Free Essay Sample about Poverty

What does it mean to be in poverty? Such a simple yet controversial question. I can guarantee that a larger percentage of the world goes on with their day not thinking about all those suffering because they can’t provide for themselves and their loved ones. In class, I'm not thinking about the starving children in Africa who literally look like skin on bones. In fact, I'm probably thinking about what I want to do during recess or what I'm going to do for my next project. So to that, I think most can relate.

By definition, poverty means to be in the state of being extremely poor, whether that means you can’t afford food, or you don’t have a roof over your head at night; and I'm sure that's what most people think of when they see the word ‘poverty’. The truth is though, that's not the only type of poverty. There are actually 6 different types of poverty and many can relate without even knowing. In this case, we’re going to talk about situational poverty due to a high percentage of people going through it. The boy with soon-to-be-divorced parents - though living in a four million dollar mansion, he’s in situational poverty. That girl with parents working shift-to-shift renting that 1 bedroom apartment with a family of five, she’s in situational poverty. Same with those twins in your class, they’re being abused by their father while their mother does nothing to stop it. To describe it simply, situational poverty is when one is economically unstable. 

Poverty is lacking basic needs; basic needs are more than not having food, it's the absence of emotional requirements. It's the feeling of never-ending depression that burns you out, ruining your relationships with others. Affecting your work life and impacts your home life. This situational poverty can lead to relative poverty whether that's directly or indirectly. For example, I might not be the one suffering but someone I love who is can transfer to me, putting strain on my life apart from them.

In general, though you may not be homeless, or starving, or constantly on the brink of being evicted, it doesn't mean you may not be struggling. I disagree with those who say it isn’t poverty if I'm not in the worst, unimaginable physical situations because poverty is not just absolute poverty, there are five other categories that should be taken into consideration. So to that financially unstable family, you might look like the one in poverty, because while being paycheck to paycheck they are all emotionally stable and happy, while you suffer from anxiety and have horrible relationships with your family.