Familiar Strangers

     Through the research done to compose the four blogs I have written, I learned a great deal about poverty; how it affects students, creates homelessness and how the Pre-Contact Era Anishinaabek people lived without it. Through my research, as well as through my readings of other blogs, I learned about the political ideologies. From the aforementioned blog posts, I learned about Older Adults and the injustices they live with, the LGBTTQ community and the stigma they face, people living with mental illness/physical disabilities and how our world has not yet accommodated them, and so much more.

      But most important of all, I have learned about the intersectionality of people. I have been reminded about how we all have so many roles to fulfill, as students, as parents, as workers, as members of our culture etc... I have been reminded about how we are all so different, through things like race, gender, writing style, but that we have the same basic needs, we want the same things and we are in many ways, much a like. Yet all this oppression and classism still occurs. My eyes have been opened to what must be done. "Just as oppression contains psychological and political dimensions, so do liberation and well-being." (Prilleltensky, 2003).

     I have learned a great deal about the social issues that are interwoven and hidden in our world. But on a more micro level, I think about the all the faces that had become familiar to me in our classroom; the seventy or so people that have all come from different places, families and backgrounds to lug themselves out of bed to unite at 10:00 AM every Friday. We are each of us gifted. We are all of us survivors of our own trials. We know so little about each other; we probably know nothing about what the people sitting around us have been through or what they fight for. All we do know is that every Friday morning, we have an Introduction to Social Welfare class together. We become familiar strangers in a world overcast with injustice, yet filled with such promise and opportunity. Together, as strangers that cross paths, we can achieve change however, we need each other, and that is vital. As the famous saying goes, "United we stand, divided we fall."

Prilleltensky, I. (March 2003). Understanding, Resisting, and Overcoming Oppression: Toward Psychopolitical Validity. American Journal of Community Psychology, Volume 31. Retrieved December 14, 2012 from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1023043108210?LI=true

~ Valerie

Violence Against Women

          In this blog entry, I am going to talk about the links between violence against women and poverty. I will also look at violence from a feminist approach.The Public Health Agency of Canada looked at the relationship between violence against women and poverty, the research indicated that in general, Canadian women are subject to being abused or facing violence regardless of their background, culture or race (The Public Health Agency of Canada p.4). Women who are neither wealthy nor capable of supporting themselves are highly dependent on their male partners. The Public Health Agency of Canada explained that those women who are in need of money and financial stability tend to be in exposure of abuse and violence, because they are dependent on their male spouse or family relative for providing them with the life necessities they lack (p.7). As a result, young and Aboriginal women are good candidates of being abused and oppressed, for that they have a lack of economic and financial security and a lack of job experience (The Public Health Agency of Canada p.3). However, immigrant women go also through many challenges because they either have not developed good English communication skills or they did not have the opportunity to work in the Canadian jobs field (The Public Health Agency of Canada, p.5). 

            Moreover, poverty and violence are interconnected to each other because they both lead to one another. For example, women who live in poverty are likely to be victims of family violence: they bear being mistreated and beaten up in order to survive. On the other hand, women who are abused put up with any kinds of violence they encounter with, so they can maintain their social class and the good quality of life they have. The Public Health Agency of Canada argued that “The similar effects that violence and poverty have on women have led some to conclude that to live in poverty is a form of societal abuse” (p.4). Hence, I strongly believe that poverty and violence have an incredible effect on the woman's health and self-esteem. If the woman is healthy, she will be productive. As a result, she will become successful and she will also develop a sense of self worth, respect, and importance. 

Furthermore, the feminist movement occurred to represent all kinds of  women, especially the marginalized ones. Boucher mentioned in her article that looked at violence from a feminist perspective that many feminists believe women should be treated the same way men are treated; they believe that equality between both genders starts with education and turns out to social movements (p.4). Furthermore, feminists believe that violence should be recognized as for what it really is; harmful and evil. They also debate that violence should also be identified as a serious social issue, so that we can overcome it as a society (Boucher, p.5). Feminists are very conscious and aware of the terms they use to define violence. Also, they work to spread awareness about violence against women, informing society members with what needs to be known in order to take a stand against violence (Boucher, p.8).

In conclusion, violence against women and poverty are connected to each other. The Public Health Agency of Canada examined the relationship between abused and poor women in one of its researches. A feminist approach views violence as a product of an oppressive society (Boucher, p.4). 

