Poverty is something we all want to see less of. So why does it prove so difficult to tackle? Can empathy help fix it?
Poverty is bad for everyone. Being at the sharp end of disadvantage is shameful, reduces brainpower, and hampers positive action. It increases crime, burdens healthcare systems and raises taxpayers' bills. With millions around the world struggling to make ends meet and increased socioeconomic uncertainty making poverty a more probable prospect for many more, tackling poverty has never been more urgent.
Yet, while the ultra-rich bask in the glory of superstar status, people in poverty are cast as second-rate citizens. Deeply engrained prejudice and punitive policies lead to vicious cycles of deprivation. Positive psychology that emphasises personal strengths can be empowering for some, but also feeds toxic narratives of failure and defeat. The flipside of taking credit for individual success is that the inability to achieve it is attributed to personal shortcomings.
Blinded by the economic success of a small minority, we have lost sight of the harsh reality experienced by so many. This makes it possible for children in the US to have their arms stamped when their parents are unable to pay for school lunches and for a single mother in the Netherlands to be forced to pay thousands of Euros for having been gifted groceries while receiving welfare benefits.
THE EMPATHY FIX exposes the realities of poverty and reveals why policies don't work. It shows what is needed to radically rethink current efforts to tackle poverty and how we can all contribute to a more equal society: empathy.