Social Empathy: A Tool to Address the Contradiction of Working but Still Poor

What does it mean for a person to work hard and remain poor? We know that the opportunities and outcomes in life are diminished (Duncan & Brooks-Gunn, 1999). The psychological and physical tolls can be significant (Ambert, 1998). Health is a key area that is impacted by poverty. In a study of families working but still poor, important medical care was not acquired due to lack of health insurance and out-of-pocket funds. These deficits included leaving braces on a child for 2 years without any doctor visits; pulling teeth instead of getting root canals because the former was more affordable; no preventive visits to doctors or dentists; needed surgeries and medications delayed or ignored because of cost; and relying on emergency care so children are sicker when medical attention is finally received (Peck & Segal, 2006).