When it comes to life in rural
America, there are several
implications that point to why
those who live outside of
metropolitan areas remain
impoverished and
disenfranchised. Generational
poverty is described as a family
that has been poor for two or
more generations. The cycle of
poverty within the family
continues, decade after decade,
and it is a cycle that often feels
impossible to disrupt. Poverty's
grip on society is unique in that it
suppresses executive function,
attention, and cognitive
development – all components
needed to build a sustainable
quality of life. Scientists shared
these findings at the 2015
International Convention of
Psychological Science. These
difficulties set in motion the cycle
of poverty for millions of
Americans, especially those who
live in rural parts of the country.
The Levels of Poverty
According to the Centre for Social Justice, there are five
factors that drive poverty, and unemployment is one of
them. While rural employment is growing, it hasn't fully
bounced back from the Great Recession of 2007-2009,
according to the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA). From 2007-2010, the average rate of
employment grew just 0.5% compared to 1.8% in urban
communities.
However, even when individuals find employment some of
them remain impoverished. PBS NewsHour reports that in
2015, nearly one-third of rural workers lived in households
that made an income at 50% beneath the poverty line.
Most growing industries, such as careers in tech, aren't
establishing jobs in rural areas.
Furthermore, factories and coal mines – staples of rural
employment – are antiquated and no longer a reliable
source of income. Climate change and economic hardship
have also challenged the sustainability of agriculture as a
source of work. Additionally, disabilities and senior
citizenship are more common in rural areas, which leaves
few employment opportunities. Those living in rural areas
also have reduced access to transportation. Therefore,
their options regarding employment are limited, due to
availability and distance.
Substance Abuse
Not only does poverty increase stress and feelings of
hopelessness, it decreases self-esteem and access to
social support and healthcare. All of this can lead people to
self-soothe their troubles through maladaptive means. For
those who aren't necessarily poor but are heavily exposed
to substance abuse, they could slip into poverty should
they become addicted. Substance use disorder (SUD) is an
ongoing concern in rural communities, and it is one of the
driving factors of the prevalence of poverty. Alcohol and
opioid use are common vices in rural areas. HealthDay
News reports that alcohol-related deaths rose 43% from
2006-2018 in rural America.
In 2015, the International Journal of Drug Policy reported
that nearly 5% of rural adults reported using prescription
opioids for non-medical purposes. Additionally, those who
abuse prescription opioids are 19 times more likely to start
using heroin, as heroin is more affordable and easier to
obtain than pharmaceuticals. This is doubly concerning, as
intravenous drug use increases the likelihood of
contracting hepatitis C or HIV and of dying of accidental
overdose. These issues leave rural communities ravaged
by health disparities and mortality.
Debt
The next driving factor of rural poverty is debt. Whether it
be student loans or the continuing financial crisis that
plague farmers, owing money (with interest) to lenders
and banks keeps people disenfranchised. According to
Lending Tree, rural residents have lower credit scores than
their urban counterparts and struggle more to manage
their debt. While Americans in rural communities are in
less debt than those in metropolitan areas, they also bring
in substantially less income.
Family Hardship and Access to Education
Finally, dismantled families and educational setbacks
perpetuate poverty. Divorce, teen pregnancy, and
households left with one parent to care for everyone are
sources of significant stress and financial hardship.
Hunger, financial instability, and housing insecurity raise a
student's risk of dropping out of school. Students who
drop out are more likely to experience joblessness and
substance abuse, thus continuing the cycle.
All these factors intersect and play a key role in keeping
rural residents in the grips of poverty from generation to
generation. The persistence of poverty in rural America is
directly linked to the lack of infrastructure and
opportunities in these areas. Rural Americans are just as
valuable as those who reside in metropolitan cities around
the country, and it's imperative that they are allowed to
progress in the same way that urban dwellers are. Rural
and urban communities alike have their fair share of
hardships and setbacks. The difference, however, is that
rural communities are often overlooked due to lack of
visibility (small town populations) and American
industrialization. The cycle of generational poverty can be
disrupted if attention and infrastructure are put in place so
that those living rural have every opportunity to succeed
that their urban counterparts do.
Efforts are underway by the federal government to
address barriers to health care in rural communities.
Although this won't necessarily solve disparities in
employment, housing, and education, it is a much needed
emphasis on the many deserving individuals who reside in
rural towns across America. To learn more, check out this
article: HHS Addresses Population Health with Ambitious
Rural Action Plan.
PAGE 05 November 2020