Impact of perceptions of poverty on the well-being of South Africans
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2009
TITLE AUTHOR(S): Y.D.Davids
KEYWORDS: POVERTY, PUBLIC PERCEPTION, SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE
Intranet: HSRC Library: shelf number 6003
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/4669
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/4669
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
The study examines the impact of perceptions of the causes of poverty including a number of socio-demographic variables such as race and geographic location on the well-being of South Africans. Research focusing on perceptions of the causes of poverty indicates that poverty is normally perceived according to three dimensions: fatalistic, structural and individualistic (Hunt 2004; Shek 2004; Shek 2002; Sun 2001). Employing secondary data analysis on a sample of 2400 South Africans, the study shows that more than half of the South African population lacks access to basic necessities, that most people and the poor in particular perceive poverty in structural dimensions rather than individualistic dimensions. Predicting access to basic necessities the study found LSM, education and race to be the most significant. The study concludes that lack of basic necessities forces poor people (black Africans in particular) to live lives far below what is acceptable in contemporary South Africa. Furthermore, the poor are seen as lacking drift and motivation to succeed or to break the poverty cycle. The disadvantages experienced by the poor as well as the negative connotations attached to the poor create feelings of marginalization, victimization and social exclusion, which is extremely damaging to their self-esteem and overall well-being. Finally, the study argues that both the physical and mental impact of poverty must be addressed.-
Related Research Outputs:
- Communication environment of South Africans: quarter 9 report
- Quality of life among South Africans
- Monitoring perceptions of the causes of poverty in South Africa
- Spreading the news: the use of ICT to raise rural living standards
- Status of informal settlements targeted for upgrading: implications for policy and impact evaluation
- Why the urban poor cannot secure tenure: South African tenure policy under pressure
- Chronic poverty in South Africa: incidence, causes and policies
- Introduction: public opinion and the prospects for democratic consolidation in South Africa 1999-2001
- The impact of HIV/AIDS on land issues in Kwazulu-Natal province South Africa: case studies from Muden, Dondotha, Kwadumisa and Kwanyuswa
- Book review: Bhorat, H., Leibbrandt, M., Maziya, M., Van der Berg, S. & Woolard, I. (eds) (2001) Fighting poverty: labour markets and inequality in South Africa. Cape Town: UCT Press
- An overview of poverty and inequality in South Africa
- Socio-economic profile of further education & training colleges
- The socio-economic characteristics of the North West labour market
- Poverty and inequality reduction strategies for South Africa
- Ethical and social dilemmas in community-based controlled trials in situations of poverty: a view from a South African project
- Tsholofelo Community College, North West Province - a community initiative model
- Public appraisal of social and economic infrastructure delivery
- Lesotho 2000: public perceptions and perspectives
- North West provincial legislature: public perceptions: report on the findings and strategic recommendations for the North West provincial legislature
- Facts, fiction and fabrication?: service delivery in South Africa under Mandela