Rural Poverty Research and Interest Group Understanding and addressing the causes and consequences of rural poverty
What We’re About
The Rural Poverty Research Interest Group is committed to advancing research, policy analysis, and public engagement focused on the structural and systemic causes of poverty in rural areas. Our members explore how economic, political, and institutional forces—shaped by factors such as race, class, gender, and place—contribute to persistent inequality and disadvantage in rural communities.
We support critical, interdisciplinary research and dialogue aimed at informing more equitable and effective policies. The RIG fosters collaboration among scholars, practitioners, and advocates who are dedicated to reducing poverty and improving the well-being of rural people across diverse regions.
Annual Dues:
Regular Members – $10
Student Members – $5
Get Involved:
Attend our sessions and networking events at the RSS Annual Meeting
Participate in planning discussions or propose new activities
Contact our leadership team to get connected
What We Do and How to Get Involved
The Rural Poverty RIG creates a space for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and action-oriented scholarship. We:
Host sessions at the RSS Annual Meeting that explore the multifaceted nature of rural poverty, including housing, food insecurity, labor markets, environmental justice, and more.
Promote interdisciplinary approaches and frameworks that examine rural poverty through historical, political, and economic lenses.
Encourage the participation of early-career scholars, students, and community-based researchers through mentorship and inclusive programming.
Support efforts to translate research into practical strategies for addressing rural poverty through policy, practice, and public engagement.
To get involved, select the Rural Poverty RIG when renewing or starting your RSS membership. Attend our sessions and business meeting at the RSS Annual Meeting, propose papers or panels, and help shape the group’s future initiatives. Everyone interested in rural poverty research and action is welcome.
Leadership:
📰 News and Announcements
📚 Selected Publications and Resources
Explore work from our members and resources on rural sociology:
- Singlewide: Chasing the American Dream in a Rural Trailer Park
- Rural Poverty in the United States
- The Relational Experience of Poverty: Challenges for Family Planning and Autonomy in Rural Areas
- International Handbook of the Demography of Poverty and Inequality
- The end of direct farm payments and rural poverty in the American Midwest | Agriculture and Human Values
- Depopulation, Deaths, Diversity, and Deprivation: The 4Ds of Rural Population Change
- “They Don’t Want to Know; They Don’t Want to Hear”: Social Distance Between Leaders and Low‐Income Community Members in a Rural Indiana Community
- The uneven impact of Medicaid expansion on rural and urban Black, Latino/a, and White mortality
- Economic complexity and divergent population growth by race and rurality
- “A Problem with the Person”: Class Blindness and the Reproduction of Social Class Inequality
- The Dark Side of Agency: A Life Course Exploration of Agency among White, Rural, and Impoverished Residents of New York State
- The Local Welfare State and Differences in Racialized Poverty