Poverty and the large family in Sydney, 1968-69 : a study of living conditions and social policy

Abstract

The observation that poverty and children are often found together is not just a recent one. It is evident that Rowntree was aware of a relationship between children and poverty when he described the five alternating periods of want and comparative plenty in the life of a labourer."'' Alva Myrdal has described children as the chief cause of poverty in modern society.1 2 This study raises again the question of the economic well-being of children. It is an investigation of the extent and nature of poverty experienced by large families in the Sydney local government area in 1968-9 and considers the adequacy of some relevant social policies in the light of these findings. The study is an illustration of how a 'living conditions' type of survey can provide data not available from other sources for use in determining needs among a particular section of the population. It is one way of trying to identify the problems, wishes and priorities of those directly affected by a particular social policy. The ten chapters of the thesis fall roughly into five parts. In Part One (Chapter I) the rationale for the study is presented. The significance of the way poverty is defined and measured is underlined. The need for the collection and analysis of facts and figures as a prerequisite for rational policy development is stressed. The specific aims, contributions, and limitations of this study are stated. Part Two of the study (Chapters II-IV) describes some of the theoretical and operational history from which this piece of research has benefited. Chapter II reviews various conceptions of poverty with particular emphasis on poverty as a relative, multi-dimensional concept. The way poverty is conceived has affected the direction of poverty research and the goals of social policy. Chapters III and IV review relevant poverty research and approaches to the assessment of social policy. Thus the current study is linked with the thoughts and methods of previous works. Part Three (Chapters V and VI) enables the reader to decide what weight he will give to the results and the extent to which the nature of the study area limits generalization to other parts of Australia. Chapter V describes the selection of the sample of 223 families in receipt of endowment for four or more children, the interviewing schedule, some interviewing experiences, and the method of processing and analyzing the data. Chapter VI describes the study area and the large families and sets them in perspective in relation to the Sydney metropolitan area and the rest of Australia. Part Four (Chapters VII-IX) contains the results of this research project. Chapter VII indicates that when poverty is considered relative and multi-dimensional the extent of poverty among these large families is much greater than has so far been acknowledged. Chapter VIII describes aspects of the nature of poverty among these large families. The intensity of poverty is such that a substantial increase in income is required by many families to lift them out of poverty. Analysis of the income sources of large families underlines the fact that many fully employed men do not earn enough money to meet the needs of their families. Analysis of the predictive power of variables highlights the precarious position of large families above the poverty line. Many escape poverty only through sending the wife or children out to work or by the father working extremely long hours. The differences in behaviour, aspirations, feelings and attitudes identified between poor and non-poor large families are not pronounced and appear to have a logical and fairly direct connection with the different economic positions of the families. The poor voice lower expectations than the non-poor. Chapter IX identifies some of the ways in which current Australian social policies have failed to meet the needs of many of these large families. Just as disturbing are illustrations of how some of the policies and practices have failed to achieve equitable treatment of families at different income levels with different circumstances. Many large families have insufficient income, inadequate housing, no insurance against loss of health, doubts and fears as to how they are going to educate their children, and little hope of the situation improving. Part Five (Chapter X) brings together: conclusions concerning the extent and nature of poverty and the adequacy of social policies affecting large families; personal observations suggesting further research into several related areas; and, a series of recommendations aimed at improving the position of the large family. Particular attention is given to the reduction of family economic inequality by means of the income tax system and child endowment benefits. It is suggested that Australia must proceed to collect income and expenditure data if she hopes to develop a scale for estimating the standard of living of different family units. Only when comparative standards of living can be estimated is it possible to provide equality of treatment and to concentrate scarce resources on those most in need. Identification of the extent and nature of poverty is just a first step. To quote Pericles in his famous Funeral Speech: "Wealth to us is not mere material for vainglory but an opportunity for achievement; and poverty we think it no disgrace to acknowledge but a real degradation to make no effort to overcome". Show more