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