The Micro-decisions that Define Poverty

Understanding the intricacies of a life lived in poverty without actually living that life is much like trying to understand the workings of a computer without knowing what the inside of a computer looks like – theoretically possible, but highly improbable. Drawing comparisons to a middle-class life is equally ineffective. Yet, well-meaning (and mean-spirited) politicians and public figures try to do just that. They attempt to rationalize and explain the improbable, then suggest that it is a straighforward matter for one to rise out of a life of poverty.

Life in poverty is not a macro-issue. It is a life of minute details that comprise an existence. This blog will attempt to reveal how a life of poverty feels, from the inside. It is interesting, though, that many of us who live or have lived in extreme North American-style poverty seldom think of ourselves in terms of our poverty. It does not define us. It merely is.

We are familiar with public service information pieces that show a person choosing between heat and food, between shelter and water. That actually is a macro decision for many. It still does not define us and is simply a choice, albeit difficult and impactful, that could equate to a middle-income earner choosing between investing in his future retirement through a retirement savings vehicle or buying a new, 4-wheeled vehicle.

But imagine that your choice hits a little closer. You are looking for a job. You need to look your best, feel that you are in control, know you have an equal chance at the position with the well-heeled candidate also vying for the opening. You have the same education. You actually have a higher GPA to present and your work experience shows two past jobs, both of which come with very high recommendations from the former employers. The other candidate has not worked while going to school but attended his studies full time. You should have the edge on competency, right?

The morning of the interview, the second candidate slides into his tailored suit (it is an office job!), after having groomed himself impeccably. His manner, borne of years of relative comfort, is confident.

You, a week before the interview, chose to buy a dress shirt and pants from the second-hand store instead of paying your insurance. Your shoes are well scuffed, but since you only own one pair, they will have to suffice with a layer of polish that you borrowed from your grandfather (a little old and hard, but it worked, sort of.) The haircut that your mother gave you last week is still fresh, if not professional. You are clean and tidy. You are ready. But when you come face to face with your competition and the others, similarly attired, that confidence fades.

The interviewer relies on first impressions, in spite of her attempt to be objective. You also are not as confident as you were two days earlier, and it shows. You don’t get the job. That is an effect of poverty. Think it doesn’t happen? Wrong.

Several  years ago, I interviewed for my dream job. I could not afford new shoes, or even a spring jacket, let alone a suit. That morning, it rained. I had no comb or brush with me, as we only owned one brush for the entire family. The soles of my shoes were separating. My appearance cost me the job, because I had far superior qualifications to the other candidates. How do I know? I was referred to the opening by a neighbor who worked at the building. He was told directly by the HR interviewer that she didn’t think I would fit in. The opinion was based on my “unkempt” appearance and the fact that I did not think enough of the job to wear decent clothes.

It was my good fortune that my career took a different path, and I overcame, for the most part, the impediment of poverty. But most do not. That is why statistics show that, over the past forty years, the percentage of people living in poverty has remained relatively flat or increased, with nearly 13-14% of the population living below the poverty line. Those that are poor most often remain poor, sometimes sliding into drugs and crime as a way out. Even increased education opportunities have not eliminated the curse of poverty.

Little things impact. Daily incidents. Micro-moments, yet few spend even an hour bemoaning their income situation. They just carry on living, even though they are being denied the chance to advance and more importantly, to contribute to the world around them as effectively as they could. Ironically, the western world loses much of its greatest potential because the very capable people trapped in poverty are never given the opportunity to show what they can achieve. And the cause is the numerous micro-decisions made in the trade-off between survival and success.