Social Vulnerability In Winter's Bone

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Social Vulnerability has become quite prevalent in modern times as social class and cultural values become more and more well defined in today’s society. In the film, Winter’s Bone, it becomes quite clear what type of social environment the main character, Ree Dolly, lives in. It is one full of drugs, seclusion, and spousal abuse. These things, as awful as they can seem, can be explained simply by looking at where these people fit into society. Their social class and sense of community values shape the way they are all able to live in the world laid out in front of them. Being near the bottom of society on the verge of poverty makes many aspects of life more difficult and creates a strong vulnerability to outside forces. The social environment …show more content…

In a society of drug use and poverty, you are in turn more susceptible to outside stressors and larger consequences faced when dealing with a problem. This is exactly what happens to Ree and her family as they fear for losing their house directly as a result of the drugs that have become so commonplace among her extended family and her father. This also makes it much harder to ask questions and receive information from others as the drug business has put a major emphasis on the code of secrecy and loyalty. Ree becomes a pain for everyone as she embodies the outside threat of law enforcement and poking her nose into what she does not need to know. Even before the task of finding her father with fear of homelessness, her family was vulnerable in many other ways as a result of their social class. As Brett Williams explains in “Body and Soul: Profits from Poverty”, poverty can have major environmental and health consequences. He talks about the poor who live near the very polluted Anacostia River in Washington D.C. and how they are at a risk of toxins and health concerns that often go untreated as they lack the money or amenities to receive proper treatment. Ree’s family lives in a very similar situation. The entire community is riddled with beat down shacks and dogs roaming the wilderness. Ree’s mother is also rendered immobile from their home as she is very sick and most …show more content…

It is clear how living in such an environment can affect how you are forced to behave and act. The adversity and overall helplessness Ree faces can all be pointed back to the environment and social standing she resides in drawing many similarities to the problems faced by the many that are socially vulnerable

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