Lewis Culture Of Poverty

Lewis’s theory of a culture of poverty explains a lot about how poverty is passed down from generation to generation, and it’s traits as a culture. The theory has many different aspects to it that makes it very complex.

Lewis’s theory of a culture of poverty represents when people make an effort to cope with feelings of hopelessness and despair that develop from realization of the low possibility of achieving success in terms of the values and goals of the larger society. The culture of poverty is both an adaptation and a reaction of the poor to their position in a class-stratified, highly individual, capitalistic society (Lewis 188). The culture of poverty is passed down from generation to generation because of its effect on the children. “By the time slum children are age six or seven, they have usually absorbed the basic values and attitudes of their subculture and are not psychologically geared to take full advantage of the changing conditions or increased opportunities that may occur in their lifetime” (Lewis 188).

Many of the traits of the culture of poverty can be seen as attempts at solutions for problems not met by existing institutions because the people are not eligible for them, cannot afford them, or are suspicious of them.

The culture of poverty develops when a stratified social and economic system is breaking down or is being replaced by another. People with a culture of poverty produce a low amount of money and receive very little in return. These people only know their own troubles, and their own way of living. They don’t have the knowledge, to see the similarities between their problems and those of the people who don’t have the issues they

have.
I think that the culture of poverty is a valid theory. Lewis says that once the culture of poverty comes into play, it’s passed down from generation to generation because of its effect on the children. “By the time slum children are age six or seven, they have usually absorbed the basic values and attitudes of their subculture and are not psychologically geared to take full advantage of the changing conditions or increased opportunities that may occur in their lifetime” (Lewis 188). I agree with this. When children witness their parents or family living in poverty and the way they struggle, they start to interpret it into their own life style and they believe that it’s not possible to get out of poverty, so they must adapt to it.
I personally believe in this theory, because I grew up in poverty. My parents were drug addicts and they were unemployed. In order to make ends meet, they thought the only way would be to see drugs. I witnessed all of their behavior and I started to feel hopeless about my future. I didn’t think it was possible to get out of the cycle. I found it psychologically difficult to finish school because of this, and take opportunities that were given to me. However, I did. It made me a better person from it all as well. I do believe that children who grow up in these kinds of homes can get out of the cycle, and still be successful. I’m doing it myself right now, I know it’s possible.
Lewis’s theory explains how the culture of poverty is passed down by generations. There are many different aspects that explain how this happens. Children witness their parents way of living in poverty and they start adapting to the cultural norms of this life style.