Question

Using the conflict perspective, explain how poverty came to be and how it is perpetuated.

Answer 1

Conflict perspective suggests that the society is in a perpetual conflict for the limited resources available where social order is maintained not through consensus but through domination. This would mean that the power elites and the majority in the country dominated people of color and utilised most of the resources and discriminated people of color from education, employment, housing, healthcare, political participation etc. which led them to go into poverty, unemployment and unhealthy lifestyle. Most of the resources, power and political and non-political institutions are maintained and managed by the power elites who belong to the majority race and they support the majority whites while leaving others into poverty. However, there are also other white people who became poor due to their negligence to life and its opportunities.

Thank you for your question. Please rate if you like the answer.