The Poverty Trap In America

The Working Poor

In TheWorking Poor by David K. Shipler, the author documents several enduring struggles many Americans face everyday in the work force. Shipler’s documentations of the Americans he meets in his journey, many of whom were poor and under privilege, are working minimum wage to under minimum wage jobs. In addition to the American’s that he encounters, Shipler meets people of different cultures and even comes across illegal immigrants who experience poverty.  Poverty is everlasting and it’s 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. Many believe coming to America will resolve their poverty stricken life, however, here in America the poor are also in an everlasting cycle of poverty. In “The Working Poor”, Shipler presents the theme of the prevalent issue of the proverty trap.

Bleeding Wound

Shipler argues that poverty resembles and acts like a bleeding wound.  Many whom are struggling while living in poverty are looking for a quick cash fix to pay late bills, buy groceries, and other expenses, and the decisions they make to provide digs them deeper into poverty.

Shipler mentions the people living in poverty are feeble and vulnerable when he states, “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” (Shipler, 18). Ultimately, the quick cash loan places are taking advantage of many whom live in poverty. Through his representation of the crisis of poverty as a “bleeding wound”, Shipler effectively argues that the situation is only getting worse. The longer that the “wound” remains untreated, the weaker its defenses get and predators are more likely to introduce themselves (in the form of loan sharks or other financial predation). By introducing the predators to the poor, the wound cannot “heal” and will only continue to get worse, an argument forwarded by the symbolism of poverty through a “bleeding wound”.

Hard Work vs. Poverty

While the problem continues to get worse, Shipler introduces the irony of the working American trying to break away from the poverty life. The harder the underprivileged Americans work to get by, the more their government benefits get cut-down. To exemplify this, 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 tremendously. The author describes her situation when he writes, ” When Christie completed a training course and earned a raise of 10 cents an hour, her food stamps dropped by $10 a month” (Shipler, 41). The harder Americans work whom live in poverty seemly never get a chance to better themselves, as seen in Christie’s situation. Even though she was able to get a raise, she ended up losing more money in the long run, she still needs government aid to provide for her family.

The irony is presented when the author denotes that Christie attended a training course in order to make more money to provide more for her family. Upon completion of the course, she was given a ten cent raise but lost ten dollars a month in food stamps, leaving her even more unable to provide for her family. The strength in this example of irony is enough to upset the reader and forward Shipler’s argument that there needs to be necessary changes made to free the poor from the poverty trap.

The Future Looks Weary

Many backgrounds of poverty stories reveal a repeated cycle. Many immigrants, both documented and undocumented, come to American to find a better life. Unfortunately, it is 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 that eventually gained 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” (Shipler, 107).   Maribel is a citizen of the United States but is weary of the future for her children because of the poverty stricken life she lives. The whole reason Maribel had came to the United States was to live a better life that is not stricken by poverty. Many immigrant’s primary goal, including Maribel’s, is to come to the United States in search of a better life and the “American Dream”, only to get trapped in conditions of poverty and become unable to escape from it.

Corrupt Corporations

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 does not pay their workers 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 pay you, cannot make it by yourself… years or you’re a manager” (Olsson). Jennifer is a prime example of the poverty trap. Working at a wide-known retailer such as Wal-Mart should help their employees in more ways with better wages and promotions because many are suffering living in poverty.

Reflect

The poverty trap is copious among many people living in the United States, whether they are legal or illegal. Living in poverty has affected them tremendously and is very eye-opening for those who are privileged. Many need help, and Shipler uses The Working Poor to illustrate the need for change and in a way advocate for those because this is a serious issue. Many have a goals here in America and living in poverty only decreases the chances of succeeding.

 

Works Cited

Shipler, David K. The Working Poor Invisible In America: New York: Knopf, 2004. Print.

Karen Olsson. Mother Jones. Up Against Wal-Mart. March/April 2003. 2 October 2015.