Causes of poverty, meritocracy and equality
Abstract
Considering that beliefs are socially mediated by cultural conventions, the present work is a survey that follows a semiotic approach based on the theory of codes to interpret explanation patterns for causes of poverty from meritocratic and egalitarian beliefs. 1.233 Brazilian adolescents completed a questionnaire with sentences about such topics. A cluster analysis allowed to identify an individualistic code of poverty based on meritocratic beliefs and a socio-structuralist code supported by egalitarian positions. It is discussed that equality values oppose a meritocratic ideology to condition social interpretations of poverty.
Downloads
Article download
Crossmark
License
In order to support the global exchange of knowledge, the journal Mediaciones Sociales is allowing unrestricted access to its content as from its publication in this electronic edition, and as such it is an open-access journal. The originals published in this journal are the property of the Complutense University of Madrid and any reproduction thereof in full or in part must cite the source. All content is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 use and distribution licence (CC BY 4.0). This circumstance must be expressly stated in these terms where necessary. You can view the summary and the complete legal text of the licence.
