Poverty and Welfare Among the Portuguese Jews in Early Modern Amsterdam

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tirtsah Levie-Bernfeld
Keyword(s):  
Early Modern ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Survival Strategies ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Jewish Society ◽  
Welfare Institutions ◽  
Poor Women ◽  
Relative Tolerance ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Work Education

Early modern Amsterdam was a prosperous city renowned for its relative tolerance, and many people hoping for a better future, away from persecution, wars, and economic malaise, chose to make a new life there. Conversos and Jews from many countries were among them, attracted by the reputed wealth and benevolence of the Portuguese Jews who had settled there. Behind the facade of prosperity, however, poverty was a serious problem. It preoccupied the leadership of the Portuguese Jewish community and influenced its policy on admitting newcomers. This book looks at poverty and welfare from the perspective of both benefactors and recipients. The book analyses benefactors' motives for philanthropy and charts its dimensions; it also examines the decision-making processes of communal bodies and private philanthropists, identifying the cultural influences that shaped their commitment to welfare. At the same time the book succeeds in bringing the poor to life: it examines what brought them to Amsterdam, aspects of their daily life in the petitions they sent to the different welfare institutions, and the survival strategies offered by work, education, and charity. The book also considers the related questions of social mobility and the motivation of the poor for joining the Amsterdam Portuguese community, and finally, to the small but active groups of Sephardi bandits who formed their own clandestine networks. Special attention is paid to poor women, who were often singled out for relief. In this way the book makes a much-needed contribution to the study of gender, in Jewish society and more generally.

Beyond the Kirk Session: Mixed Economies of Relief

2018 ◽  
pp. 206-235
Author(s):  
John McCallum
Keyword(s):  
Early Modern ◽  
Survival Strategies ◽  
Significant Source ◽  
European Research ◽  
Mixed Economy ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Relief System ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church

While the focus in the previous two sections is on the formal relief system operated by the church in the localities, on the poor who received relief, and on the relationship between them, the final chapter of the book turns to consider the wider context of relief. Recent European research has demonstrated the significance of mixed economies of relief, as well as developing growing attempts to trace the lives and survival strategies of the poor on their own terms, and not merely as recipients of charity. This section applies these two trends to the Scottish experience, and contextualises the church’s relief work through an examination of the relief provided by secular authorities; hospitals; and private individuals; and the informal survival strategies employed by the poor themselves. The chapter argues that the kirk session was at the centre of the mixed economy of relief, and was by far the most significant source of support for early modern Scots in need of assistance, and furthermore that the kirk session was often instrumental in supporting, working with, and developing these other forms of relief (hospitals, testamentary charity and foundations).

scholarly journals “It Is Extreme Necessity That Makes Me Do This”: Some “Survival Strategies” of Pauper Households in London's West End During the Early Eighteenth Century”

2000 ◽  
Vol 45 (S8) ◽  
pp. 47-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Boulton
Keyword(s):  
Early Modern ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Early Modern Period ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Survival Strategies ◽  
Poor People ◽  
Poor Relief ◽  
Elderly Parents ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Alternative Sources

Although research on survival strategies is still at a relatively early stage, there are clearly some areas where there is considerable difference in emphasis placed by historians on the relative importance of particular “expedients” deployed by the poorin extremisThere is, for example, uncertainty regarding the amount of support given by neighbours as opposed to relatives. There is some historical contention, too, over the importance to the elderly of care by their children, as opposed to alternative sources of maintenance such as earnings, charity and especially the formal institutions of poor relief. After all, in the early modern period the principle source for a study of the survival strategies of poor people is always likely to be the records of poor relief or charitable agencies and institutions. The obvious danger here is that historians of poor relief consistently overestimate the importance of such relief to the poor. Both Richard Wall and Pat Thane, using evidence from nineteenth- and twentieth-century England, for example, have demonstrated that the elderly received far more support from relatives than has been realized. Professor Thane has argued that this situation is unlikely t o have been new. Other historians, however, are much more sceptical over the value of intergenerational flows of wealth from children to elderly parents.

scholarly journals Poor women and urban assistance in Early Modern Portugal: the case of Hospital of Santiago of Braga

