BR What are Life Chances Life Chances Likelihood

BR. What are. Life Chances?

Life Chances • “Likelihood that individuals have of sharing in the benefits and opportunities of society. ” • Health • Length of life • Housing • Education ( this varies by social class )

Life Expectancy • “Average number of years a person born in a particular year can expect to live. ” • The big differences in life expectancy are particularly dramatic in the case of infants. • Children born in poverty are 60% more likely to die in the first year of life than are children not born in poverty

Shorter life expectancy • Inadequate nutrition: poor people have less money to spend on food and often are less informed about good nutrition. • Medical insurance: it’s too expensive, less likely to have regular physical checkups • Prescriptions are expensive • Postpone medical treatment / environment

Patterns of Behavior • Divorce rates are higher • More likely to be arrested, convicted and sent to prison ( more crime in poor areas, that police are more likely to pursue ) • More likely to become a victim of crime • Less likely to attend a four year university

Environment • Working poor have jobs with health and safety risks. • Housing is inadequate • Education is not properly funded due to low tax revenue • Education is a serious factor because of their negative effect on future opportunities