Children’s Lived Experiences in Poverty in Hong Kong as a High-Income Asian Society
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Literature and Findings on Children’s Experience of Poverty
- (i)
- What are children’s experiences of poverty in the following aspects:
- economic and material deprivation, including basic needs (food, clothing, housing, and health care), childhood possessions (toys), and schooling resources?
- social relationships and social participation, including peer relationship, family relationship, and participation in extra-curricular activities?
- psychological and emotional wellbeing, including feelings about family circumstances, feelings about school lives, and aspirations?
- (ii)
- How do children cope with the effects of poverty?
3. Methods
3.1. Approach
3.2. Participants and Data Collection
3.3. Data Analysis
4. Results
4.1. Economic and Material Deprivation
4.1.1. Basic Needs
Being Food Secure without Going Hungry
We’ll buy fish if it’s cheap, about HK$10 or $20 for one piece. …If someone gives us supermarket vouchers, we’ll buy them from the supermarket …and we’ve bought a few frozen fish for only $30 before! Frozen fish is better …because the fresh ones are raised in the pond, not in the ocean. …We go tothe market around the time it closes. …There would be 3 or 4 portions of food for just $10. …It’s at about 6 to 7 o’ clock.(Eleanor, P3, CSSA)
In the morning, I have some crackers and a glass of milk. …These are provided by an NGO. … Sometimes, people might give us flour, and we would make something like Chinese pancakes. …When we are given macaroni, we’ll add some vegetables as a meal. [For dinner] …we may have noodles with vegetables, such as carrots or tomatoes. …During weekends, we cook one or two veggie dishes. My mom and I would each have a bowl of rice. …Sometimes the NGO gives us meat. …We would have meat once a month. … [During the week], we usually eat rice and vegetables.(Brandon, P3, WFA)
Being Deprived of Socially or Culturally Desirable Food Practices
It costs only eight dollars [about US$1] for a dish [of sushi] …and I had seven dishes! …I ate even more than my brother. …We went there once a year but this year I went twice, as I went with my cousin last time.(Jenny, P3, new immigrant)
Limited Living Space
There is no partition at my home. We don’t divide it into rooms …everything is in one place.(Gerald, P3, new immigrant)
My mom put a cupboard by the door. It makes it impossible for me to close the door.(Ian, P3, new immigrant)
Minimal Set up at Home
Sufficient in Quantity but Not Necessarily in Quality of Clothing
My mom wears my old shoes and outfits …so she doesn’t need to spend on her clothing. …Just like she lets me eat more of her food while she eats less.(Flora, S1, CSSA)
I have a lot of clothes, but they are not worn …they do not fit my size.(Rex, P4, TA)
I have 20 to 30 tees …and around 20 pairs of pants. …But a lot of them were worn in kindergarten years and are put in the bottom of the shelf. …The tees I often wear are fewer than 10.(Kate, P5, CSSA)
Heavy Reliance on Informal Health Care
We have this good medicine from mainland China. …You will feel well after taking it for a few days. I take it whenever I have a cough, fever, or flu. …We ask our relatives to send us more if it’s running out.(Queenie, P3, N-nothings)
There’s no need to take medicine. I’ll get well in a few days …just waiting to get well.(Kate, P5, CSSA)
My parents asked me to take a flu formula drink and then run for a few laps in the basketball court. …When I have a fever, I’ll tuck in the blanket. I’ll get well after sweating.(Olivia, P5, TA)
4.1.2. Childhood Possession
Lack of Popularity of “Traditional Toys”
It’s not easy each time I sleep. …As I don’t want to crush them, I have to sleep like this [gesture indicating the narrow width of the bed space]. …The bed is also filled with lots of stuff, like my school bag and my dad’s stuff. …I don’t know where I could put my dolls!(Giselle, P3, CSSA)
Fondness for “Modern Toys”
4.1.3. Schooling Resources
Lack of Non-Information Technology Resources
Lack of A Printer
If I do homework at night and cannot ask people to print it out …I’ll copy it out by hand. …Yes, I copy it out by hand for my homework.(Eleanor, P3, CSSA)
