Social representations of poverty and inequality in Quebec
Less is known about the way in which people view poverty and inequality than about the objective measures for these conditions. This article presents a survey conducted on attitudes of poverty and inequality, such as the social representations thereof, and what characterizes the people who share them. Based on the survey, Quebeckers view the poverty situation in their society as being worse than it really is, at least when measured by objective indicators. Their assessment of socio-economic inequalities is even more skewed, in the negative sense, and they are more concerned about inequality than about poverty. They also perceive inequality as more threatening than poverty. These social representations of poverty and inequality are not only a reflection of personal situations but also of broader principles of social justice shared by the population. Indeed, the shared values and ideological orientations aimed at countering inequality and poverty appear to outweigh a number of individual characteristics. Similarly, the survey focuses on general principles in matters of social policy, and their positions reflect more than just their personal situation. This survey result is important for the study of social cohesion in Quebec.