Poverty and the Deprivation of Dignity

We always think about poverty as an absence of material goods. Or, the inability to purchase material goods. However, we seldom think poverty that can lead to a loss of dignity. Adam Smith noted this in his book the "Wealth of Nations" (1776):

“A linen shirt … is, strictly speaking, not a necessary of life.The Greeks and Romans lived, I suppose, very comfortably though they had no linen. But in the present times, through the greater part of Europe, a creditable day-labourer would be ashamed to appear in public without a linen shirt, the want of which would be supposed to denote that disgraceful degree of poverty which, it is presumed, nobody can well fall into without extreme bad conduct.”

If a person in the late 1700s could not afford a linen shirt, they would be ashamed to come outside in public. The inability to purchase even the basic necessities can sap the dignity of a person. A recent article in the Washington Post highlights the plight of the poor:

"The Poor are Treated like Criminals Everywhere, even at the Grocery Store"

While we are transfixed on the idea that the poor are mis-using the welfare system, we seldom think the indignity that the poor have to go through to get access to those means-tested welfare. After getting them, they face even more indignity when they want to use that money for the reason why it was sanctioned in the first place. 

How can we help? Well, we first have to stop labeling the poor as people who take advantage of the welfare system. Nobody enjoys going to the welfare office to beg for money. We need to start seeing people as humans, not as freeloaders.