R. A E E 1
Professor Dr. L. Hamilton
SOC 106
11/25/13

Section 1: Growing up in poverty
Poverty is everywhere, It is in every race and every country. A child that grows up in poverty is largely at risk because he or she may speak another language, or be less healthy, or has even been abused in one way or another. When children are in the school system and they are labeled “at-risk” and that means that the student comes from a low-socioeconomic level or speaks another language. Today, there are more single parents, dual earner couples, and parents with more than one job living in both rural and urban areas in the United States than at any other time in history. Statistics show there is approximately one in five American children who live below the national poverty level (Causes of Poverty).
In today’s society, many people live below the poverty line and those numbers continue to increase because of our high unemployment rates. The Census Bureau reported that 12% of Americans live in poverty. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the poverty level in 2009 for a family of four was $22,050. With today's unfortunate down turn of events in our economy, many families struggle to earn and still do not come close to that level. Welfare reform in the United States may pressure single mothers to be gainfully employed even though child care is extremely expensive and the mother may only have an income of minimum wage. At-risk children face so many seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The children who are from economically distressed families have to live in conditions such as lack of food, dangerous neighborhoods, and small over crowded living spaces. This also affects their negative behavioral problems, their emotional well-being, as well as their social and educational well-being (Facts).
Poverty has been blamed as “the result of policy decisions, political will, and of moral conviction”. Although first and foremost, society blames the person living in poverty. However, poverty is directly attributed to inequalities in the structure of society, which then leads to a denial of opportunity , furthering the perpetual cycle of surmounting disadvantages. (Faith)
Definition of poverty
Poverty is a phenomenon that is very elusive to define and is rather multidimensional. Dictionaries define poverty as “the state of being extremely poor.” The US census bureau considers many factors of definition concerning actual poverty. Such things as , Absolute poverty thresholds vs. relative poverty thresholds, Chronic or long-term poverty, Entrance rate, Episodic poverty, and the Federal Poverty Level. In the real world poverty has been described as where it takes place, meaning the way people choose to eat and live in such conditions (Poverty Dictionary.com).
Poverty in History
Poverty, it even predates taxes. Poverty is well documented in history, even in the Bible. Poverty stricken people were called peasants then. Moving forward the Nixon administration endorsed a “New federalism” where the federal government shifted more control and authority over to local governments. The idea of federalism was ideally realized by the President Ronald Reagan Administration, which then replaced the Community Services Administration with the Community Services Block Grant system. This redesigned job training, it also cut back on the food stamp program. Some critics called the the war on welfare. The so called, war on poverty was complex at it’s roots and it’s total implementation, additionally it’s impact was difficult to measure. The programs and philosophies were created due to the political discomfort that was caused (Causes of Poverty). Between President Lyndon Johnson’s State of the Union address in 1964 and the liberal setbacks suffered in the congressional elections of 1966, the Johnson administration pushed through an unprecedented amount of antipoverty legislation. The Economic Opportunity Act (1964) provided the basis for the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), the Job Corps, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), Upward Bound, Head Start, Legal Services, the Neighborhood Youth Corps, the Community Action Program (CAP), the college Work-Study program, Neighborhood Development Centers, small business loan programs, rural programs, migrant worker programs, remedial education projects, local health care centers, and others. The antipoverty effort, however, did not stop there. It encompassed a range of Great Society legislation far broader than the Economic Opportunity Act alone. Other important measures with anti poverty functions included an $11 billion tax cut (Revenue Act of 1964), the Civil Rights Act (1964), the Food Stamp Act (1964), the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1965), the Higher Education Act (1965), the Social Security amendments creating Medicare/Medicaid (1965), the creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (1965), the Voting Rights Act (1965), the Model Cities Act (1966), the Fair Housing Act (1968), several job-training programs, and various Urban Renewal-related projects (Causes of Poverty).
Behavior of Children in Poverty
At-risk children face so many seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The children who are from economically distressed families have to live in conditions such as lack of food, dangerous neighborhoods, and small, crowded living spaces. This also affects their negative behavioral problems, their emotional well-being, as well as their social and educational well-being (Causes of Poverty).
They tend read less often, watch more television, have less access to computers or books, live in more dangerous neighborhoods, their parents are far less likely to be involved in school activities, their houses are more crowded, and their nutrition is poorer. These children are more worried about their needs being met on a daily basis. The Maslow theory of development states that children react to their needs. If a child’s basic needs are not being met, then their mind focuses only on that need. For example, if a child is hungry, he/she may not want to play or learn at school or care about rules of society, thus may act out or get into trouble. Children who come from poverty are more likely to experience less social support and their parents are more authoritarian (Causes of Poverty).
Poverty & Me (Story 1)
Growing up as I was about seven or eight,

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Poverty & Me (Story 2)

When I was approximately five or six I was a rambunctious
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Summary of Poverty
Poverty is everywhere, it is in every race and every country. And in the United States, in today’s society, many people live below the poverty line and those numbers continue to increase because of our high unemployment rates. As of December 8, 2013, the United States has a total population of 317,221,000. The Census Bureau reported that 12% of Americans live in poverty. That makes a total of 38,066,520 people in the United States live in poverty. Despite the Government stating that many only find themselves a victim of poverty for one year or less, I still find that as the US is such a powerful country, we let that poverty rate get to even one person.

