Four Different Meanings of "Being Poor"

Abstract

This article focuses on human construction of meaning and psychological poverty in the context of economic poverty of four different communities: Begumpur—slumdwellers of Patna, India; Simpruk—slumdwellers of Jakarta; homeless poor in U.S.; and, Jews of East Europe. These four communities gave four different reconstructions of their similar situations. The Begumpur population believed that everything in life happens according to a predestined pattern leaving no room for individual effort. For the Simpruk slumdwellers fate determines the possibilities of life and the fulfilment of these depends upon personal effort. The Western slumdwellers with their individualist and materalistic orientation put great emphasis on individual effort and personal success. Their failure in this context gives rise to a combination of guilt, resignation, inferiority feelings and hatred towards authorities. The East European Jews are more pragmatic in their orientation. They face the challenges of everyday living through a practical tradition of skills in trade and economy and a literary tradition of transcendental reconstructions. This most successful reconstruction of their poverty situation provides them with long term coping benefits.