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The Study of Poverty Levels Based on Many Characteristics Exercise #2 Problem Definition Paper: Secondary Data Tables Yasmin Berry SOWK 300: Computer Applications Ms. McArthur September 14, 2011
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Abstract The purpose of this paper is to focus on the poverty levels throughout the United States. While studying the poverty level I also will compare and contrast the poverty rate with according to different characteristics. The different characteristics include race, sex, age, and region. Also I will focus on a method to stop the problems in order to decrease the poverty rate.
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1. Problem Identification. Table 715 Families below Poverty Level by Selected Characteristics: 2008 focuses on select population of families living below the poverty level in 2008. The main goal is to compare and contrast families living below the poverty level based on certain characteristics depending on their race. We are able to connect if someone geographical area and their race effects their poverty level. The different characteristics range from age of householders, region, and type of family. All of the characteristics are measured by each familys race. The races that are studied are Caucasian, African American, Asian, Non-Hispanic, and races not shown separately. The initial problem seems to be that many families not only African American are living below the poverty rate and some of the factors that contribute to the problem are where they live, age, and marital status. 2. Problem Description. The main issue is that all races collectively have more than 18 million people in the United Sates live below the poverty level in 2008. The ethnicity that was affected the most was African Americans. 22% of African Americans were living below poverty, which is the largest percent out of all of the ethnicities. The younger the householder seems to be the higher the poverty rate was for all races and Caucasians. For all races the largest amount of poverty occurs in the South. Also, female single parent households seem to be an even larger problem.
The only thing that can stop this problem or decrease the amount of poverty is to create more opportunities. If there were more jobs offered then families can sometimes take care
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of their children without the assistance of the government or live comfortably. If they offered more resources for people to go to college they can receive the opportunity to have a better career to support their families. The risk factors can be reduced in the South since they have the highest poverty rate within minorities. They clearly have the highest poverty rate within minorities because they have the most minorities. Unfortunately there is more racial discrimination in the South which still affects the minorities especially African Americans. 3. Findings A. Magnitude: The largest problem is race being that mainly African Americans are living below the poverty level. Since they were largely affected I wanted to see what the difference between the family incomes is. Based on Table 689 Money Income of Households- Percent Distribution by Income Level, Race, and Hispanic Origin, in Constant (2008) Dollars: 1980 to 2008. In 2008 14,595,000 African Americans participated in the study on the amount of income that they received. There were 23 % of African Americans that received fewer than 15,000. Table One, Families below Poverty Level by Selected Characteristics: 2008 indicated that Asians had the lowest poverty rate. Since income was a factor in the case for African Americans then it should have affected Asians as well. From Table Two, 4,573,000 Asians participated and 11.8% received lower than 15,000. The amount of income clearly goes in correlation with ones ethnicity, which ultimately affects the poverty rate. When looking at income it is also important to examine the education level one has obtained. Since African Americans received the lowest amount of income it is important to see if they obtain the least amount of education. Based on Table 225:
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Educational Attainment by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1970 to 2009 only 19.6 % of African Americans was a college graduate or more in 2008. While looking at the Asian in 2008 52.6 was a college graduate or more. This is very important because it affects the income level of both races. In this case African Americans have less education which means they receive less income which causes their poverty rate to be high. B. Scope: The large amount of Americans that live below the poverty level is a problem throughout the United States. It affects the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Geographically there are more African Americans that live in the South. This is interesting because the highest poverty rate is in the South and a lot of African Americans live in the South. This slave mentality can still be a problem there because African Americans have a hard time progressing here because of things such as discrimination and it makes it worse because it is done publicly and freely. While the poverty level is only 9.1% for Whites in the South it is 20.8% for African American. In the Midwest only 7.3% whites live below poverty level and 28.2% of African Americans live below the poverty level. In the Midwest it is more so populated with Caucasians, leaving them to take the jobs and education which results in African Americans suffering. C. Changes. Based on Table 225: Educational Attainment by Race and Hispanic
Origin: 1970 to 2009 and Table 689: Households- Percent Distribution by Income Level, Race, and Hispanic Origin, in Constant (2008) Dollars: 1980 to 2008 the poverty level should have decreased. This is because each year the education levels increases and the income increases. For example, Table 689 Households- Percent
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Distribution by Income Level, Race, and Hispanic Origin, in Constant (2008) shows the difference between income in 1980 and 2008. In 1980 there were 3.5 % of African Americans making 100,000 and over but in 2008 there was 10% which was a huge increase. If citizens were making more money this means that more than likely they have enough money to support their families. Of course more education should result in more money. D. Disparities. There are many differences in terms of marital status, sex, race, and age. Single parents in all ethnicities have a higher poverty rate. The difference is the sex of the householder. In all cases when there was no male spouse present the poverty rate was higher than when there was no female spouse present. Also the age of the householder affects the poverty level. For example, Caucasian householders between the ages of 15 to 24 years old poverty level are 25.3%. When the householder is older such as 25 to 34 years old the poverty level decreases to 14.2%. All of these factors have an effect on the poverty level in all races.
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Works Cited U.S. Census Bureau . September 2009. (Table) 715. Families Below Poverty Level by Selected Charateristics:2008 Retreieved September 09,2011. [Link] U.S. Census Bureau. September 2009. Table 689. Money Income of Households- Percent Distribution by income Level, Race, and Hispanic Orgin, in Constant (2008) Dollar:1980 to 2008. Retrieved September 10,2011 [Link] U.S. Census Bureau. March 2009. Table 64. Families by Number of Own Children Under 18 Years Old: 2000 to 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2011 [Link] U.S. Census Bureau. April 2005. Table 225. Educational Attainment by Race and Hispanic Origi: 1970 to 2009. Retrieved September 10,2011 [Link]