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U.S. Poverty Myths

Myths about Poverty in the World's Wealthiest Nation

 

Myths and misunderstandings fuel stereotypes that negatively impact those living in poverty in the U.S.

Here are just a few of many related to U.S. poverty:

 

Myth: Even if you're poor in the U.S. you're doing pretty well.

The Reality: The U.S. ranks toward the bottom of the world's richest countries in how it cares for its children in poverty. Ranking 22nd out of 24 nations, the United States has one of the largest gaps between average income children and most disadvantaged children in critical areas of health, education, and material well-being. (UNICEF, 2010)

Myth: No one goes hungry in America.

The Reality: 17.4 million American families - almost 15 percent of U.S. households - are now "food insecure," an almost 30 percent increase since 2006. This means that during any given month, they will be out of money, out of food, and forced to miss meals or seek assistance to feed themselves. (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 2010)

Myth: Poverty has little lasting impact on children.

The Reality: Research is clear that poverty is the single greatest threat to children's well-being. Poverty can impede children's ability to learn and contribute to social, emotional, and behavioral problems. Poverty also can contribute to poor physical and mental health. Risks are greatest for children who experience poverty when they are young and/or experience deep and persistent poverty. (National Center for Children in Poverty, 2010)

Myth: Few U.S. children are homeless

The Reality: More than 1.5 million of the nation's children go to sleep without a home each year. Homeless children experience a lack of safety, comfort, privacy, reassuring routines, adequate health care, uninterrupted schooling, sustaining relationships, and a sense of community. These factors combine to create a life-altering experience that inflicts profound and lasting scars. (National Center on Family Homelessness, 2009)

Myth: All U.S. children have equal opportunities to succeed in school.

The Reality:

• Children born poor, at low birth weight, without health coverage, and who start school not ready to learn often fall behind and drop out.
• Teachers in high poverty schools are more likely to have less experience, less training, and fewer advanced degrees than teachers in low poverty schools.
• 46 percent of Black high school students, 39 percent of Hispanic students, and 11percent of White students attend the nation's 2,000 "dropout factories," where less than 60 percent of the freshman class will graduate in four years with a regular diploma. (Children's Defense Fund, 2010)

Myth: Poor people tend to abuse drugs and alcohol.

The Reality: Poor people are no more likely than their wealthier counterparts to abuse alcohol or drugs. Although drug sales are more visible in poor neighborhoods, research indicates that alcohol abuse is far more prevalent among wealthy people than among poor people. (Diala, Muntaner, & Walrath, 2004; Galea, Ahern, Tracy, & Vlahov, 2007)

Myth: People who are poor are lazy.

Fact: In 2008, 4.5 million families living in poverty had at least one member in the labor force. (U.S. Department of Labor, 2010)

Myth: Those living in poverty just want to stay there.

Fact: Millions of Americans move in and out of poverty over a lifetime. More than half the U.S. population will live in poverty at some point before age 65. (Urban Institute, 2010)