The Sociology of Poverty: Understanding the Complex Interplay of Society and Economic Disadvantage Poverty is a pervasive issue that has plagued societies for centuries. It is a multifaceted problem that affects individuals, families, and entire communities. In order to address this problem effectively, we must turn to the field of sociology and its subfield, the sociology of poverty. What is the sociology of poverty? The sociology of poverty is a branch of sociology that focuses on the social and cultural factors that contribute to the existence of poverty.