocolate is significantly different. Therefore, it is of more benefit to have a less nutritionally dense item that is cheaper in cost as it provides more carbohydrates that convert into energy. Also the emotional and mental stress that preparing foods to achieve the government's proposed 5 a day target compared to convenience foods is significantly high for those who work multiple jobs to support their household but still find themselves falling below the poverty line.
The effects of poverty on people's lives is detrimental in all regards and it is for this reason that class tourism and the fetisization of poverty on social media is incredibly insulting. Not only is it insulting but it may be a reason behind why society downplays the true extent of poverty in the UK. It is important to recognise that once these influencers are finished with their video of living on £1 a Day they can sit back in their lit warm homes. What these videos fail to acknowledge is the cost of utilities, clothing, outings and entertainment and other things needed to have a life that goes beyond existing. Some influencers do raise awareness and that is fantastic however others use it as a way to make their revenue to pay their mortgage on their mansons. The blame cannot be based solely on the content creator, some blame also needs to be placed on the consumers who find enjoyment from the suffering of others.
FIND A FOOD BANK NEAR YOU AND DONATE https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/
INFORMATION ON CHILD POVERTY https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/what-we-do/child-poverty
DIRECTORY FOR POVERTY CHARITIES https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/charities/social-welfare/poverty?onlinedonations=0
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