Literacy and Poverty

Photo Credit: https://tridentlit.org/adult-literacy-matters/literacy-levels/

For most people, the meaning of literacy may be simply defined as the ability of an individual to read and write. However, literacy goes far beyond the ability to read and write. It also involves having the ability to comprehend and apply acquired knowledge. Additionally, Corley suggests that literacy is also a social practice or social currency, and as such, a key to social mobility (Gee 1991).  So what is the correlation between literacy and poverty? According to research, “literacy is regarded as central to helping people obtain and retain employment, which is the key to moving them dependency toward greater self-sufficiency (2003). Adults that are unable to read and write often find themselves in low paying jobs that usually do not require mastery in a particular field or subject area. Consequently, these adults not only become prone to vicious cycles of poverty but also tend to experience repetitive barriers to social mobility. 
~Sheila~

Literacy and its effects on the Economy

Source: https://www.news-herald.com/news/ohio/illiteracy-often-unseen-very-real-problem-greater-cleveland-groups-say/article_759f3f9e-7109-55b0-a96e-e4f4d772e32d.html

While there are negative implications at the individual level, the inability to read and write among the adult population also has implications at a national level according to research from the National Bureau of Economic Research, National Center for Education Statistics, National Council for Adult Learning and the American Journal of Public Health. Adults that are sometimes unable to engage in gainful employment due to literacy barriers are prone to depend on welfare and sometimes engage in crime in order to support themselves. As a result, it costs the government $225 million each year due in non-productivity in the workforce, crime and loss of tax revenue.

~Sheila~
Works referenced: Corley, Mary Ann. “Poverty, Racism and Literacy” ERIC Digest (2003) Web. 3 March 2019. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED475392