The Working Poor by D. Shipler

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The Working Poor
The objective of this essay is to illuminate my overall reaction to the reading of “The Working Poor” conveying what I do not like while highlighting a sociological perspective, in addition to explaining if the reading is applicable to my own life experience. Taking notice, the subject at hand was very sobering alluding even if we ourselves have not been partakers of living in the obscurity of prosperity between poverty and wellbeing, certainly we have encountered someone that has become a victim to it. With this in mind, my reaction is there are countless victims of poverty; surely one does not have to go very far to find them as we understand them to be the working class. There are those that may express the thought of having a job is a means of not only taking care of everyday natural needs, but it should produce the opportunity to rise above status quo or improve one’s condition, thus we see the Functionalist perspective applied.

The reading brings to mind those that render our communities a humble service, working in what society may deem as a dead end job; the terminology often used for those in low wage jobs described being one paycheck away from the unemployment line is still ultimately responsible if they are not thriving. We can agree often times jobs of lower degree serves as a gateway to a lack of resources needed to survive requiring much with little return. These are those that are forgotten and ostracized by the rich, never having enough or given a fair chance to be partakers of what the elite is exposed to on a daily basis, fame, fortune or in some cases the basic necessities. Through the course of history equality has fallen short of its goal. Separation of races, attitudes and acts of discrimi...

... middle of paper ...

...ering the poor for personal gain.

The readings are most applicable in my life as personally I am considered a part of the working class selling my labor. Being a widow forced to adapt to once a dual house hold income to now being the head of the house has impacted my resources in a profound way. Disparity knocks at the door as a result of being underpaid. Low wages was not a result of having low value of my labor; I had to take what was available as my options were few, prompting my educational pursuit in hopes of making my labor marketable. Hard work does not cure poverty as the American doctrine projects. American’s land of opportunity is only reflected in the lives of the privileged. Finally we must agree poverty serves its function and will remain alive and well in our country.

Works Cited

Shipler, D. (2005). The working poor. (pp. 3-38). New York: Vintage.

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