Why Do Families Become Poor
Living in the United States, trying to raise a family is hard to do by itself. Trying to accomplish this while living in poverty is unimaginable. Living in poverty is very difficult and this is something that affects over 14 million Americans. Unfortunately, many children across America are also affected by poverty.
People who are living in poverty must live “paycheck to paycheck”. This means that the provider makes just enough money in their paychecks to pay their bills and then keep moving on to the next month. This lifestyle results in these families not always having enough money for things such as food, gas, clothing, etc. These people have to go through many hardships because of this type of lifestyle. For example, many people who live paycheck to paycheck suffer from depression and high levels of stress. In the PBS Documentary, the mother of the Hegwood family tells us that she has to take
…show more content…
In the PBS Documentary, we learn that the Davis Family has not always been poor. Jonny Davis says that his family used to live a comfortable life until his father lost his jobs. Unfortunately, losing jobs can be unexpected which can make it hard to continue their normal standard of living. Now the Davis Family is forced to live in a homeless shelter because they lost their house and everything they had. Another reason why families are poor is because there is only one parent or guardian providing for that family. According to the PBS Documentary, almost half of the families with single mothers are living in poverty. This is the case with the Hegwood family. One parent working is simply not enough income to pay the bills while living comfortably. Another cause of poverty could be an unexpected event such as a natural disaster occuring. If a family is hit by a natural disaster and is unprepared or doesn 't have the necessary insurance, this can result in this family becoming homeless or living in
Homelessness In The Glass Castle By Jeanette Walls
754 Words | 4 PagesI believe it also means lacking the ability to live comfortably or having pretty much nothing to make it day by day. Some people in the U.S. say they are poor, but have a house, car and all of their bills are paid. They may not have any extra money to spend, but they are richer than they think compared to some people who don’t have that life at all. The difference with Jeanette and her family is that their parents chose to live this lifestyle. It may seem pretty selfish of the parents being they have young children and didn’t think twice about a steady upbringing.
Born With A Wooden Spoon Analysis
352 Words | 2 PagesThe United States is the wealthiest nation in the World, but in the film Born with a Wooden Spoon it is illustrated that over 37 million people in the US live below the poverty line. Some of the contributing factors for those whom suffer from poverty are low education, lack of job skills, and one parent households. These factors can lead to a state of generational poverty or poverty lasting two generations or more. The conditions an individual is born into can transcend throughout their lives and being born into poverty can create an isolated mind set of poverty. What surprised me most about the film was the lack of the ability to break the cycle of multigenerational poverty.
Analysis Of Homelessness In Glass Castle By Jeannette Walls
579 Words | 3 PagesThere are many circumstances that lead to homelessness. Homelessness has an issue in today’s society and is largely ignored. Everyplace you see around out urban society, parks and streets it is likely that you will witness a homeless person struggling to survive. Over the years, homelessness in the United States has become a dangerous social problem because of the choice made by a person, unemployment and lack of education, and addiction. In Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls explains how her parents led them to live a homeless life.
Poor Kids Documentary Summary
1121 Words | 5 PagesI viewed Frontline a documentary series, which episode was entitled Poor Kids. The frontline personnel spent time with three children Kailey, Johnny, and Britany along with their families as they all struggle financially. We perceive a glimpse of what it is like to live below the poverty line in America through a child’s eyes. While observing the documentary, I became consciously aware that children who are considered poor or living below the poverty line were more mindful of the responsibilities of life. The children were worrisome of the lack of employment for their parents, bills, and in Britney’s case; how they would accommodate their way of living to support a new addition to the family.
Summary Of The Working Poor Invisible In America By David Shipler
1974 Words | 8 PagesThis book shows the saddening truth of why the poor typically stay poor and the many, many obstacles that must be overcome just to “get ahead”. As mentioned above, the families in this book were largely affected by social, economic, and cultural barriers. Barriers of all three structural blocks, can include, but are not limited to, low wages, safe housing, education, job training, language barriers, and religious beliefs. Early in the book, Shipler writes about corrupt public administration, such as banks, check cashing facilities, and tax preparers. These are a few examples of structural economic barriers that families encountered.
Camden Chronicles Children In Urban Poverty Summary
1002 Words | 5 PagesHassan Aslam Sociology 101 11/01/14 Camden Chronicles: Children in Urban Poverty In the video, Camden Chronicles: Children in Urban Poverty, the sociological issue of struggles faces by people living in poverty is depicted very powerfully. The video focuses on the city of Camden, New Jersey. Camden is one of the poorest cities in the whole country and the people living there find themselves surrounded by crime and murder and drug wars.
Child Poverty In The United States Essay
792 Words | 4 PagesChild Poverty in the U.S About nine months after conception, newborns come out of the wombs and come to the world. The newborns must be the most beautiful gift the mothers have ever received. It is always moved that the mothers finally see their babies after have waited for long time. The newborns start their new journey in the world. Meanwhile, the babies will embody tomorrow’s world.
