Poor Children "Know Their Place": Perceptions of Poverty, Class, and Public Messages

Abstract

Investigated how children feel their lives are circumscribed by living in poverty, by public messages about the poor, and by their views of their socioeconomic status. 24 5–13 yr olds living in a low-income neighborhood were interviewed using snapshots of different economic level homes in order to capture their uncensored responses. Findings reveal that the children view poverty as a deprivation, perceive societal messages as disparaging of the poor, and have some difficulty holding on to positive views of themselves. Suggestions for social work practice are provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)