-Farah

References: 

Boucher, L. Naming the Problem: Feminists Frame Violence against Women. Brescia University

College.1-10. Retrieved from:
http://www.brescia.uwo.ca/search.htmlsitesearch=http%3A%2F%2F
http://www.brescia.uwo.ca/iwil/events/conferences/lisa_mae_boucher.pdf

Public Health Agency of Canada (2008). Breaking the links between poverty and violence

against women. 1-36.Retrieved from: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/pdfs/fem-brklnks-eng.pdf 

Canada's Uncertain Future for Society

     After reading through many blogs, and continuing to look for new issues affecting those in poverty, I have come to a few conclusions. First and foremost, this complete lack of local food available is truly harming our Canadian society. We see people living in serious poverty willing to go to a fast food place to eat because the food is cheaper then at the grocery store. The healthy food is truly more expensive, and for those who are concerned with their diet, looking to keep an organic or allergy-free deit, is looking to pay two to three times the amount for the same type of food. Many people today have serious allergies and food intolorences to specific food or added ingredients, and most of the people living in poverty ignore their doctor's suggestions when it comes to eating because they aren't able to afford the food (HealthLinkBC report). I know a few people who live as duel income families, and yet their children's dietary needs often leave them looking to find extra side jobs in order to maintain the bill payments. Poverty is no longer who is hungry or on social assistance, but also those with a job who can no longer afford to live life in a sustaining way.

     This year's Canadian government fall budget statement reports that "the Commision to Promote Sustainable Child Welfare completed its work in Sept. 2012". They also intend to continue their work with the Children's Aid Society and look for more supporting resources. However, when Social Assistance is mentioned, they simply state that they are refroming the system to better suit those it was designed to assist. I am unsure how this statement is suposed to be understood, as there seems to be many large misunderstandings in how people feel they should be helped and how the government feels they should be helped. Their over-powering neo-liberal views on how people should live seems to be a very narrow-minded point of view, and is currently seriously harming the health of our country.

     We have learned that people in our own wealthy country are living in under-developed conditions, and are being poisoned from the land and water they are trying to live off of. These terrible conditions aren't even being considered as we look into the future of our great country, as our Prime Minister has recently announced that 90% of our fresh waterways are no longer going to be protected by the government. In this very same document it is stated that the farming we do have is going to be looked into more intensly, with the farmers themselves being held responsible for the many new rules and regulations (C 45 Jobs and Growth Act 2012. pg.6). These two actions by the government would not only ensure that living conditions across the country become much worse, but also farmers would be less encouraged to continue by the lack of support the government is offering.
    
      I often wander the internet for interesting ads lost through the years, and this one has a larger meaning to me now then it ever has before. I found it on through Google Images, and it was an ad printed in roughly the late 1930's. The message is pretty clear. I am seriously confused as to why they didn't listen, as I am sure today's world would look much different if they had.

Elizabeth M.

References:

http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kb/content/major/te7016.html

http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/fallstatement/2012/chapter1.html

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/472259-c-45-jobs-and-growth-act-2012.html





 

Perhaps PUC is Promoting Poverty?

If you live in this city and have to pay your own gas, hydro, and electric bill, chances are you know how expensive showering and heating your home can be. Living with 5 people in the house can be difficult, especially when the only time you’re allowed to bathe is before 7am or after 7pm, both in which are not necessarily convenient times for a university schedule. According to Dewees (2012), the average electricity bill in 2010 was about $150.00, with a net increase of about $60.00 in the past ten years. There are no reliable sources for the average utility bill in Ontario, but as I was browsing around message boards, I discovered that on average, the utility bill was anywhere from $300-$500! Considering a person who works minimum wage, 20 hours a week, they will only make around $820 a month, which leaves very little for other living expenses.

In many family homes, people have to rely on soup kitchens and food banks to get the nourishment they need, as paying the bills for the home takes all the money in their paycheck. According to a CBC article (2012), over 400,000 Ontarians are using food banks every month, and more than a third are children. Over 17,000 households have used these food banks for the first time this year. They also state that the largest groups of food bank users are:

·         Single parent households

·         Children under 18

·         Seniors or people on a fixed income

·         The recently unemployed

·         University graduates having trouble finding work

So why are so many people having trouble paying their bills? It may be due to the fact that PUC has initiated a public program using so-called “smart meters.” The goal of these smart meters was to “provide incentive to shift electricity usage to non-peak hours of the day,” which we call know is a load of garbage, as people will still have to use certain things at certain times of the day. This initiative is to just increase their revenue by an obnoxious amount, as in their third quarter, PUC stated a revenue of over $6 million (Curran, 2012).

