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4th out of 19 books
—
14 voters
Framework for Understanding Poverty
People in poverty face challenges virtually unknown to those in middle class or wealth--challenges from both obvious and hidden sources. The reality of being poor brings out a survival mentality, and turns attention away from opportunities taken for granted by everyone else. If you work with people from poverty, some understanding of how different their world is from yours...more
Paperback, Fourth Revised Edition. , 199 pages
Published
May 15th 2005
by AHA! Process
(first published 1995)
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Jul 10, 2010
Malbadeen
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people that love to rank, classify, divide and "educate"
updated review: WAIT!!!!! STOP!!!!!! IF YOU PURCHASED OR ARE CONSIDERING PURCHASING THIS BOOK YOU NEEDN'T DO IT. SAVE YOURSELF SOME TIME AND GOOGLE "MISEDUCATING TEACHERS ABOUT THE POOR: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF RUBY PAYNE'S CLAIMS ABOUT POVERTY"
do you believe that ascribing to a middle class aesthetic is the pinnacle of existence? Do you believe that education is the best, most acceptable, most desired way to gain prominence in our society? Do you believe we should continue down this path?
then...more
do you believe that ascribing to a middle class aesthetic is the pinnacle of existence? Do you believe that education is the best, most acceptable, most desired way to gain prominence in our society? Do you believe we should continue down this path?
then...more
Payne's book is a perfect example of what is wrong with the conservative approach to education. In this book, sold to districts all over the country, Payne peddles soft racism and discredited social theory, based on her anecdotal observations, rather than real research.
It’s a pretty appealing formula: rather than address the root causes of poverty in this country or community, demonize the poor through condescension and disapproval rather than outright hostility. I had the misfortune of going to...more
It’s a pretty appealing formula: rather than address the root causes of poverty in this country or community, demonize the poor through condescension and disapproval rather than outright hostility. I had the misfortune of going to...more
15 likes · like · see review
This was required reading last year at one of my buildings. I would retitle it "Reinforcing Poverty, making stereotypes stick." I found it to be extremely troubling.
Dr. Payne offers outstanding discourse on variations in socioeconomic outlooks and perspectives. I used this quite a bit when dealing with offenders in my work as a probation-parole officer.
Payne has an uncanny ability to vet out subtle cultural nuances and how they relate to one's world-view. I highly recommend this book as a quick study for understanding the things people do - things which might otherwise leave you bewildered.
Now, I understand that there are some folks who dismiss this book a...more
Payne has an uncanny ability to vet out subtle cultural nuances and how they relate to one's world-view. I highly recommend this book as a quick study for understanding the things people do - things which might otherwise leave you bewildered.
Now, I understand that there are some folks who dismiss this book a...more
A good understanding of different value systems and having a broader view. I caution readers to not take it too literally as it is still important to individualize people and not think they fall into on group or another simply because of their income. DON'T OVERGENERALIZE :-)
I've been through this Ruby Payne training twice and each time I am amazed at how helpful it is. I have learned so much about the struggles of each class. It was very practial to use with students or the public in general.
I got Ms. Payne's book based on some interesting excerpts that someone posted online. The excerpts had to do with the different types of speech and how they influence learning and even ways of thinking. The poster quoted some sections from the book which assert that the differences in speech between the general classes of poverty, middle class and wealth have much more impact on the brain than most people realize. This intrigued me. The book is targeted at school administrators and employers, bu...more
Full of generalizations, yes. Entirely wrong- no. The role of language and story; Hidden rules among classes & Characteristics of Generational Poverty are some of the better chapters. There ARE rules of behavior and language in the middle class (and other classes) and trying to function in a middle class atmosphere requires knowledge of these rules. This is not a judgment statement, just statement of fact; just as knowledge of French would be a requirement for success in France. The differen...more
Feb 06, 2008
Mason Wiebe
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Teachers, Social workers, Anyone who works with people living in poverty
During Grad school, I skimmed this book and remembered that it had a lot of good info about the cultural differences between classes (poverty, middle-class, wealthy), so when I saw that a friend was reading it down here, I decided to give it a second look. It is written with educators in mind, so it was only slightly applicable to what I am doing at this point in my life, and it is written about poverty in the US. What I found very interesting is that so many of the things we see here that we th...more
Payne's profound yet concise presentation of information is powerful and helpful. Even though I earned a BA in Psychology, I never knew much of this information. I appreciate her respect for people in poverty and her objective perspective on what to expect from them. In addition, the background and strategies that she discusses are useful for working with people in general, not just those in poverty; for instance, she teaches how to recognize someone's thought process through eye movements. I ha...more
Some of the comments and reviews here on GoodReads are surprising, almost as if they had read a different book than the one I read.
The unexamined will control us, and this book is about unexamined assumptions and the "hidden" social rules of each class that keep individuals pigeonholed and divided. It is ironic, then, that the author is accused by some of doing the pigeonholing and dividing.
