Social Exclusion And Poverty Essay

Is there a Direct Link between Social Exclusion and Poverty?
The reasons usually given concerning why people live in poverty usually concern the achievements of an individual. They did not work hard enough, they were lazy, and they were careless with their money. All these reasons lay blame on the individual. These reasons can also lead individuals to lack sympathy for those living in poverty. Despite what a majority of people believe about the circumstances that surround a person living in poverty, it is not just about the individual’s level of commitment or grades; it is also about factors that individuals can not often control. Factors like their race, gender, age, immigration status, and whether or not they were born into poverty. In our …show more content…
For example aboriginal people had their land and rights taken away from them when European settlers came to Canada. They negotiated treaties and surrendered their lands in return for cash and supplies, in addition to being awarded small settlements called reserves (Lee, 2012, pg. 1). In 1884, potlatches, or large gatherings, were banned, as the government viewed them dangerous and as opportunities for Aboriginal peoples to organize their protests. In 1925, other cultural bans were introduced which outlawed pow-wows, as well as rituals such as sweat lodges, and the Sundance. These practices were only allowed again in 1951. (Lee, 2012, pg. 1). Aboriginal Canadians are still suffering from the after effects of having their land and identities being stripped away from them. This had an economic impact on their community. Many Aboriginals on reserves lived in extreme poverty, and those who left their reserves had trouble living in urban settings (Lee, 2012, pg. 1). As a result, despite not having a huge population they are over-represented in poverty statistics. In the case of black Canadians, years of discrimination and their history in western countries still affect them. The rate of unemployment in Black communities is higher than in that of Caucasian communities. Visible minorities have 60% greater adjusted odds of being below the Low Income Mark than non-visible minorities (Lightman, 2012, pg. 132). Colonialism and slavery have translated into poverty in our present day. Women are another group that has had their rights taken away from them. In an extremely patriarchal society, women were denied recognition as persons and were unable to make any decisions for themselves. The society today is still a patriarchal one and this