I have to ask the school social worker to help me with printing. …It’s about once or twice a week, not that often. …Still, I want to do it at home so as not to keep bothering other people. …It’s bothersome to me and the others who help me.(Claire, P4, CSSA)
General Accessibility of Other Digital Devices
I use a cell phone to attend Zoom class. …I have a computer but it’s slow. It’s placed next to my bed, so you can see a lot of old stuff …and personal things on the bed. …It’s embarrassing. I don’t want people to see them.(Daniella, P6, WFA)
Sometimes the earphones are out of order. …I’m worrying about it …because sometimes my family members are around …I don’t want to disturb them.(Claire, P4, CSSA)
4.2. Social Relationship and Social Participation
4.2.1. Peer Relationship
School as A Major Setting for Friendship
Limited Opportunity to Celebrate Special Occasions with Friends
I have never been to others’ birthday parties. …I don’t want to …because it costs money to bring birthday gifts.(Wallace, P5, N-nothings)
If it’s my birthday, my dad would bring home five big macs! …Because we have five people.(Todd, P5, TA)
4.2.2. Family Relationship
Family Interactions Depending on Parental Work
We have good relationships and we chat often. …I do a WeChat video with dad once every two weeks because he is busy. …Mom is also busy …she works from 8 am to 5 pm …and sometimes until 8:30 pm.(Queenie, P3, N-nothings)
I talk to my dad only when he takes his day off. …He works from 1 pm to midnight …I am already sleeping when he comes back.(Bridget, P4, WFA)
Mom has to go to the bakery to wash dishes after she finishes her first job. …So, she asked us to go play basketball, look at toys at toyshops, play with Pachinko games at the arcade … or just stay at home.(Gerald, P3, new immigrant)
From Simple Family Leisure to Cross-Border Trips
The food is much better than in Hong Kong. …There is so much going on …like there are many toys over there.(Perry, P5, TA)
When I went to my hometown, my grannies would buy me whatever I wanted to eat. …I always said I wanted candies. …It’s only $1 per pack!(Jenny, P3, new immigrant)
4.2.3. Extra-Curricular Activities
Generally High Participation in Free-of-Charge Extra-Curricular Activities
If the free quota is running out, the school would draw lots and there might be chances that I cannot join.(Derrick, S1, TA)
I won’t join if they are charged because I want to save money …I want to save my mom’s money.(Nick, P5, TA)
4.3. Psychological and Emotional Wellbeing
4.3.1. Feelings about Family Circumstances
Emotional Wellbeing Affected by Perceived Family Stability
It’s really good to have such a perfect family. …We have food and shelter …a place to sleep. It’s better than the beggars sleeping on the streets.(Claire, P4, CSSA)
I’m afraid our home expenses will become higher and higher, because just the utility bills already cost about a few thousand dollars a month …I worry about it every day.(Rex, P4, TA)
My mom needs to pay insurance every year. It’s expensive. …There is a textbook fee for primary 6. …It’s higher than what we paid for the year before. …In the past, we paid on a term basis, but now we pay for the whole year. …We worry about [the economic condition] once a month. We get the salary, and then we’ll need to see how it goes.(Perry, P5, TA)
4.3.2. Feelings about School Lives
Mostly Satisfied with School Lives
The teacher scolds us all the time. It’s like they’re scolding the whole class when the teacher is scolding only one of the students. I feel like I am being scolded.(Claire, P4, CSSA)
Just nothing. You just stay in your seat. There’s nothing special about going to the school.(Queenie, P3, N-nothings)
4.3.3. Aspirations
Different Levels of Aspirations
I hope I can study in a good university and get a good job. That way I can earn money and live in a big house.(Flora, S1, CSSA)
I hope I can get a job after graduation and earn a lot of money for my family.(Isabel, P6, new immigrant)
I want to let my parents live in a better and bigger house …and to have lots of good stuff.(Bridget, P4, WFA)
I like playing games. I want my occupation to be game-related. …I hope I can make use of my hobby to earn money. …I am looking for an E-sport university. …My mom said the required scores are high and I have to first enter …a better school in Hong Kong.(Olivia, P5, TA)
