Aporophobia

Aporophobia (from the Spanish aporofobia, and this from the Ancient Greek ἄπορος (áporos), 'without resources, indigent, poor,' and φόβος (phobos), 'hatred' or 'aversion')^[1][2] are negative attitudes and feelings towards poverty and poor people. It is the disgust and hostility toward poor people, those without resources or who are helpless.^[3]

Engraving by John Warner Barber of a person chasing off a beggar with a stick to illustrate the rich man and Lazarus biblical parable

The word povertyism is also used, in the field of international law, to denote this form of discrimination against people living in poverty.^[4]

Conceptualization

The concept of aporophobia is used by media outlets and professionals.^[5] Aporophobia is the hatred, fear, and rejection of poor people. Poverty is a circumstantial characteristic of human life and is in no way part of one's identity. Poverty is not a permanent condition of human beings, but rather an undesirable and unjust situation, but one that can be overcome.^[6]

See also

• Anti-Romanyism
• Elitism
• Classism
• Caste
• Economic discrimination
• Environmental racism
• List of phobias
• NIMBY
• Social cleansing
• Slum clearance
• White flight
• Hostile architecture