Causes of Social Exclusion

There is no one definition of poverty.

In the UK today, very few people are absolutely poor in the way that people in developing countries are.

Because of the welfare state, everyone in Britain should be able to eat, be clothed and, if even only temporarily, have a roof over their head.

Instead, when we speak of poverty, we refer to relative poverty; people being poor in relation to other people.

Social exclusion is different and more serious than poverty.

A person can be poor, but not socially excluded.

For example, a university student may be poor a few years, but can obtain a well paid job after getting a good degree.

Social exclusion exists where a person is poor, but obtaining money is only part of the answer.

Poverty refers to the economic condition of being poor.

There is no official definition of poverty in the UK.

Most commentators refer to being in poverty if a person earns 60% of the median household income.

In 2008, the poverty charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimated that an annual income for £27,000 was required for a family not to be poor.

Remember we are speaking of relative, not absolute poverty, which exists in many 3rd world countries or areas of conflict.

Economic migrants are very willing to accept the “hardships” of our “deprived” estates.

Achieving life skills, such as being computer literate, having social skills, contacts and confidence is required too.

That is why social exclusion is so difficult to defeat.

Socially excluded parents tend to produce socially excluded children and vice versa.

Social Exclusion: the causes

There are many, but the following are considered to be the most significant.

Long term unemployment. This causes not just poverty, but a lack of confidence and self esteem.

A person’s mental health can suffer through being out of work and missing the “banter” and feel-good effect of doing a fulfilling job.

Long term unemployment can lead to debt, a poor diet and poor physical health.

Low pay.

The National Minimum Wage rose to £5.80 per hour in October 2009 for an adult over 21.

Yet it must be hard to afford a foreign holiday, take the kids to a SPL match, or go out for a meal.

At the start of season 2009-10, Arsenal announced that it will cost £94 to watch "Category A" matches against the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United from the best seats at the Emirates Stadium.

The cheapest season ticket to go and watch Arsenal is £905.

In some ways, it is harder to be low paid than unemployed, as the person may not be entitled to the same benefits the unemployed are.

Lack of Education.

Education is the key to prosperity.

The well paid jobs in society are increasingly only open to graduates.

University also allows people to develop the “soft skills” of communicating and “networking” with others who will be the “movers and shakers” of the future.

Not all jobs are advertised.

Some come up through contacts made at the golf or the rugby, games popular at university, especially with males.

To get into university requires Highers. Sorry to put pressure on you, but…..

Homelessness.

Work is the way out of poverty.

Yet it is difficult to find a job when there is no address to return applications to.

It is difficult to be smart, confident and prepared for an interview without space and privacy.

It is difficult even to know there are jobs available, when day to day survival is the priority.

Social Class.

This is hard to pin down. But the reason why many parents choose a private education is “the old school tie” argument.

Some employers may be impressed by the prestigious school you went to. Or vice versa.

Being educated at a private school may enable you to develop contacts which are useful in business.

Some employers can be prejudiced against people from a particular part of town, believing negative stereotypes that are passed around.

Even if the class influence is not as obvious as this, there is evidence that well educated parents are able to advise their children to make better life choices.

This could be about avoiding a bad diet, drugs, risky sex or alcohol abuse as well as about careers and exams.

In affluent parts of Edinburgh, such as Murrayfield, average life expectancy is 10 years higher than that of Shettleston, Scotland’s poorest constituency.

Being dead, after all, is surely the ultimate form of social exclusion.

Student Activities

What is the difference between absolute and relative poverty?

What are the effects of living on a low income?

In what ways is education the key to prosperity?

In what ways can well educated parents help their children?

Analysis

To what extent is social exclusion a serious problem in UK society?