Poverty Trap

 

The Working Poor

In The Working Poor by  David K. Shipler, he documents many enduring struggles many Americans face everyday in the work force. Through Shipler’s documentations of the Americans he met in his journey many of whom were poor and under privilege many the Americans are working minimum wage to under minimum wage jobs. Illegal immigrants, government recicpents of welfare, and all from different cultures.  Poverty is ever lasting everywhere. Most people who live in third world countries or any other poverty stricken place try to find a better life elsewhere. Unfortunately, many never escape the cycle of poverty. Even worse, many believe coming to America will resolve their poverty stricken life, but it does not. Sadly, poverty is here in America and is an everlasting cycle many face when immigrating legal or not, and even born here. In “The Working Poor”, Shipler presents the theme of the prevelant issue of the proverty trap.

Bleeding Wound:

Through Shipler’s argues that poverty is a bleeding wound, which is symbolic.  Many whom are struggling while living in poverty are looking for a quick cash fix to pay late bills, buy groceries, and other expenses. Shipler mentions the people living in poverty are weak and defenseless, “Poverty is like a bleeding wound. It weakens the defenses. It lowers resistance. It attracts predators. The loan sharks operates not only from bars and street corners, but also legally from behind bulletproof glass” (Shipler18). Ultimately, the quick cash loan places are taking advantage of many whom live in poverty. Providing the text through a metaphor interpretation, the people living in poverty are the prey and the banks are the predators, putting the one in poverty further in their struggle.

Hard Work Leads To Two Steps Back

Along with this, Shipler seemly is presents the irony of the working American trying to break away from the poverty life. The harder Americans work whom are under privilege seem to get their government benefits cut-down. Specifically, Shipler, mentions a women by the name of Christie. Christie worked at a child-care center facility. Fortunately, Christie was able to attain a  ten cent raise but it affected her government aid by ten dollars. Shipler describes her situation,” When Christie completed a training course and earned a raise of 10 cents an hour, her food stamps dropped by $10 a month” (Shipler41). The harder Americans work whom live in poverty seemly never get a chance to better themselves such as Christie’s situation. Even though she was able to get a raise which wasn’t much she still needs as much government aid to provide her family. As a reader there is irony presented because Christie is working hard to provide a better life-style for her family but seems as though she can never catch a break nor get ahead. There needs to be a call to action and reform to help Americans living in poverty advance through the work-force without having their welfare cut-down even more.

The Future Looks Weary

Many backgrounds of proverty stories is a continuous repeated cycle. Many immigrants documented and undocumented come to American to find a better path in their life. Unfortunately, it not much different than from where they were originally from. For instance, Shipler mentions a women by the name of Maribel. Maribel was an illegal immigrant but eventually gain her citizenship to the United States.  “Maribel and her husband were doing the same work as her father, so there had been no intergenerational mobility there, unless moving to the United States could be considered advancement. She was satisfied with her children’s rural school… on a path to college was questionable” (Shipler107).   Maribel is a citizen of the United States but it weary of the future for her children because of the poverty stricken life she lives. Immigrants goal is to come to the United States for a better life such as Maribel’s story, but seemly is stuck in what they tried to escape from which is poverty.  

Corrupt Coporations

Furthermore, some of the biggest corporations are barely paying their workers the minimum wage, which is making it extremely difficult for those who are trying to escape poverty. Specifically, the wide known retailer Wal-Mart pay their workers not enough to live off of, therefore many have to take on a second job. In the article, Up Against Wal-Mart explains the enduring struggles many face working there. A women name Jennifer McLaughlin gives incite with her situation with Wal-Mart, “After three years with the company, McLaughlin earns only $16,800 a year. “And I’m considered high-paid,” she says. The way they you, cannot make it by yourself… years or you’re a manager” (Olsson).

 

Conclusion: The poverty trap is amongst many Americans whether they are legal or not legal. Living in poverty has affected them tremendously and is very eye-opening for those who are privilege. Many need help and a call to action dealing with this issue of poverty because many are working hard for what it seems to be for nothing.