Learning to look at poverty and welfare through a different lens
The students in my Urban Poverty and Policy class are really beginning to understand how the dominant discourse on poverty has shaped their understanding of poverty. All too often students begin with a view of poverty as an individual failing rather than a structural problem. I really enjoy reading the reflections students submit each week. Many very openly share their thoughts about the course readings, lectures and class discussions and write about how they are beginning to see the world through a different lens.
Last week one of my students sent me a link to an amazing video written and narrated by Ananya Roy from University of California Berkeley and fabulously illustrated by Abby Vanmuijen. Who is dependent on welfare? is loaded with powerful information.
I shared it with the class and I will incorporate into the course content in the future. It really is a great education tool. Check it out and share it widely!
This is third time I have taught the Urban Poverty and Policy Class in the Urban and Inner City Studies department at University of Winnipeg. Students seem particularly interested in learning about the differences between charity and social justice. Most people have no idea what the difference is. Not surprising really, given the media’s preoccupation with telling the stories of those who ‘help the poor and under privileged’ with no analysis of why we have so much poverty in the first place.
Tools like Who is Dependant on Welfare are extremely useful if we are to have any success in shifting the discourse. Thanks Ananya Roy and Abby Vanmuijen for making the video and thanks Iain for sending it to me.
