The following is the result of a conversation I had with Julie Atkins, principal at the Seymour Special School. I went to speak with her about Generational Poverty. What she shared was very insightful so below is a summation of it.
To talk about this subject, unfortunately means a need for us to generalise and rely on stereotypes. You will see why as you begin to engage with this subject. May I ask that you use these generalisations and stereotypes as a tool to approach the cultural climate we are in, and not a means by which to cast value judgements on those people who may live, think, act and be very different to yourself. It should go without saying, however, that all of what follows needs to be handled with the understanding that each and every person and situation is unique. This paper will show you that there are invisible cultural barriers that exist between social classes and groups of people; between ‘good Church folk’ and people who are ‘roughing it’; between what some may call ‘nice’ and others may call ‘feral’.
This paper is written in light of the fact that I am very different to someone from a lower socioeconomic situation. You will see as you read through just how different we (and perhaps even you) are. I use the term ‘they’ to refer to those who are different from mean, not in any way to belittle or denigrate them, but merely to highlight how two people who may well live next door to each other are actually residing miles away from each other.
The conversation began with Julie saying, “This is how they think, in muddled thoughts and plenty of tangents, round and round in circles that do eventually get somewhere.” So I present to you the result of that conversation hoping that you can gain something of an understanding from the variety of thoughts that are to follow. Enjoy:
The Generational Poverty Paper, drafted by Ralph Mayhew
