Understanding Generational Poverty
(Major content themes from Ruby K. Payne[1], summarized and commented on by Ron Everingham, director of Apache Youth Ministries)
People in poverty face challenges virtually unknown to those in the middle or wealthy class—challenges from both obvious and hidden sources. Poverty occurs in all races and in all countries and most of us understand that God clearly has a special place in His heart for the under-resourced of this world, and, Jesus specifically asks us to share our resources with those in need. Sometimes those of us in the middle-class have great intentions, as we reach out, but we inadvertently end up being insensitive to the feelings of those in need by only transferring all of our “knowledge” and “systems” onto others without genuinely understanding them as a person or the culture that they may have been brought up in. We must understand that being in poverty is rarely about a lack of intelligence or ability. The failure to understand the difference of hidden rules and mindsets among classes can create anger or frustration but when we have a better understanding of the culture and values of those in poverty these feelings can lessen. We should always take into consideration that the resources of those in poverty should be analyzed before dispensing advice or seeking solutions to the situation. What may seem to be very workable suggestions from a middle-class point of view may be virtually impossible given the resources available to those who live in poverty.
Hidden rules and mental mindsets within class systems are a fascinating study! Each class system (poverty, middle, and wealthy) has hidden rules on things such as food, money, possessions, clothes, time, love, humor, etc. (see chart). The driving force behind the mental mindset of someone in poverty is “relationships” as opposed to “achievement” in the mindset of those in the middle class. One good example of how these mindsets conflict would be when a teen (who has grown up in poverty) stays home from school to care for a sibling because their single mom is tangled up in addictions and frequently absent. It’s not fair to come in from a middle class mindset (based on achievement), barge into a life in poverty and say, “go to school, be educated (achieve) and everything will be better”. Remember, when given the choice to go to school and “achieve” or stay at home and be responsible for their “relationships”, the person in poverty will always choose to care for the relationship over their own achievement. Another good example: those of us in the middle class have always been taught that we should manage (or save) our money. This hidden rule within the middle class can create frustration when we see those in poverty spending, or sharing, all of the money they have in order to maintain relationships as opposed to saving it (or achieving). Again, the relationship trumps achievement because after all, their thought is that they may not always have money but they will always have and need their relationships…and, therefore, extra money is to be shared. Whether we realize it or not, we all carry the hidden rules and mindsets of the class systems in which we were raised-up in. The reason building a bridge from poverty to middle class is important is because most businesses and schools operate out of a middle class mindset. We need to help those in poverty understand their hidden rules in order for them be successful at school, and at work, by giving them another set of rules that they can use if they so choose. The reality of being poor can bring out a survival mentality and can turn attention away from opportunities taken for granted by everyone else. These in poverty tend to have a “street” behavior in order to survive and maintain relationships. Educating those in poverty about their own hidden rules and mental mindsets will give them another set of behaviors from which to choose—one for their home-life and one for the school and work settings. Teaching hidden rules and mental mindsets is so important because many individuals stay in poverty because they don’t know there is a choice—and if they do know that they don’t have anyone to teach them hidden rules or provide resources. We can be that someone!
It’s true, sometimes finances can resource those in need but it’s also very exciting (and sometimes intimidating) to know that we have tremendous opportunities to influence some of the non-financial resources that make such a difference in students’ lives. Such as time, it doesn’t cost us money to be an appropriate role model. For students and adults from poverty, the primary motivation for their success will be in their relationships.
Yes, Jesus wants us to love and serve the poor and under-resourced among us. But let’s be sure to respect the culture, mindsets, and hidden rules of those who need to see hope through the bridge that we can build together…
[1] Ruby K Payne, “A Framework for Understanding Poverty”, Aha! Process, Inc, Highlands, TX, 1996 Revised 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005
People in poverty face challenges virtually unknown to those in the middle or wealthy class—challenges from both obvious and hidden sources. Poverty occurs in all races and in all countries and most of us understand that God clearly has a special place in His heart for the under-resourced of this world, and, Jesus specifically asks us to share our resources with those in need. Sometimes those of us in the middle-class have great intentions, as we reach out, but we inadvertently end up being insensitive to the feelings of those in need by only transferring all of our “knowledge” and “systems” onto others without genuinely understanding them as a person or the culture that they may have been brought up in. We must understand that being in poverty is rarely about a lack of intelligence or ability. The failure to understand the difference of hidden rules and mindsets among classes can create anger or frustration but when we have a better understanding of the culture and values of those in poverty these feelings can lessen. We should always take into consideration that the resources of those in poverty should be analyzed before dispensing advice or seeking solutions to the situation. What may seem to be very workable suggestions from a middle-class point of view may be virtually impossible given the resources available to those who live in poverty.
Hidden rules and mental mindsets within class systems are a fascinating study! Each class system (poverty, middle, and wealthy) has hidden rules on things such as food, money, possessions, clothes, time, love, humor, etc. (see chart). The driving force behind the mental mindset of someone in poverty is “relationships” as opposed to “achievement” in the mindset of those in the middle class. One good example of how these mindsets conflict would be when a teen (who has grown up in poverty) stays home from school to care for a sibling because their single mom is tangled up in addictions and frequently absent. It’s not fair to come in from a middle class mindset (based on achievement), barge into a life in poverty and say, “go to school, be educated (achieve) and everything will be better”. Remember, when given the choice to go to school and “achieve” or stay at home and be responsible for their “relationships”, the person in poverty will always choose to care for the relationship over their own achievement. Another good example: those of us in the middle class have always been taught that we should manage (or save) our money. This hidden rule within the middle class can create frustration when we see those in poverty spending, or sharing, all of the money they have in order to maintain relationships as opposed to saving it (or achieving). Again, the relationship trumps achievement because after all, their thought is that they may not always have money but they will always have and need their relationships…and, therefore, extra money is to be shared. Whether we realize it or not, we all carry the hidden rules and mindsets of the class systems in which we were raised-up in. The reason building a bridge from poverty to middle class is important is because most businesses and schools operate out of a middle class mindset. We need to help those in poverty understand their hidden rules in order for them be successful at school, and at work, by giving them another set of rules that they can use if they so choose. The reality of being poor can bring out a survival mentality and can turn attention away from opportunities taken for granted by everyone else. These in poverty tend to have a “street” behavior in order to survive and maintain relationships. Educating those in poverty about their own hidden rules and mental mindsets will give them another set of behaviors from which to choose—one for their home-life and one for the school and work settings. Teaching hidden rules and mental mindsets is so important because many individuals stay in poverty because they don’t know there is a choice—and if they do know that they don’t have anyone to teach them hidden rules or provide resources. We can be that someone!
It’s true, sometimes finances can resource those in need but it’s also very exciting (and sometimes intimidating) to know that we have tremendous opportunities to influence some of the non-financial resources that make such a difference in students’ lives. Such as time, it doesn’t cost us money to be an appropriate role model. For students and adults from poverty, the primary motivation for their success will be in their relationships.
Yes, Jesus wants us to love and serve the poor and under-resourced among us. But let’s be sure to respect the culture, mindsets, and hidden rules of those who need to see hope through the bridge that we can build together…
[1] Ruby K Payne, “A Framework for Understanding Poverty”, Aha! Process, Inc, Highlands, TX, 1996 Revised 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005
Generational Poverty Chart
