Final answer:
Junior's statement indicates that poverty traps people in a cycle of impoverishment rather than teaching valuable life skills. The idea of subjective poverty recognizes that experiences and definitions of poverty vary, but systemic barriers can prevent individuals from escaping this cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
Junior's statement, "Poverty doesn't give you strength or teach you lessons about perseverance. No, poverty only teaches you how to be poor," suggests that poverty is not an empowering experience or a valuable teacher in life but rather a condition that entraps individuals, perpetuating a cycle of impoverishment.
This perspective challenges the idea that hardships like poverty automatically instill resilience or life skills. Instead, poverty can be a disabling force, limiting opportunities for education, stable housing, and the development of resources necessary to break free from its cycle.
Considering the concept of subjective poverty, one's experience and definition of poverty greatly depend on personal perspective and context. A family subsisting on minimal means in one part of the world might consider themselves content while others may view their situation as desperate poverty.
However, the key point is that poverty often constrains an individual's ability to improve their situation, as highlighted in the works of authors such as Desmond, who points out the cyclical nature of problems like unstable housing. Educational attainment and family support can significantly impact an individual's ability to transcend poverty, but systemic barriers often make this exceptionally challenging.