From a social democratic ideology, I find it sickening that a company can make that much money off of roughly 75,000 people. From this lens, the people that are unable to pay their bills should have equal chance in public and social welfare, so that they will be efficient and can contribute more to the free market economy. Either electricity rates need to be cheaper, or minimum wage needs to go up.

References

CBC News. (2012). Ontario food bank use hits all time high, report says. Retrieved from: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/12/03/food-banks.html

Curran, H.J.B. (2012). Third Quarter Shareholder Report 2012. Retrieved from: http://www.ssmpuc.com/documents/assets/uploads/files/en/thirdquartershareholderreport30october2012.pdf

Dewees, D.N. (2012).  What is Happening to Ontario Electricity Prices? Retrieved from: www.sustainableprosperity.ca/dl764

-Spencer Edgar

Parliamentarians Want Action on Poverty

Parliamentarians Want Action on Poverty

Everyone has a role to play in building a poverty free and  more socially secure Canada.  Governments at all levels, business no matter the size or type, community and other civil society organizations and individuals are all responsible to take action to end poverty in our country. (Yarema. 2012)

In June of 2012 a number of parliamentarians gathered to announce the launch of a federal poverty caucus.  Poverty is not a liberal concern, a conservative concern or an new democratic concern.  It is a serious concern for all of Canadian society.  The launch of this caucus is timely because Statistics Canada has released their annual look at incomes in Canada.  Poverty levels have remained unchanged between 2009 and 2010.  Millions of Canadians are struggling to make ends meet.  But little has been done about poverty and many desperate views on solutions are prevalent in the House of Commons. (Yarema, 2012)

In recent decades there has been a fifty percent increase in the number of single women and single mothers living in poverty.  This has been due to the patriarchal view concerning women. (Cliff Notes. 2012)  There will always be gender inequality in society.  But if we start to embrace  the ideology of the feminist perspective between the sexes it may help alleviate some of the reasons associated with poverty.  Especially for women who usually stay at home to raise their children while the man works,. 

This newly formed caucus will be anti-party and anti-poverty.  It consists of 45 members from all political parties.  Poverty affects everyone no matter what your political views.  A feminist approach could be used concerning policies for economic growth, social equality and gender equality.  This approach would be challenging to implement but poverty is a problem that can no longer be ignored.  Different solutions must be found or a least viewed.  .A feminist approach would put a different outlook on the status quo.

 There have been many different campaigns, policies and procedures put in place to end poverty.  But poverty is still prevalent in today’s society  Maybe this caucus can make a real changed by adapting different approaches to help end poverty and make our country a more just society for all.

Jen. M

Yarema, M. June 22 2012. Parlimentarians Want Action on Povrty.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/megan-yarema/poverty-canada_b_1619008.html

Yarema, M. December 03, 2012. Campaign Policy Summit on Food Security
http://dignityforall.ca/en/campaign-policy-summit-food-security

CliffsNotes.com. Causes and Effects of Poverty. 6 Dec 2012
 <http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/topicArticleId-26957,articleId-26882.html>.

Mahon, R., & Brennan, D. (2012). Federalism and the “New Politics” of Welfare Development: Childcare and Parental Leave in Australia and Canada. Publius: The Journal of Federalism.

Phillips, S. D. (2012). Dual restructuring: civil society and the welfare state in Canada, 1985-2005. British Journal of Canadian Studies, 25(2), 161-180.

Looking Back

       After researching and composing four blogs upon the subject of poverty, I have come to realize it as an alarming issue that continues to worsen even throughout modern-day society.  There are many issues raised concerning poverty, as it branches out, affects and is affected by various different subjects.  These subjects include low-income families, social assistance, children, housing, health care, food, human rights and education to name a few.  It is also apparent the various communities poverty effects within Canada itself, including single parents, First Nations, the LGBTQ, immigrants and refugees. 

       The blogs I have written consist of various issues surrounding multi-generational poverty that I have found both interesting and appalling.  Being quite interested in history, I enjoyed writing my first blog on the subject of European Feudalism and the concept of poverty in the Middle Ages.  From this, I gained much information of the origination of poverty.  I have also developed knowledge of the English Poor Laws and which elements still effectively continue to enforce stigma against Canada’s poor society today.  My second blog focused upon the issue of the United Nations and their struggle to persuade the Canadian government to research multi-generational poverty.  I learned that although the UN provided Canada with a national food strategy, our government refused to take action and support these issues.  By researching this subject, I was notified of various alarming statistics.  I used the social democratic policy learned in class to provide ideas in which our Canadian government could change its policies in order to aid its growing poverty population.  The third blog I composed focused on the importance of social assistance programs and their need for reform.  By gathering research, I discovered that most social assistance programs in today’s society have not been effective.  It was concluded the Canadian government’s need to research the effectiveness of such social assistance programs to properly and most effectively distribute their funds in benefit of those communities in need.  My fourth blog focused on the LGBTQ community and the fact that they were of the poorest populations among Canadian communities.  I concluded that this was because of workplace discrimination and gender-based principles.  Because of this, I suggested our neo-conservative government look towards their promise of human rights and equality in supporting these communities through the difficulty of poverty. 