She is accused of racism, although what she seeks to demonstrate in her work is that certain social patt...more
The unexamined will control us, and this book is about unexamined assumptions and the "hidden" social rules of each class that keep individuals pigeonholed and divided. It is ironic, then, that the author is accused by some of doing the pigeonholing and dividing.
She is accused of racism, although what she seeks to demonstrate in her work is that certain social patt...more
5 likes · like · see review
Mar 05, 2009
Claire S
marked it as to-read
My Mom mentioned this book in relation to some local non-profits she is very involved with, so have been planning to read it.
I understand where the criticisms come from to an extent, but I know from being involved with our local (big terrible horrible) public school system that paradigms of reality are subjective, and talking about them is often very difficult, especially across paradigms with an absence of trust.
In her book, she talks hers, and the listener can hear widely different things.
T...more
I understand where the criticisms come from to an extent, but I know from being involved with our local (big terrible horrible) public school system that paradigms of reality are subjective, and talking about them is often very difficult, especially across paradigms with an absence of trust.
In her book, she talks hers, and the listener can hear widely different things.
T...more
The work of Ruby Payne and the subsequent practical impact that her work can create is remarkable. The concepts are broad and applicable at many levels and help the reader have a better view of the often overlooked economic barriers and bonuses of life, education, religion, and workforce in America. Why does one person rise and another remain? Why do some children naturally excel and others, just as talented, struggle? There are so many economically influenced dynamics that are taken for granted...more
Awesome. Easy to understand and immediately useful. WIN.
Some key points to remember:
1. Poverty is relative. If everyone around you has similar circumstances, the notion of poverty and wealth is vague. Poverty or wealth only exists in relationship to the known quantities or expectation.
2. Poverty occurs among people of all ethnic backgrounds and in all countries.The notion of a middle class as a large segment of society is a phenomenon of this century. The percentage of the population that is poo...more
Some key points to remember:
1. Poverty is relative. If everyone around you has similar circumstances, the notion of poverty and wealth is vague. Poverty or wealth only exists in relationship to the known quantities or expectation.
2. Poverty occurs among people of all ethnic backgrounds and in all countries.The notion of a middle class as a large segment of society is a phenomenon of this century. The percentage of the population that is poo...more
1 like · like · see review
This was another book club read last Fall. It was fascinating and very eye opening for me. I learned a lot! The things I learned seemed to fit well with interactions I have had with people in poverty. Payne's insights also seem accurate according to books I have read such as We Beat the Street. This book is aimed at educators, but most of it is easy for a lay audience to understand, as well. I think it should be required reading not only for educators, but also for social workers, public health...more
A short book—only 117 pages before the notes and appendix—that provides precisely what the title says: a framework for understanding poverty. Easy-to-read and full of profound insights. Several chapters had content that led to "Aha!" moments of understanding. I think anyone working with urban poverty in the US would find this a worthwhile book to read.
Some key insights:
From the introduction:
1. Generational poverty and situational poverty are different
2. This work is based on patterns. All patter...more
Some key insights:
From the introduction:
1. Generational poverty and situational poverty are different
2. This work is based on patterns. All patter...more
This is a VERY basic, but helpful primer for understanding poverty, esp., in terms of thinking about class in terms of registers. It's not the most exhaustive book you've read, but it's quick and gets straight to the point of what issues our students in poverty may be facing, and the perspective from which they may be engaging school, etc. It is exactly what it claims to be: a "framework," which is to say it is a way of understanding class differences (that of registers), but this is as helpful...more
The author looks at poverty as a culture, attempting to enlighten educators to the impact poverty makes on learning, work habits and decision making. The goal is to give educators a better understand of the poverty culture so they may school children from that culture in the hidden rules of the middle class culture and to understand and see value in the hidden rules of the poverty culture.
Three cultures are poverty, middle class, and wealthy cultures.
Poverty is situational or generational.
Eac...more
Three cultures are poverty, middle class, and wealthy cultures.
Poverty is situational or generational.
