I had two conversation partners respond to my request this week. The first is a former colleague of mine. She has lived and worked in many places and now calls Hong Kong home. She has a very different perspective on the issue of poverty. The area where she lives is very rich. It used to be a resort. Even with all the money around, poverty is present in the area. She sees it in the "aunties" and "uncles" who clean the streets and empty the garbage cans. They are usually older people who have no children to look after them. The residents including the children don't see these 'invisible' people. Another 'invisible' group of people are the mostly Filipino helpers who act as nannies, cooks and cleaners.
She also talks about a different kind of poverty that the children experience. It is not monetary or a lack of things. It's a poverty of attention. Many children see very little of their own parents. They are raised by the hired helpers who worry about losing their jobs. Because of this there is very little discipline for them. This means that the children are used to getting their way. One impact this has is to create problems at school. The children have difficulty doing things for themselves and try to get attention from the teacher in any way they can.
There are no programs for the poor in her area, mostly because they are the invisible part of society. A specific issue that concerns her is the discrepancy between poverty in the developing world and in the developed world.
My other contact is my sister who lives and works in Canada. She sees poverty in the school supplies and clothing of the children. Some children lack the basics. While there are many programs in place to help people living in poverty, children sometimes still go without. Her concern is how people can break out of the cycle of poverty. When you have no money for post-secondary education, you then get a lower paying job repeating the cycle of poverty.
The most interesting point I found from my conversations this week was the different perspective on poverty. My colleague said that some of the poverty that is present in her native New Zealand is not child poverty but child neglect. When there is money available but is spent on things that are not necessary or to upgrade instead of buying things the children need poverty is a result but neglect is the cause.
She also talks about a different kind of poverty that the children experience. It is not monetary or a lack of things. It's a poverty of attention. Many children see very little of their own parents. They are raised by the hired helpers who worry about losing their jobs. Because of this there is very little discipline for them. This means that the children are used to getting their way. One impact this has is to create problems at school. The children have difficulty doing things for themselves and try to get attention from the teacher in any way they can.
There are no programs for the poor in her area, mostly because they are the invisible part of society. A specific issue that concerns her is the discrepancy between poverty in the developing world and in the developed world.
My other contact is my sister who lives and works in Canada. She sees poverty in the school supplies and clothing of the children. Some children lack the basics. While there are many programs in place to help people living in poverty, children sometimes still go without. Her concern is how people can break out of the cycle of poverty. When you have no money for post-secondary education, you then get a lower paying job repeating the cycle of poverty.
The most interesting point I found from my conversations this week was the different perspective on poverty. My colleague said that some of the poverty that is present in her native New Zealand is not child poverty but child neglect. When there is money available but is spent on things that are not necessary or to upgrade instead of buying things the children need poverty is a result but neglect is the cause.
Wow, Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteThese really are very different perspectives!Bias and neglect are really alive and well outside the United States. Your stories made me feel very lucky to live where I live, Peoria, Illinois, United States.
Thanks for sharing!
Liz Thomas
Hi Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteReading about Hong Kong reminded me of the situation here in Saudi Arabia; you stated that Filipino helpers work "as nannies, cooks and cleaners" and this is the way many families live here. Both parents don't spend time with their children so they are raised by the nannies. I work in a private school so I deal with similar situations very often; it is sometimes even very difficult to reach a student's parents to discuss issues and concerns.
Great post!
Ghayna Alsafadi
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI thought your post was so touching."Even with all the money around, poverty is present in the area. She sees it in the "aunties" and "uncles" who clean the streets and empty the garbage cans. They are usually older people who have no children to look after them. The residents including the children don't see these 'invisible' people." That is so sad but it is true within many societies where these are the individuals that made their countries were they are today and they are now "invisible" to that country. Also your statement about children: "It's a poverty of attention. Many children see very little of their own parents." Although, your friend lives in Hong Kong...this reminds me of the American society a great deal. I enjoyed reading your post!