Section 2: Domestic Violence
Recent studies in the United States show that almost half of the children who witnessed domestic violence or have been physically assaulted, get injured during these incidents. It is possible that they get injured because they get caught in the middle of the violence directed at one of the adults, or, they are the direct victim of the violent act itself. It is largely a deep mystery why women stay in these types of relationships. Some may stay for financial reasons or for the traditional reasons of sticking it out. Many women do not know why they stay in this clearly damaging relationship (Kenney). Studies show that the female truly loves the male half and think’s that are sorry for their actions and will one day stop their victimizing ways. Again studies show that this may not be true, they show that when women show acceptance to this behavior, it only exacerbates the situation and prolongs it. Studies show that when this behavior is accepted, the level of violence usually heightens, at some points to a lethal level (Johnson).
Definition of Domestic Violence
The state of Massachusetts defines Domestic Violence as; “Abuse”, the occurrence of one or more of the following acts between family or household members. Attempting to cause or causing physical harm, placing another in fear of imminent serious physical harm, causing another to engage involuntarily in sexual relations by force, threat or duress. The state also recognizes certain relationships that are needed to create a situation of domestic violence. They are defined as; “Family or household members”, persons who,are or were married to one another; are or were residing together in the same household, are or were related by blood or marriage, having a child in common regardless of whether they have ever married or lived together, or, are or have been in a substantive dating or engagement relationship (General Laws).
Community Attitudes of Domestic Violence & Stereotypes
Although it seems as the “Glass Ceiling” is breaking, the status of women has been seen as unequal to the status of men in terms of authority, opportunity in job markets and independence. Society has taken a tremendous turn since the 1990’s in terms of degradation to that of equality currently. I the past, it seemed as though the issue of being a victim of domestic violence was the fault of the victim. Women were largely looked down upon (Murrell). The screams heard in the middle of the night were ignored, even though the listener knew full well what was occurring. To date, although broad community education programs and mandated reporting helps raise the awareness of domestic violence issues, reporting laws, and services for the victims. However, there is still a need to further the community attitudes concerning domestic violence, to assist more women to easily identify domestic violence situations, and encourage them to take decisive action at an earlier stage in the abusive relationship. To improve the perception and attitudes of the community, they should be made aware of the deep impacts, such as trauma and the medical burden that accompanies physical injuries. The social problems, the high STD rate, and the two worst case scenarios may be that the aggressor eventually murders the victim, or, the victim murders the aggressor (Johnson).
History of Domestic Violence
Early settlers in America based their laws on an Old-English common-law that explicitly permits wife-beating for correctional purposes. The states tried to break away from that law by saying that the husband is only allowed to whip his wife with a switch no bigger than his thumb. This was coined “the Rule of Thumb”(McManus). This term is often used in today to describe what is normally done. The speaker is usually unaware of the past meaning. In 1882, Maryland actually was the first state to pass a law that makes wife-beating a crime, which is punishable by 40 lashes or a year in jail.However, in 1886, “North Carolina courts declared that a criminal indictment cannot be brought against a husband unless the battery is so great as to result in permanent injury, endanger their life or is malicious beyond all reasonable bounds” (Cumbee Center).
Psychological Effects of Domestic Violence
Although in many cases physical damage occurs, many health officials have concur that experiencing the abuse or an attack can lead serious mental health problems; including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and high levels of anxiety. It is difficult for many to move on after crises and incidents of abuse. They continue to feel sad, frightened and disconnected. One may feel stuck and hopeless a sense of danger and painful memories start to flood that don’t fade away. Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. In so many ways it helps some people cope with certain situations. When it becomes excessive, or doesn’t fit the situation, or lasts too long, it can get in the way of everyday activities and may even interfere with how one may get along with others (Edleson). There are several types of anxiety disorder. Some having repeated terms of episodes of intense fear, while others have exaggerated worry and tension on an everyday level. Sometimes anxiety comes with physical symptoms like excessive heart pounding, trouble breathing, trembling, or sweating. Some symptoms may impact one's emotions, thoughts, or behaviors. It’s not just the symptoms of anxiety disorder, but how one may react to them that can disrupt one’s life. These psychological signs and symptoms of domestic violence are just some of the many effects that domestic violence has that may impact a person dealing with this horrid ordeal. Violence does not only hurt the person who has experienced it. It hurts the whole community (Lisa Thompson).
Negative Effects of Domestic Violence on Children
Important effect of domestic violence on children’s experiences is social, such as separation from their community, family and friends, changing schools and often losing their homes with theirs possessions. Children who witnessed domestic violence have significantly more frequent behavioral problems and emotional disturbance than children who are not in an abusive environment. Being exposed to this kind of violence has a striking potential to be life-threatening to the victims and can leave them with a sense of vulnerability, helplessness, and in extreme horror. Physical abuse refers to any behavior that involves the intentional use of force against the body of another person that risks physical injury, harm, and pain. Conformity may be obtained through actual physical force or through some threatening bullying. The first serious consequence of domestic violence on children is physical. Physical abuse includes pushing, hitting, slapping, choking, using an object to hit, twisting of a body part, forcing the ingestion of an unwanted substance, and use of a weapon (Johnson). In general, children who witness domestic violence at home can suffer from a large amount of physical symptoms along with their emotional and behavioral ones. These children may complain of general aches and pain, such as headaches and stomach aches. They may also have irritable and irregular bowel habits, cold sores, and they may have problems with bedwetting. These complaints have been associated with depressive disorders in children, a common emotional effect of domestic violence. Beside these general complaints of not feeling well, children who witness domestic violence may also appear nervous and have attention deficit disorder. And sometimes, these children may show symptoms of fatigue and constant tiredness. They may fall asleep in school due to the lack of sleep at home because many of them could have spent their night listening to or witnessing violence at home. Children who experienced domestic violence are frequently ill, and suffer from lack of personal hygiene (Murrell).

