¿Qué tienen los pobres en la cabeza? | Mayra Arena | TEDxBahiaBlanca
What Do the Poor Have in Their Heads?
In this section, Mayra Arena shares personal experiences and reflections on poverty, shedding light on the challenges faced by individuals from impoverished backgrounds.
Insights into Poverty and Personal Experiences
- Mayra reflects on the perceptions of poverty, including having many children, being violent, and wearing distinct footwear.
- She questions why individuals from poor backgrounds struggle to escape poverty and often repeat generational patterns.
- Mayra reveals her upbringing in a poor neighborhood without proper sanitation facilities.
- A childhood anecdote is shared where Mayra mistakenly uses a bidet as a toilet due to lack of exposure to home bathrooms.
Challenges Faced in Education System
This part delves into the impact of poverty on education and social interactions within school settings.
Impact of Poverty on Schooling
- Mayra discusses how poverty becomes evident when entering the school system through disparities in school supplies.
New Section
The speaker reflects on childhood experiences where societal gender norms influenced perceptions of possessions and behaviors.
Gender Norms in Childhood
- The speaker recalls being drawn to traditionally masculine items like a folder of motorcycles, despite societal expectations.
- Violence is discussed as a response to feeling inadequate compared to others who possess more, leading to a misguided belief that aggression commands respect.
- The speaker highlights the disparity in material possessions among children, emphasizing the significance attached to owning expensive items like sneakers.
Socioeconomic Challenges and Perceptions
The speaker delves into the complexities of poverty, materialism, and societal judgments based on possessions.
Materialism and Poverty
- Society questions the need for expensive items like sneakers, revealing underlying judgments about socioeconomic status.
- Acquiring new belongings symbolizes escaping poverty's stigma but fails to address deeper issues of self-worth and societal perceptions.
Root Causes of Behavioral Patterns
Exploring the interplay between violence, laziness, and ingrained socio-economic factors shaping behavior.
Societal Expectations and Behavior
- The speaker challenges stereotypes around laziness by contextualizing it within systemic issues such as lack of exposure to consistent work ethics.
- Distinguishing between structural poverty and temporary financial setbacks sheds light on how upbringing influences attitudes towards work ethic.
Impact of Socioeconomic Background on Education
Contrasting experiences of sporadic versus entrenched poverty in shaping educational values and habits.
Educational Disparities
- Differences between sporadic financial struggles versus enduring structural poverty impact individuals' approach to education and work ethic.
- Highlighting disparities in upbringing regarding discipline, routine, and commitment to education among those from structurally impoverished backgrounds.
Challenges Faced by Marginalized Communities
Addressing misconceptions surrounding work ethic within marginalized communities due to systemic barriers.
Work Ethic Misconceptions
- Lack of exposure to consistent routines from an early age hinders individuals from adapting easily to traditional employment structures.
New Section
In this section, the speaker discusses societal perceptions and treatment of the poor, highlighting the lack of education, respect, and love received by individuals in poverty.
Societal Perceptions of the Poor
- The speaker observes how society does not react with shock when encountering a homeless person or a child from a disadvantaged background.
- Emphasizes that it is unjust to condemn the poor for lacking education without considering if they had access to education in the first place.
- Points out that society often judges the poor for being disrespectful or unloving without questioning if they have ever been shown respect or love.