[net.politics.theory] Proportion of children living in poverty

CJC@PSUVM.BITNET (03/29/86)

Someone posted a statement that a majority of the children in the U.S.of A.
live in poverty. A few people questioned it, he repeated it, and a
discussion of the meaning of poverty continued from there.  No-one
posted any statistics to confirm or deny the original statement.
     
Just for the record, the majority of children in the US do not live in
poverty.
     
  The following information is taken from the 1986 World Almanac and
Book of Facts published by the Pittsburgh Press, page 266:
     
"Poverty by Family Status, Sex, ..."
 "Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports"
                      "by thousands"        [for 1983, most recent year given]
     
                            number   percent [of population in this category
                                             who fall below poverty level]
Total poor................. 35,266   15.2
 In families............... 27,804   13.8
  Head.....................  7,641   12.3
  Related children......... 13.326   21.7   <<<<
  Other relatives..........  6,837    8.8
     
 Unrelated individuals.....  6,832   23.4
     
 In Female-headed families. 12,020   40.2   <<
  Head.....................  3,557   36.0
  Related Children.........  6,709   55.4   <<<<
     
 In Male-headed Families... 15,784    9.2
  Head.....................  4,048    7.8
  Related Children.........  6,617   13.4
     
  21 percent is still far too many, but that is no reason for claiming
that conditions are far worse that they are.
  There are two major contributing factors to the number of children in
female-headed families in poverty: one is the number of divorced women
who cannot get work and receive little or nothing from the father of the
children,  the other is the appalingly high birth rate among unmarried
women, especially teenagers, already on welfare.  The first is frequently
temporary; our society/government might alleviate it considerably by
supporting improved day-care and job training.  The second sometimes
lasts for generations - I can't think of any practical solution.
     
  I didn't respond to the original erroneous statement because I was out
of town.
     
  1983 was the most recent year for which I found figures; If someone has
later data, please post.
     
  What I find most disturbing about this discussion is that no-one ever
bothered to check the figures, even those who found them unbelievable.
     
     
                                         --Carolyn J. Clark
     
     Bitnet: CJC at PSUVM
     UUCP  : :allegra, akgua, ihnp4:!psuvax!CJC@PSUVM.BITNET