6 Things Images Would Have You Believe About Poverty

Things you might believe about poverty by looking at images from charity and the media.

1. It's all in the eyes

Save the Children / Via cityhindusnetwork.org.uk

Children in poverty have big eyes. Very big eyes.

2. Brand name food tastes better

US Aid / Via usaid.gov

People in poverty love knowing if their food is World Food Programme or USAID. Or even better "a gift from the American people".

3. Children have only two emotions: deliriously happy

Aquarocks / Via aquarocks.co.ke

They are deliriously happy to see you. Or water. Sometimes even for a pencil or a chance to slap a landrover.

4. Or they are distraught

Via pressgazette.co.uk

This image of a "distraught child in poverty" was used in the UK to talk about poverty. It turned out it was an American child who had lost her pet earthworm

5. But poverty can be cool and fashionable?!

Vogue India / Via thesocietypages.org

Here's a baby being held by a woman looking like she doesn't have much money, certainly not for some false teeth. But the baby is modelling a designer Fendi bib. Are we making poverty stylish here?

6. Images of starving children make people give money

The Potato / Via thepotato.ie

Do graphic images like this help anyone? Do they give dignity to people living in poverty? Do they make you want to help? Or do they disgust you and make you want to turn the page or flick the channel?

What good do images like this do for people in poverty or the people who can help them?