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 77-106
Author(s):  
Luís Gonçalves Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Early Modern ◽  
Social Vulnerability ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Family Relations ◽  
Urban Context ◽  
Modern Age ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Poor Women

Any study of Hospital of Santiago has remained untackled to date. This institution housed women in a situation of great economic and social vulnerability, mainly elderly, single or widows with few or no surviving family relations. This text aims to discuss the women’s poverty by comparing their stances towards death. The study is based on the analysis of parish records and accounting sources considered via a qualitative methodology. The results problematize the phenomena of the impoverishment of women in an urban context and debate the relevance of work, networks and formal assistance in the survival of the poor during the Early Modern Age.

Charlatans and Medicine in 19th-Century Latin America

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Podgorny
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Early Modern ◽  
19Th Century ◽  
Technological Innovations ◽  
Modern Times ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Poor Women ◽  
The Rich ◽  
Early Modern Times ◽  
Power Of Words

In the long view of history, the charlatan is a merchant in unconventional knowledge defined on the basis of his itinerant existence. Traveling from one marketplace to another, dealing in exotic objects and remedies, organizing shows and exhibitions, performing miraculous healings by appealing to the curative power of words and liniments, charlatans have traversed Europe since early modern times. Charlatans also crossed the boundaries between popular and learned cultures. Both celebrated and opposed by physicians, scientists and philosophers, the rich and the poor, women and men, they circulated and traded knowledge and artifacts, penetrating the most diverse cultural spheres. Far from being confined to certain countries or regions, they were everywhere, repeating almost the same sales strategies, words, and performances. The repetition of fictitious stories down the centuries and on different continents raises the question of assessing the persistence of tradition in such different contexts. Charlatans were able not only to discover what local people liked but also to speak their “local language,” as well as adopting the most sophisticated technological innovations as part of their performances. They were sharp observers of traditions and habits in the settings they visited, and they reacted quickly to what was new for attracting audiences and customers. One can say that charlatans combined very ancient products with the most innovative media.

Women Welfare Measures Implemented During DMK Regime

Think India ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 772-779
Author(s):  
T.Vinsela Jeev
Keyword(s):  
Police Department ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Small Scale Industry ◽  
Poor Women ◽  
The Government ◽  
Physically Challenged ◽  
Self Help Groups ◽  
School Books

During the DMK regime many welfare schemes for implemented for women especially. This schemes for developments for socio and economic activities for women. The poor women, widows, physically challenged were benefited their schemes. The government allotted lot of sewing machines, Free school books, Midday meal schemes, Small scale Industry, Self help groups, Boating supply for fisher mans and many women teachers were appointed in Elementary school, Middle school, High schools. Women’s were appointed in police Department and also so many schemes for the development of socio and economic condition of the poor women people.

Livelihood Promotion: Can the Collectives of NRLM Really Do It?

2021 ◽  
pp. 097300522110008
Author(s):  
H. S. Shylendra
Keyword(s):  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Development Programme ◽  
Professional Support ◽  
Role Clarity ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Rural Livelihood ◽  
Poor Women ◽  
Policy Suggestions ◽  
New Generation

As a new generation development programme, the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) has sought to promote collectives of the poor women as the corner-stone of its strategy for livelihood promotion. The livelihood enhancement is meant to be actualised through a multi-dimensional strategy of livelihood protection and promotion. The paper hypothesised that despite their avowed goal, the collectives of women are bound to face enormous challenges in the livelihood promotion in the absence of an integrated approach more so in the context of neoliberalism. The findings of the paper corroborate the hypothesis to a great extent. Contrary to the theoretical visualisation of institutionalists, collectives of poor have faced challenges in their self-reliant emergence. The intervention has emerged more as a minimalist microfinance with inherent limitations regarding poverty alleviation. The paper concludes that the collectives of NRLM have a long way to go before they can emerge as strong livelihood promoting agencies. Sustained support to build the capacities of the fledging collectives, a reversal of the top–down elements of their multi-tier structure and the strong need for greater role clarity for the collectives along with professional support are some of the policy suggestions.

