Poverty, Inequality and Social Work Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Acknowledgements
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of tables and figures
- Foreword
- Introduction
- One Social work in the era of neoliberalism and austerity
- Two Class, poverty and inequality
- Three Advanced marginality and stigma
- Four Welfare, punishment and neoliberalism
- Five Poverty, inequality and contemporary social work
- Six Reimagining a social state
- Conclusion
- References
- Index
Three - Advanced marginality and stigma
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 April 2022
- Frontmatter
- Acknowledgements
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of tables and figures
- Foreword
- Introduction
- One Social work in the era of neoliberalism and austerity
- Two Class, poverty and inequality
- Three Advanced marginality and stigma
- Four Welfare, punishment and neoliberalism
- Five Poverty, inequality and contemporary social work
- Six Reimagining a social state
- Conclusion
- References
- Index
Summary
This chapter examines the social and psychological impacts on poverty and inequality through the concepts of ‘advanced marginality’ and ‘stigma’. The analysis of social stigma is influenced by Wacquant’s argument that the ‘underclass’ discourse not only corrodes social ties, but also the sense of self-worth of the residents of the poorest areas and communities. The majority of social work takes place in these communities, where high rates of poverty, few social resources and amenities, poor housing, high rates of crime and problems such as substance misuse are common.
Wacquant uses Goffman (1963) and Bourdieu et al (1999) as the starting point for his analysis of the development and impact of stigma. Goffman (1963, p 3) describes stigma as an ‘attribute that is deeply discrediting.’ He goes on to suggest that this attribute reduces the holder ‘from a whole and usual person to a tainted, discounted one.’ Wacquant explores the ways that these neighbourhoods have become ‘terra non grata’. He argues that what he terms new ‘anti-ghettos’ carry with them the same negative social connotations of the ghetto. Anti-ghetto is used by Wacquant as a term to describe the poorest areas of urban communities. Neoliberalism creates economic and social insecurity. This makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the social and community institutions to survive.
This chapter begins with an exploration of the term ‘underclass’, before going on to outline the notion and implications of the term ‘advanced marginality’. It moves from these sociological perspectives via an outline of Goffman's notion of stigma (1963) to consider the ways in which images of the poor and marginalised are reproduced and serve to reinforce long-standing prejudices. There is a danger in challenging the underclass discourse that progressives replace it with another stereotype of the passive but heroic poor. Throughout this book there is recognition that class identities, like other labels, are not fixed; they are fluid and complex, constantly negotiated and redefined by individuals and groups.
The development of an ‘underclass’ discourse
Williams describes his influential work, Keywords (2014, p 1), thus:
It is not a dictionary or glossary of a particular academic subject. It is not a series of footnotes to dictionary histories or definitions of a number of words. It is, rather, the record of an inquiry into a vocabulary.
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- Poverty, Inequality and Social WorkThe Impact of Neoliberalism and Austerity Politics on Welfare Provision, pp. 57 - 72Publisher: Bristol University PressPrint publication year: 2018