       By reading the various other blogs posted by my classmates, I gained an even wider perspective upon the issue of poverty and its importance in Canadian society.  I also noticed that each blog in its own greatly called for reform.  Some issues present within these blogs I found most interesting were the issues upon mothers and selling their bodies to provide enough income for their families, as well as the issue of abortion as a woman’s way to prevent being unable to provide for her child.  I also discovered various issues surrounding poverty within the branches of race, ethnicity, gender and inequality.  Not only did I learn about various issues surrounding poverty, but the other issues that affect Canadians throughout modern-day society.  These issues were included within the groups of mental illness, physical and mental disabilities, women, First Nations, northern communities, older adults, the LGBTQ, immigrants and refugees.  I was deeply moved upon important issues such as euthanasia, transgenderism and bathroom rights, contamination and environmental concerns and sex-selective abortion.  By understanding these issues, it has opened my eyes based on the need and importance of change within Canadian society.  It has also given me an understanding of the types of people presently active towards change.  More important, I was able to get a better understanding of social work and the ideologies present within its subject.

       I have believed this blogging assignment as beneficial for my learning in various ways.  By commenting on different blogs myself and other students were allowed to share and voice our opinions regarding the multiple issues surrounding us in Canada.  By learning from each other we can advocate ourselves toward change.  We have been able to research issues important to us, whether close at heart, or just plain interesting.  In this way, we were able to participate socially with one another.  The process of researching and composing such blogs has given me an opportunity to critically think and asses my thoughts and feelings towards the issue of poverty, and has provided me with various ideas on the subject of change.  I believe the concept of writing blogs throughout the semester has helped to open my eyes to such issues that surround poverty, while helping to develop my research and critical thinking skills, as well as using my own voice, thoughts and opinions present upon the subject.

 

-  Kara

LGBTQ Are Canadians Too

          There is very little information gathered regarding the LGBTQ community and poverty. The Canadian census provides us with enough knowledge through existing data to understand the impact of poverty in same-sex households, but little is known concerning the numbers of families in which reflect lesbian and gay relationships.  Statistics Canada provides us with the knowledge of 45, 300 same-sex couples living in Canada in 2006, with only 1% of Canadians identifying themselves as gay or lesbian (Stats Canada, 2011).  Although these statistics include the number of single LGBTQ living in Canada, it does not provide us with those who do not identify themselves as living in same-sex households (Queers for Economic Justice, 2012).  Research must be gathered concerning these LGBTQ communities, as their population is estimated to consist of 2 to 3% of all Canadians (Ryan, 2003).  Poverty is a pressing issue existing across Canada that must be resolved. 

          In 2004, 11.2% of all Canadians were living in poverty, marking 3.4 million of its entire population (CCSD, 2006).   In total, 684, 000 Canadian families were living below the poverty line at this time at a rate of 7.8% (CCSD, 2006).  The LGBTQ community suffers from poverty at alarming rates lower than that of various other Canadian populations.   Among these matters is the pressing issue of low-income, same-sex families.  Lesbian couple households are among those who are most likely to be poor within Canada (Ryan, 2003).  Lesbian families have a 14% rate of low income compared to the 11% of those in gay households (Ryan, 2003). Statistics show that 81% of gay men reside below the low-income cut off, with only 65% of heterosexual men (Ryan, 2003).  Gay men and lesbian incomes were described to be lower than that of heterosexual men, both in personal and household income (Ryan, 2003).  When comparing these statistics, it indeed shows us that poverty is gender-based.  Another population under pressure of low-income becomes transgendered families.  Canada’s transgendered population is among those of the least employed (Bauer et al, 2010).  A study of 443 transgender individuals living and working within Ontario suggests that 50% received an income lower than 15, 000 dollars per year, with only 7% receiving over 80, 000 dollars annually (Bauer et al, 2010).  This result can be linked to the amount of LGBTQ employees discriminated in the workplace.  The majority of LGBTQ felt denied employment due to discrimination, and if were working felt underemployed and denied career advancement possibilities (Ryan, 2003). 

