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Fact Sheet    August 2003

Generational vs. Situational Poverty and the Hidden Rules

by Kerri McCormick for the Reaching Underserved Team

Introduction

Previous fact sheets have introduced various concepts suggesting that those who serve persons living in poverty need a better understanding of poverty to provide effective programming. This fact sheet which builds upon those concepts, is based on A Framework for Understanding Poverty written by Ruby Payne in 1998.

Dr. Payne developed her framework after years of personal observation and research as an educator. She is quick to point out that the framework is based upon patterns of human behavior; there are always exceptions to the pattern.

Generational vs. Situational Poverty

There are generally five reasons for poverty

1. Educational attainment of adult
2. The structure of the family
3. Immigration
4. Language issues
5. Addiction issues of adults

Dr. Payne makes a clear distinction between Generational and Situational Poverty. Generational poverty is defined as two or more generations living in poverty. People in generational poverty exhibit certain ingrained patterns of behavior. These patterns are the result of having experienced the effects of poverty over time. The behaviors are part of their culture. For this reason, even though these individuals tend to have a much lower level of educational attainment, they do tend to have better coping and life skills than those in situational poverty.

"Life is lived in common,
but not in community."
-- Michael Harrington

Situational poverty is the result of a change in circumstances – loss of a job, divorce, death of a spouse, etc. With situational poverty, the individual keeps the values and behaviors of the socioeconomic class from which they have come. These individuals often have more resources and are better connected with individuals who can provide assistance. They often have a higher level of education and therefore are more employable than those in generational poverty. But one of the greatest advantages is that these individuals know and understand the hidden rules of the middle class.

What Are Hidden Rules?

Hidden rules are the unspoken cues that dictate behavior. But these hidden rules apply to much more than just behaviors and actions. They are part of the culture of each socioeconomic class. These hidden rules are the basis for how individuals make decisions. For example, in the middle class, the driving forces for decision-making are work and achievement. In the wealthy class, decisions are based upon social, financial, and political connections. In generational poverty, survival, relationships, and entertainment are the forces that determine decisions. Below are some of the more common hidden rules. Once again, these hidden rules are based upon patterns of behaviors. There are exceptions to every pattern.

"Through thick and thin,
boom and bust, we tenaciously
hold on to the belief that we
are fundamentally a classless society.”

-- Ellen Goodman

Food – Quantity vs. quality
Wealthy – The presentation of the food, making it aesthetically appealing, is what is important
Middle Class – The quality of the food is what is important
Generational Poverty – It is about quantity; having enough is what matters

Fighting – How conflicts are resolved
Wealthy – Done through social exclusion and lawyers
Middle Class – Done verbally; issues are discussed
Generational Poverty – Done physically with fists
and bodies

The World – How individuals see themselves in the world
Wealthy – Part of the international / global world
Middle Class – National; staying within the continent
Generational Poverty – Local; rarely leaving the state or even the county

Time – How it is viewed and perceived
Wealthy – Traditions and past history are what is important
Middle Class – The future is what matters; planning and preparing
Generational Poverty – It is about the present – living in the moment and meeting immediate needs

Destiny – Fate vs. choices
Wealthy – “Noblesse oblige”; the wealthy are bound by obligations that determine their destiny
Middle Class – Believe in choices; can change the future with well-made decisions
Generational Poverty – Believe in fate; not much can be done to mitigate chance

Possessions – What is important to own
Wealthy – One-of-a-kind objects, legacies, and pedigrees
Middle Class – Material items (cars, electronic gadgets, clothes, etc.)
Generational Poverty – People and relationships

Love and Acceptance – What determines love and acceptance
Wealthy – Whether the individual is connected and has social standing
Middle Class –Achievements and success
Generational Poverty –Whether the individual is liked

So Now What?

Because most of society is based upon the values of middle class (i.e., business transactions, school environments, public policies, etc.), it is not enough to simply be aware of the hidden rules. Awareness alone will not positively affect programming. To improve the efforts of serving underserved populations, the hidden rules must be taught directly to those individuals who are attempting to leave poverty. For example, if an individual in generational poverty does not know that middle class individuals place high priority on work and achievement, this must be taught. What may be an appropriate reaction at home or in their community (like fighting) may not be appropriate at school or 4-H camp. If an individual is trying to move out of poverty, it is imperative for him or her to have a clear understanding of the middle class hidden rules in order to make a successful transition.

References

Payne, Ruby K. (1998). A Framework for Understanding Poverty. Highlands, TX: RFT Publishing Company.

Payne, Ruby K. (1999). Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities. Highlands, TX: RFT Publishing Company.

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Copyright © 2003 Reaching Underserved Team
Last modified: February 26, 2004