Eac...more
Mar 15, 2010
Avrila
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who works with people
Recommended to Avrila by:
A teaching workshop
For those who say it's full of generalizations, my response is "duh." When you write a book that examines social class, which affects EVERYBODY, you have to generalize. To do it in under 200 pages so that busy people can read it, you have to generalize a lot. No one should read this book until they understand the difference between individual traits and group tendencies, because they might pick up stereotypes out of it if they're not ready. However, anyone who works in helping people (teachers,...more
2 likes · like · see review
This book was from the personal experience and research of doctor Payne regarding the three levels of wealth as identified in the schooling system as ‘poverty’, ‘middle class’, and ‘wealth’. The focus in the book is on the resources that are necessary to change from one class to the next. It helps the reader to identify those resources, understand why one class has some types of resources and the other classes have different resources. She claims that poverty has very little if nothing to do wit...more
My boss suggested I read this book because we will be serving a population that has a significant percentage of lower income people. I'm open to reading pretty much anything, and the topic was interesting to me. But as I got into it, I felt uncomfortable with some of the concepts being laid out, especially "spiritual poverty." The book offered some useful tips about understanding how to interact with people who aren't highly educated, or who are from a very different background than the average...more
This book is aimed at educators though it is quite useful to anybody working with the public, especially with individuals who come from generational poverty. Dr. Ruby Payne explains the differences among the lower class, middle class, and upper class with regard to time management, communication styles, views on money, relationships, and so forth. After drawing a framework for understanding the culture and framework within which social classes in America work, she guides the reader with examples...more
Not necessarily a book to be read by everyone. And definately not a pleasure read. I read this for work. That said, it was laying on the counter and my husband picked it up and read it, commenting that it was interesting. Pretty soon my oldest son was reading over his shoulder, and the next day my daughter read it. They all finished it. It is short. It is quick to read at only 120 pgs with lots of diagrams and graphs.
So why read it? Read it if you want to understand more about why people do what...more
So why read it? Read it if you want to understand more about why people do what...more
This is a non-judgmental book about understanding the differences and inequalities in American society. There are many and Payne does an amazing job of explaining the differences between the impoverished, the middle class and the wealthy.
It is refreshing to read a book that treats the impoverished with respect. It acknowledges that these are the people who have to make hard decisions all day, every day. While it is easy to stand back and judge them, this book invites you into their lives, their...more
It is refreshing to read a book that treats the impoverished with respect. It acknowledges that these are the people who have to make hard decisions all day, every day. While it is easy to stand back and judge them, this book invites you into their lives, their...more
This book came highly recommended from various TFA types. It is horrible. it is full of subtly veiled stereotypes and essentialization, couched in psuedo-pyschology from someone who claims to understand the lives of people living in poverty because she married someone who grew up in poverty. I think this book could actually be really dangerous for the mindsets it reinforces while presenting itself as a compassionate, indispensible guide to working with certain populations.
I first read this book in college and decided to reread the updated edition to see if I could gain any insight into some of the families who are currently on my caseload at work. The book deals mostly with the thought and behavior patterns common to people in poverty, middle class, and wealth. I like the author's focus on poverty as a lack of resources in a broader sense, not just financial. The book is mostly directed towards people working in schools, but I think the ideas in it could be helpf...more
Quotes: “An individual brings w/ him/her the hidden rules of the class in which he/she was raised…..Schools and businesses operate from middle-class norms and use the hidden rules of middle class…..For students to become successful, we must understand their hidden rules and teach them the rules that will make them successful at school and work” and “Two things that help one move out of poverty are education and (caring) relationships”
POVERTY is defined as the extent a person lives w/out resourc...more
POVERTY is defined as the extent a person lives w/out resourc...more
This book gave an interesting insight to the lives of those living in poverty: what drives their decisions, choice of language, reasons they might not be able to excel, lack of support systems. It is a good book for anyone working with children, students, parents or patrons in low socioeconomic areas.
Payne gives examples of responses from children/students of poverty to being disciplined, gives possible reasons behind those responses, and gives suggestions on how to interpret and react to them y...more
Payne gives examples of responses from children/students of poverty to being disciplined, gives possible reasons behind those responses, and gives suggestions on how to interpret and react to them y...more
I had heard great things about this book, and was inclined favorably towards it. But the more I read, the more I felt that a more accurate title would have been "Outdated Stereotypes for Oversimplifying Poverty." Although the book has many references, and thus "looks scholarly," if you peruse the bibliography, you will see that much of Payne's substantive material comes from one book published by Sage, which she cites repeatedly. She also cites a number of books about poverty and/or American soc...more
This was one of those books hovering over me for years.
A quick read, but groundbreaking in its discussion of the hidden rules of poverty, the middle class, and the wealthy class. Teachers typically operate from their own middle class rules, realizing that not all student share their same values, but admittedly not understanding why. Teachers should value the rules of poverty at the same time explicitly teaching the hidden rules of the middle class. This is imperative if students of poverty ever...more
A quick read, but groundbreaking in its discussion of the hidden rules of poverty, the middle class, and the wealthy class. Teachers typically operate from their own middle class rules, realizing that not all student share their same values, but admittedly not understanding why. Teachers should value the rules of poverty at the same time explicitly teaching the hidden rules of the middle class. This is imperative if students of poverty ever...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Books regarding SES | 1 | 1 | Jan 17, 2012 02:38pm | |
| Generalizations gone wild | 6 | 68 | Sep 23, 2011 07:28pm |
Feb 22, 2013 09:17am
Feb 22, 2013 09:45am