The Bottom Line: The Culture of Poverty

The idea of a "culture of poverty" was originally founded by Oscar Lewis. Oscar Lewis looked past poverty's functionality in society and instead delved into the norms and values of those who are impoverished. His research demonstrated that the poor, had there own system of norms and values. Just like individuals in high culture set out the standard for what is innovative and beautiful in society, individuals within the culture of poverty have their own distinct lifestyle specifically structure for those who are impoverished; "it has a structure, a rationale, and defense mechanisms without which the poor could hardly carry on." The culture of poverty, mimics the principles of a subculture; impoverished predecessors pass down the principles and morals of the poor to forthcoming generations. Practices such as this one, suggest that the poor lives a distinct way of life that is essentially intertwined to the functionality of society.