Shameless Sociological Analysis
1036 Words | 5 PagesOverall, poverty class barriers show up everywhere. The Gallagher family in “Shameless” is a good example of this because they are very poor and most of the siblings end up dropping out of high school or not amounting to much within their lives. They are never truly able to get away from having this status, and it is truly sad because they represent actual families in the real world struggling with this everyday. Money is the true root of all evil, whether you have it or don’t have it there are still issues that show up in your
Analysis Of Poor Kids
879 Words | 4 PagesAccording to the PBS Frontline video “Poor Kids” 2012, more than 46 million Americans are living beneath the poverty line. The United States alone has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the industrialized world. It is stated that 1 out of 5 children are living in poverty. The video documented the lives of three families who are faced with extreme hardships and are battling to survive a life of being poor. All three families have more than one child and could barely afford to pay their bills and purchase food for their household.
Why Do People Fall Below The Poverty Line?
346 Words | 2 PagesIn today’s society, many people are living below the poverty line. For years people have been working numerous hours and still can’t climb above the poverty level. The working poor and the poor classifies as being the same. The working poor is people that work and can maintain their household, but still, fall below the poverty line. The poor are individuals who struggle with finding steady employment and sometimes find themselves homeless.
Examples Of Social Stratification In The United States
526 Words | 3 Pages1. Some research methods sociologist have used in determining relative poverty for families would be social stratification such as the caste and class system. For example, in both documentaries which displayed the everyday lives of impoverished youth, these systems would consider them as the bottom tier or as known as the "working class." In both the United States and Great Britain the enourmous amount of "poor families," is expected to rise in the future as stated in the British documentary, and could be assumed for the U.S. as well. Moreover, "The British mix of caste elements and meritocracy has produced a highly stratified society with some opportunity to move upward or downward, much the same as exists in the United States" (Chapter 9, Page
Family Struggle In Salvage The Bones By Jesmyn Ward
1218 Words | 5 PagesWithout a proper education, it is difficult to get a job, which is why unemployment can also trace back to poverty (Jack, Leonard Jr.). Poverty also disproportionately affects African-Americans. Along with this, teen pregnancy and alcoholism is also more common in poor areas. Both of these situations can be seen in Salvage the Bones as Esch’s father struggles with alcoholism, and Esch finds herself pregnant at age fifteen. Her entire family faces the effects of poverty in the Pit.
Sociological Imagination Examples
848 Words | 4 PagesPoverty can be a vicious cycle for some families that goes from generation to generation. Another personal issue that can lead to poverty is illness and unemployment which puts someone out of work and there is little to no income coming in. Along with these personal issues that I stated there are also many
Effects Of Apartheid On Family Life
1205 Words | 5 PagesA persons background plays a role when it comes to determining what kind of family life that person will have, also they resources available to their disposal as a child (Cohen, MacCartney, 2004: 183). Things like finances and level of education play a role. Homes led by single parents are at a higher risk of economic disadvantage because single parents, which are mainly women, run a family with the earnings of one individual instead of two which would be the case if that woman was married (Cohen, MacCartney, 2004: 184). A vast number of these households that are led by single mothers, are due to the fact that these women are not highly educated. This causes them to get minimum wage jobs with then contributes to the rising poverty levels because these women cannot look after their family effectively (Cohen, MacCartney, 2004: 184).
Persuasive Essay On Poverty
1222 Words | 5 PagesThe children of our nation are the future; however, America’s children are suffering. Child poverty, hunger and nutrition, and welfare are growing issues that need to be solved. The statistics provided in The State of America’s Children 2017 Report are eye-opening. Sadly, poverty is threatening America’s children. According to the State of America’s Children in the United States and Alabama 2017 Factsheets, 18 percent of the U.S.’s children were poor in 2016, and 25 percent of Alabama’s children were poor in 2016.
More about Why Do Families Become Poor
Homelessness In The Glass Castle By Jeanette Walls
754 Words | 4 PagesBorn With A Wooden Spoon Analysis
352 Words | 2 PagesAnalysis Of Homelessness In Glass Castle By Jeannette Walls
579 Words | 3 PagesPoor Kids Documentary Summary
1121 Words | 5 PagesSummary Of The Working Poor Invisible In America By David Shipler
1974 Words | 8 PagesCamden Chronicles Children In Urban Poverty Summary
1002 Words | 5 PagesChild Poverty In The United States Essay
792 Words | 4 PagesShameless Sociological Analysis
1036 Words | 5 PagesAnalysis Of Poor Kids
879 Words | 4 PagesWhy Do People Fall Below The Poverty Line?
346 Words | 2 PagesExamples Of Social Stratification In The United States
526 Words | 3 PagesFamily Struggle In Salvage The Bones By Jesmyn Ward
1218 Words | 5 PagesSociological Imagination Examples
848 Words | 4 PagesEffects Of Apartheid On Family Life
1205 Words | 5 PagesPersuasive Essay On Poverty
1222 Words | 5 Pages