The Heterogeneous Nature of Urban Poor Families

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Salcedo ◽  
Alejandra Rasse
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Urban Poor ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Poor Families ◽  
Heterogeneous Nature ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Different Cultures

This paper addresses the scholarly debate on cultural homogeneity or heterogeneity of urban poor families. While authors such as Lewis (1959) or Wacquant (2000 ; 2001) claim that structural disadvantages are linked to a particular type of identity or culture, others such as Hannerz (1969) , Anderson (1999 ; 2002) , or Portes ( Portes and Manning, 1986 ; Portes and Jensen, 1989 ) believe that it is possible to find different behaviors, expectations, decision–making processes, and outcomes among people living in seemingly identical structural conditions ( Small et al., 2010 ). Using Santiago, Chile, as a case study, we differentiate five different cultures or identities among the poor. Those identities seem to be the product of different historical and political circumstances, as well as of different types of public policies. The paper ends with a discussion of the need for poverty reduction policies to consider these differences among the poor.

scholarly journals Sosyal Yardımlaşma ve Dayanışma Vakıflarından Sosyal Yardım Alan Kadınların Bazı Sosyo-Demografik Özellikleri ile Yoksullukla Bağlantılı Deneyim ve Görüşleri

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (13) ◽  
pp. 259-282
Author(s):  
Melike YALÇIN
Keyword(s):  
Research Method ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Social Assistance ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Young Adult Women ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Poor Women

With this research, it is aimed to reveal some socio-demographic characteristics, experiences and opinions related to poverty, and power situations of coping with poverty of poor women who receive social assistance from social assistance and solidarity foundations. The quantitative research method was used in the study, and the data were obtained by making face-to-face interviews with women who received social assistance from Ankara province Altındağ, Mamak and Keçiören Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundations and accepted to participate in the study. The poor women participating in the research are young adult women with a low level of education, married, have at least one child, are unemployed and earn their living on social assistance. They define poverty as not being able to meet their needs and state the reason for poverty as unemployment. Participants see social assistance as a strategy to cope with poverty and think that the aid given is not enough to provide for their livelihood. They think that women are affected more by poverty than men, and they define their strengths mostly as being a good mother and wife.

scholarly journals Unique aspects of the Islamic microfinance financing process

Humanomics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Permata Wulandari ◽  
Salina Kassim ◽  
Liyu Adhi Kasari Sulung ◽  
Niken Iwani Surya Putri
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Poor People ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Depth Interview ◽  
Islamic Principle ◽  
Islamic Microfinance

Purpose This paper aims to highlight on the unique aspects of Islamic microfinance based on the experience of Baitul Maal Wa Tamwil (BMT) in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach It adopts the content analysis approach and focuses on three phases of financing, namely, pre-financing, financing and post-financing using coding and model buildings. Data are collected through in-depth interview with a sample of representatives of BMTs that offer product based on Islamic principle for the poor located in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tanggerang and Bekasi (JABODETABEK), Sulawesi Selatan, Yogyakarta and Nusa Tenggara Barat (sample chosen based on the most concentrated areas of Islamic microfinance that offered product based on Islamic principles). Ultimately, a model based on the unique features of Islamic microfinance will be developed based on the findings of the content analysis. Findings The proposed model incorporates the peculiarities of the poor people in pre-financing, financing and post-financing activities of micro-financing products to serve as a reference for policy makers. The paper also found that each region has unique product preferences depending on the poor’s characteristics. Research limitations/implications This study is only conducted in four areas with BMT representation, namely, Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi (often abbreviated as JABODETABEK), Sulawesi Selatan, Yogyakarta and Nusa Tenggara Barat) in Indonesia. Despite the limited scope, the findings have wide applications to the Islamic microfinancing in general. Originality/value The paper adds value to the literature on Islamic microfinance by enabling researchers and practitioners to understand the model of three step financing (pre-financing, financing and post-financing) in Islamic microfinance in Indonesia. Although not a new issue, the paper provides the practice of pre-financing, financing and post-financing processes which may differ from the practices of Islamic microfinance in other settings because of different cultural influences unique to every region.

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