I want to be a doctor …to save people’s lives …because of the pandemic. …I could help a lot of people from dying and the scale of the pandemic would be smaller.(Patricia, P3, N-nothings)
Some people are quite poor …and we can help them …like donating some money to help them.(Hannah, P6, CSSA)
I want there to be less rubbish in the world. There is too much rubbish in the landfill. …I want the rubbish to go away!(Ian, P3, new immigrant)
5. Discussion
5.1. The Effects of Poverty on Children’s Lives
5.2. The Coping Repertoire of the Children
5.2.1. Small Spending Savvy Tactics
5.2.2. Parental Buffering
5.2.3. Compensation
5.2.4. Mental Coping
5.3. Issues on Improving Children’s Life Conditions
5.3.1. Food Security Issues
5.3.2. Space and Compensation
5.3.3. COVID-19 and Poverty
5.3.4. Protective Resources for Children
5.3.5. Capitalizing on Children’s Aspirations
6. Limitations and Future Research
7. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Participant | Age | Gender | Education Level | Family Type | Status of Financial Assistance and Other Socioeconomic Backgrounds |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Aaron | 11 | M | P5 | Two parents | WFA |
2. Amelia | 10 | F | P4 | Single parent | CSSA |
3. Bridget | 11 | F | P4 | Two parents | WFA |
4. Claire | 10 | F | P4 | Single parent | CSSA |
5. Daniella | 11 | F | P6 | Two parents | WFA |
6. Brandon | 9 | M | P3 | Single parent | WFA |
7. Eleanor | 9 | F | P3 | Single parent | CSSA |
8. Flora | 11 | F | S1 | Single parent | CSSA |
9. Giselle | 8 | F | P3 | Two parents | CSSA |
10. Hannah | 14 | F | P6 | Two parents | CSSA |
11. Isabel | 14 | F | P6 | Two parents | New immigrant |
12. Caleb | 9 | M | P3 | Two parents | TA scheme |
13. Derrick | 13 | M | S1 | Two parents | TA scheme |
14. Ethan | 9 | M | P2 | Two parents | TA scheme |
15. Frank | 11 | M | P5 | Two parents | TA scheme |
16. Gerald | 9 | M | P3 | Two parents | New immigrant |
17. Jenny | 8 | F | P3 | Two parents | New immigrant |
18. Hayden | 12 | M | S1 | Two parents | TA scheme |
19. Kate | 10 | F | P4 | Two parents | TA scheme |
20. Lucia | 12 | F | P5 | Two parents | CSSA |
21. Ian | 8 | M | P3 | Two parents | New immigrant |
22. Justin | 11 | M | P4 | Two parents | TA scheme |
23. Kyle | 9 | M | P3 | Two parents | TA scheme |
24. Leo | 10 | M | P5 | Two parents | TA scheme |
25. Max | 12 | M | P6 | Two parents | TA scheme |
26. Mia | 9 | F | P3 | Two parents | TA scheme |
27. Natalie | 12 | F | P6 | Two parents | TA scheme |
28. Nick | 10 | M | P5 | Two parents | TA scheme |
29. Oscar | 8 | M | P3 | Two parents | New immigrant |
30. Perry | 11 | M | P5 | Two parents | TA scheme |
31. Rex | 9 | M | P4 | Two parents | TA scheme |
32. Olivia | 11 | F | P5 | Two parents | TA scheme |
33. Sean | 10 | M | P4 | Two parents | TA scheme |
34. Patricia | 8 | F | P3 | Two parents | N-nothings |
35. Queenie | 8 | F | P3 | Two parents * | N-nothings |
36. Todd | 11 | M | P5 | Two parents | TA scheme |
37. Ruth | 9 | F | P3 | Two parents | TA scheme |
38. Vance | 9 | M | P3 | Two parents | CSSA |
39. Wallace | 12 | M | P5 | Two parents | N-nothings |
40. Zack | 9 | M | P3 | Two parents | N-nothings |
Aspects of Poverty Experience | Major Themes |
---|---|
1. Economic and material deprivation | |
Basic needs Food |
|
Housing |
|
Clothing |
|
Health care |
|
Childhood possession |
|
School resources |
|
2. Social relationships and social participation | |
Peer relationship |
|
Family relationship |
|
Extra-curricular activities |
|
3. Psychological and emotional wellbeing | |
Feelings about family circumstances |
|
Feelings about school lives |
|
Aspirations |
|
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Cho, E.Y.-N.; Wong, V.C.W. Children’s Lived Experiences in Poverty in Hong Kong as a High-Income Asian Society. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 6190. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106190
Cho EY-N, Wong VCW. Children’s Lived Experiences in Poverty in Hong Kong as a High-Income Asian Society. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(10):6190. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106190
Chicago/Turabian StyleCho, Esther Yin-Nei, and Victor C. W. Wong. 2022. "Children’s Lived Experiences in Poverty in Hong Kong as a High-Income Asian Society" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 10: 6190. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106190