Domestic Violence & Me (Story 1)
As a child living through domestic violence, sadly I remember it , however I only remember tiny little bits and pieces. One incident I do remember is;
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Domestic Violence Summary
In conclusion numerous studies throughout the world states that half of the children who experienced domestic violence are hurt and injured. These children are mainly exposed to different kinds of abuses and show large amount of symptoms varying between physical, behavioural and emotional. These victimized children generally suffer from different types of disorders like attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity disorder and post traumatic stress disorder. As a result their perception of social life and interrelations are damaged permanently, and they are pushed to the edge of low self-esteem, constant anger, and in worse case scenarios to substance abuse and suicide. It is widely believed that these children should be protected and isolated from violent environments and handled carefully for a possible healthy future.

Works Cited
"Causes of Poverty." - Global Issues. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. .
"Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons." The Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013. .
Edleson, J. L. "Children's Witnessing of Adult Domestic Violence." Journal of Interpersonal Violence 14.8 (1999): 839-70. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Web. 1 Dec. 2013. .
"Facts About Poverty." Facts About Poverty. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. .
Faith, Rosamond. "Poverty, a History." Journal of Rural Studies 12.2 (1996): 112-214. Print.
"General Laws." : CHAPTER 209A. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013. https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleIII/Chapter209a
Johnson, Michael P., and Kathleen J. Ferraro. "Research on Domestic Violence in the 1990s: Making Distinctions." Journal of Marriage and Family 62.4 (2000): 948-63. Web. 1 Dec. 2013. .
Kenney, Karen Latchana. Domestic Violence. Edina, MN: ABDO Pub., 2012. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.

Works Cited
(Lisa)Thompson, Elizabeth. "Mandatory Reporting Laws for Domestic Violence | EHow." EHow. Demand Media, 06 June 2010. Web. 02 Dec. 2013. .
McManus, Rob. The Rule of Thumb: A Five Year Overview of Domestic Violence in South Carolina, 2005 -2009. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
Murrell, Amy R., Karen A. Christoff, and Kris R. Henning. "Characteristics of Domestic Violence Offenders: Associations with Childhood Exposure to Violence." Journal of Family Violence 22.7 (2007): 503-32. Print.
"Poverty." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2013. .

Table Of Contents

Section 1: Growing up in poverty
Definition of poverty
Poverty in History
Behavior of Children in Poverty
Poverty & Me (Story 1)
Poverty & Me (Story 2)
Summary of Poverty
Section 2: Domestic Violence
Definition of Domestic Violence
Community Attitudes of Domestic Violence & Stereotypes
History of Domestic Violence
Psychological Effects of Domestic Violence
Negative Effects of Domestic Violence on Children
Domestic Violence & Me (Story 1)
Domestic Violence Summary