How does the concept of relative poverty differ from absolute poverty in the context of American society?

Relative poverty and absolute poverty are two different ways to understand how people experience poverty. Absolute poverty means not having enough money to meet basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing. For example, if a family can't afford to buy enough food or pay for their home, they are living in absolute poverty. On the other hand, relative poverty looks at how a person's income compares to the average income in their community or society. In American society, someone might have enough money for basic needs but still feel poor compared to wealthier neighbors, which highlights the differences in living standards and opportunities.