Beschreibung
In recent debates over poverty and development, notions of worth, dignity,
and human rights have come to the forefront. This publication addresses
the link between the theoretical notion of dignity as a social primary
good and its material expressions in daily life from comparative social
anthropological and historical perspectives. The empirical analysis is
based on over one hundred in-depth interviews with lone mothers living in
different cultural settings in Costa Rica. In addition, a unique and
innovative national social policy measure aimed at promoting dignity and
self-worth as a means to exit poverty and secure sustainable development
is assessed.
Monica Budowski is Professor of Social Work and Social Policy at the
University of Fribourg, Switzerland.