Definitions of Poverty

    OCR
    GCSE

    The sociological study of poverty definitions requires candidates to move beyond common-sense understandings of 'lack of money' to analyse poverty as a contested, socially constructed concept. The core tension lies between 'Absolute' definitions (biological subsistence, fixed) and 'Relative' definitions (social participation, fluid). Candidates must evaluate the operationalisation of these concepts, from Rowntree’s nutritional baseline to Townsend’s relative deprivation index and the consensual methods of Mack and Lansley. High-level responses must link these definitions to political ideologies and social policy formation, recognising that how poverty is defined determines the statistical scale of the problem and the extent of state welfare responsibility.

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    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    3
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    Learning Objectives

    What you need to know and understand

    • Seebohm Rowntree's 1899 York study establishing the 'poverty line' based on biological necessity.
    • Peter Townsend's 1979 research introducing the 'Deprivation Index' and relative poverty concept.
    • Mack and Lansley's 'Breadline Britain' (1985) establishing the 'consensual measure' of poverty.
    • The official UK government definition of relative poverty: Household income below 60% of the median.
    • The concept of 'Social Exclusion' (Levitas/New Labour) expanding poverty beyond just income.

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for precise definitions: Absolute poverty as lack of basic biological necessities; Relative poverty as exclusion from cultural norms.
    • Credit references to Peter Townsend (1979): Candidates must explain his critique of the 'subsistence' model and introduction of the Deprivation Index.
    • Responses must evaluate the 'subjectivity' problem in defining necessities, citing Mack and Lansley's consensual approach as a methodological solution.
    • High-level responses must link definitions to Social Exclusion, acknowledging that poverty is multidimensional (rights, resources, and integration).

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡In 'Evaluate' questions, contrast the rigidity of absolute definitions with the flexibility of relative definitions regarding time and place.
    • 💡When citing Townsend, explicitly mention the 'Deprivation Index' and give examples of items on his list (e.g., a cooked breakfast, a holiday).
    • 💡For source questions (AO2), do not just lift data; calculate the difference or trend (e.g., 'poverty rates doubled') to demonstrate application.
    • 💡Use the '60% of median income' statistic to demonstrate precise knowledge of current UK government measures.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Conflating 'relative poverty' with simply having less money than the rich, rather than falling below a specific societal standard (e.g., 60% median).
    • Asserting that absolute poverty does not exist in the UK, ignoring evidence of destitution or homelessness.
    • Describing the 'poverty trap' or causes of poverty when the question specifically asks for 'definitions' or 'measurement'.

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    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Identify
    Describe
    Explain
    Discuss
    Evaluate
    To what extent

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