POVERTY: AFFECTING PEOPLE’S LIFE DECISIONS

Poverty is an issue affecting not just our country but also some other parts of the world. It is a
state in which a person lacks resources and essentials required for living. Millions of families
and individuals experience this problem which influence their life decisions such as
discontinuing their studies, doing illegal things for money, and ending their life due to
poverty affecting their mental and emotional health.

Firstly, students could not be able to continue their studies due to poverty. New data shows
that the global number of out-of-school children has risen by 6 million since 2021 and now
totals 250 million (UNESCO, 2023). Children do not attend school for many reasons, but
they all stem to poverty. Families that are living in poverty often have to choose whether to
send their kids to school or to bring food to their table and prioritize other needs. Because
even if they avail the free tuition program, the costs of uniforms, books, and supplies are not
free of charge. Thus, poverty is seen as the main barrier to education.

Secondly, people sometimes do illegal things for money. According to Sharkey et al., Poverty
is likely to be linked to crime both because the poor have greater incentives to commit crime and
because poverty affects individuals’ environments, their relationships, their developmental
trajectories, and their opportunities as they move through different stages of the life course.
Poverty-stricken people are more likely to commit crimes compared to the affluent families
for the reason that they are desperate to sustain and provide necessities for their families.
Being unable to afford needs and the lack of opportunities and economic advancement leads
to persistent criminal activities. Hence, crime is some of the issues we face in our society
because of indigence.

Thirdly, some individuals end their own lives because of poverty. Approximately 75% of
suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where rates of poverty are high.
Evidence suggests a relationship between economic variables and suicidal behavior (Bantjes
et al., 2016). The underprivileged experience social discrimination and exclusion, and
struggle to cope up with the cost of living that could result in mental health issues like
depression and anxiety. Consequently, the socioeconomic disadvantage may influence the
rates of suicide.

However, according to Popoola (2023), “Is it a crime to be poor? Of course not. But every
man has a choice not to be. Nobody was created poor or destined to poverty.” He believes
that real poverty is an internal dynamic, a mindset that does not totally commit to being an
asset to others in life’s field of play. And that each one of us was born with a definite value
proposition to enrich creation.

While it is true that being poor is not a crime, not every man has a choice not to be poor. As
stated by Statista, “In 2021, women in households with an income below the poverty
threshold had the highest birth rate at 72 births per 1,000 women” (Korhonen, 2023). There
are people who were born poor and did not have the chance to choose to be rich.

In conclusion, poverty is a worldwide issue with a wide-ranging effect and a hindrance to

many things as well. Therefore, it should be acknowledged and recognized by everyone,
including the wealthy. This is to ensure an equitable society, provide full access to
opportunities and resources, empower and uplift communities, and improve the overall
quality of life.
 POVERTY: AFFECTING PEOPLE’S LIFE DECISIONS

Poverty is an issue affecting not just our country but also some other parts of the world. It is a
state in which a person lacks resources and essentials required for living. Millions of families
and individuals experience this problem which influence their life decisions such as
discontinuing their studies, doing illegal things for money, and ending their life due to
poverty affecting their mental and emotional health.

Firstly, students could not be able to continue their studies due to poverty. There are currently
250 million out-of-school children worldwide, an increase of 6 million since 2021
(UNESCO, 2023). Children do not attend school for many reasons, but they all stem to
poverty. Families that are living in poverty often have to choose whether to send their kids to
school or to bring food to their table and prioritize other needs. Because even if they avail the
free tuition program, the costs of uniforms, books, and supplies are not free of charge. Thus,
poverty is seen as the main barrier to education.

Secondly, people sometimes do illegal things for money. As stated by Sharkey et al. (2017),
poverty-stricken people have more motivation to commit crimes and since poverty has an
impact on people's connections, settings, developmental paths, and chances as they go
through different phases of life, it is likely that poverty and crime are related. Being unable to
afford needs and the lack of opportunities and economic advancement leads to persistent
criminal activities. Hence, crime is some of the issues we face in our society because of
indigence.

Thirdly, some individuals end their own lives because of poverty. In low- and middle-income
countries (LMICs), where rates of poverty are high, almost 75% of suicides take place.
Research points to a connection between suicide thoughts and actions and economic factors
(Bantjes et al., 2016). The underprivileged experience social discrimination and exclusion,
and struggle to cope up with the cost of living that could result in mental health issues like
depression and anxiety. Consequently, the socioeconomic disadvantage may influence the
rates of suicide.

However, according to Popoola (2023), it is not a crime to be poor. Every man has an option
not to be. Nobody is fated to poverty. poverty is an internal dynamic caused by a mindset that
is not fully committed to helping others in the game of life. Additionally, that everyone of us
have a unique value offer that may enhance creativity from birth.

While it is true that being poor is not a crime, not every man has a choice not to be poor. As
stated by Statista, with 72 births per 1,000 women in the year 2021, women in households
below the poverty line had the highest birth rate (Korhonen, 2023). There are people who
were born poor and did not have the chance to choose to be rich. There are also
circumstances where people get trapped in the cycle, making it hard for them to overcome
this problem.

In conclusion, poverty is a worldwide issue with a wide-ranging effect and a hindrance to

many things as well. Therefore, it should be acknowledged and recognized by everyone,
including the wealthy. This is to ensure an equitable society, provide full access to
opportunities and resources, empower and uplift communities, and improve the overall
quality of life.

REFERENCES:
Bantjes, J. et al. (2016), Poverty and Suicide Research in Low- and Middle-income
Countries: Systematic Mapping of Literature Published in English and a Proposed
Research Agenda, National Library of Medicine – PubMed Central,
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5454768/
Korhonen, V. (2023), Birth Rate in the United States From 2005 to 2021, By Poverty
Status, Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/562541/birth-rate-by-poverty-
status-in-the-us/
Popoola, T. (2023), A Choice Called Poverty, Nigerian Tribune,
https://tribuneonlineng.com/a-choice-called-poverty-6/
Sharkey, P. (2017), The Oxford Handbook of the Social Science of Poverty: Chapter
27 - Poverty and Crime, Oxford Academic, https://academic.oup.com/edited-
volume/28019/chapter/211822264
UNESCO (2023), 250 million children out-of-school: What you need to know about
UNESCO’s latest education data, https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/250-million-
children-out-school-what-you-need-know-about-unescos-latest-education-
data#:~:text=New%20UNESCO%20data%20shows%20that,progress%20continues
%20to%20stagnate%20globally