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Read Item G below and answer the question that follows - AQA - A-Level Sociology - Question 11 - 2018 - Paper 2
Question 11
Read Item G below and answer the question that follows. Item G Relative poverty is where individuals do not have the resources to sustain the lifestyle that people... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Read Item G below and answer the question that follows - AQA - A-Level Sociology - Question 11 - 2018 - Paper 2
Step 1
Difficulty 1: Varied Standards of Living
Answer
One difficulty sociologists face in measuring relative poverty is the varying standards of living across different cultural and socioeconomic contexts. What may be considered a basic necessity in one society could be regarded as excessive in another. For instance, access to a personal vehicle might be deemed essential in suburban areas, while public transport sufficiency might suffice in urban centers. This disparity complicates the establishment of a universal criterion for relative poverty.
Step 2
Difficulty 2: Subjectivity of Poverty Perceptions
Answer
Another challenge is the subjective nature of poverty perceptions. Individuals may have different interpretations of what it means to live in poverty based on their experiences and societal norms. For instance, some may argue that lacking items such as internet access or a smartphone places them in relative poverty, while others, particularly those from less affluent backgrounds, may not share this viewpoint. Consequently, this subjectivity can lead to inconsistent measurements and evaluations of relative poverty across different population groups.