          Although there are no accurate statistics of Canada’s homeless population, Canada’s National Secretariat on Homelessness has estimated that approximately 150,000 Canadians face the hardships of homelessness (Echenberg & Jensen, 2008).  The cause of homelessness is identified through a wide range of factors, among those the cost of housing and lack of adequate income (Echenberg et al, 2008).  In 2006, 11.9% of all Canadians were described as living below the poverty line, along with the majority of welfare income families.  Since 1990, the Canadian government has continued to decrease funding for housing and related programs (Echenberg et al, 2008). Homelessness becomes another pressing issue among the branches of poverty that greatly impacts the Canadian LGBTQ community (Ryan, 2003).  The LGBTQ community believes that sexual orientation is a major factor that contributes to homelessness, because of homophobic rejection (Ryan, 2003).  Being that most homeless shelters segregate by birth sex regardless of gender identity, most of the homeless transgender population is often ignored by such agencies (QEJ, 2012).  Because of this reason, studies suggest that 1 in 5 transgender individuals need shelter assistance (QEJ, 2012). 

          Although it is not the fact of poverty alone that demonstrates any given ideology, it becomes about understanding which policies remain in place to address the issue of poverty within Canada.  By gathering these statistics, it can be summed up that we Canadians live under the ideological perspective of a Neoconservative government.    As stated before, government funding continues to be cut for use in welfare areas such as affordable housing and social assistance (Echenberg et al, 2008).  By looking at what little research I could find, I have discovered the absence of government support for those members of the LGBTQ community in even greater amounts than that of the general Canadian population.  The neoconservative ideology bluntly believes individuals suffering from poverty have only themselves to blame, being lazy and stupid (Drury, 1997).  This explains the lack of understanding and support for the LGBTQ community who are unable to receive or keep jobs due to homophobic rejection and workplace discrimination.  I would understand that neoconservatism would consider this a fault of the LGBTQ community itself, as they cannot provide their own adequate income.  The neoconservative ideology stresses that equality of opportunity is already reality, thus explaining its hostility towards the welfare state (Drury, 1997).  I believe that neoconservatists would refuse to develop social assistance programs for those in the LGBTQ community unable to find work, even though it lies beyond the LGBTQ community’s control.  Finally, the neoconservatist ideology favours nuclear families.  These families consist of heterosexual couple households.  This suggests that neoconservatists prefer heterosexism and offers the notion of homophobia. 

          The Canadian government is a governmental structure put in place for the benefits, well-being and union of a nation-wide community.  However, our Neconservative government does not pursue this case.  It is understood that the Neoconservatist ideology believes in inequality, so we cannot expect the ideological backing of our government to support all individuals within our country (Drury, 1997).  I believe Canada’s political structure needs to pursue an ideological analysis that favours the inspection and prevention of social problems.  If all Canadians wish to be considered equal, than why is it not so?  Aren’t members of the LGBTQ community Canadians too?

 

-  Kara

References:

(CCSD) Canadian Council on Social Development.  (2006).  “A Profile of Economic Security in Canada: Poverty.”  Stats and Facts Canada.  Retrieved from http://www.ccsd.ca/factsheets/economic_security/poverty/index.htm.

Bauer, G., Boyce, M., Coleman, T., Kaay, M., Scanlon, K. & Travers, R.  (2010, July 6).  “Who are Trans People in Ontario?”  Trans Pulse:  Building Communities through Research.  Retrieved from http://transpulseproject.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/E1English.pdf.

Ryan, B.  (2003).  “A New Look at Homophobia and Heterosexism in Canada.”  Canadian Aids Society.  Retrieved from http://www.cdnaids.ca/files.nsf/pages/homophobiareport_eng/$file/homophobia%20report_eng.pdf.

Statistics Canada.  (2011, July 14).  “Gay Pride, by the Numbers.”  Statistics Canada.  Retrieved from http://www42.statcan.gc.ca/smr08/2011/smr08_158_2011-eng.htm.

Echenberg H. & Jensen, H.  (2009, February 2).  “Risk Factors for Homelessness.”  Library of Parliament Research Publications, Parliament of Canada.  Retrieved from http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/prb0851-e.htm.

Author unknown, QEJ.  “Tidal Wave:  LGBT Poverty and Hardship in a Time of Economic Crisis.”  Queers for Economic Justice.  Retrieved from http://www.q4ej.org/Documents/qejtidalwave.pdf.

Drury, S.  (1997, May 17).  “Demise of the Tory Tradition:  Conservatives have forgotten their debt to the poor.”  University of Regina, Faculty of the Arts.  Retrieved from http://phil.uregina.ca/CRC/herald_demise.html.