What Does it Mean to Be Poor?
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of poor is the "lacking of material possessions." Society associates being poor with an individual not having commodities in life that are deemed necessities such as housing, food or clothing.
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What is being poor?
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A family or person is considered to be poor based on standards by the country that he lives in. For example, in the United States a person is considered poor if he lives under the poverty level guidelines formulated by the Department of Health and Human Services. According to the Department of Health and Human Services standards, a family of five is considered under poverty level if their income is below $25,790 a year.
However, a woman might think of herself as poor if she is without the things she feels she needs to survive. A person who continuously doesn't have food to eat or is homeless would be someone others would view as being poor. Some individuals view themselves as poor if they are without employment, lack education, are without a car or do not possess clean (or various) clothing. Someone could be observed as a poor person if he smells bad or has bad hygiene. The type of home a person lives in as well as the geographical location of a person's home will at times give the opinion that a person is living in or near poverty levels. Also, physical appearances like a person's hairstyle, clothing and shoes worn and race or age can make another person assume that she is poor and is lacking the necessary possessions she needs to live.
What it means to be poor
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A poor person usually will have to find other means to take care of himself and his family. One way this is done in the United States is through a system established by the government called welfare. The welfare system was set up to assist individuals who may need assistance purchasing food, medical benefits and sometimes even a place to live. This type of government assistance is funded with tax money paid by working taxpayers. This system was also put in place to assist poor people in getting on their feet while they attempt to be self-sufficient. A poor person may have to go without food or shelter if she does not have outside assistance from the government or family members.
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