From the culture of poverty to the underclass: An analysis of a shift in public language |
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Authors: | Michael Morris |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Psychology, University of New Haven, 06516 West Haven, CT |
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Abstract: | This paper focuses on the emergence of the “underclass,” and the decline of the “culture of poverty,” as terminologies used
in scholarly and popular analysis of certain lowincome groups in American society. It is argued that the theoretical cores
of these two concepts are similar but not identical, and that a shift in “public language” has occurred. This shift represents
the most recent chapter in the historical process of word substitution that Matza (1966) claims has characterized society’s
response to the disreputable poor. The factors responsible for this shift are analyzed, and the consequent potential for miscommunication
is highlighted.
where his research interests include poverty policy and program evaluation. He is the author (with John B. Williamson) ofPoverty and Public Policy (1986).
This article is a revised version of a paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Social Problems,
August 1986. I wish to thank the anonymous reviewers ofThe American Sociologist for their thoughtful comments and suggestions. |
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