Post by marycaitrolph on Aug 9, 2011 20:05:05 GMT -5
The book, Nickel and Dimed, shows that poverty has no demographic. It is present in men and women, black, white, Hispanic, across religions, all geographical areas, young and old-it unlike so many Americans, does not discriminate. I hear about poverty often in my home, because my mother has studied with Dr. Ruby Payne, poverty expert, and tells me many times how lucky I am. I have always been told not to judge someone, because you do not know their back story, what has happened to put them where they are now. Everyone is judged, but to be judged solely on your possessions, what you do and do not have is the saddest judgement of all. This book made me ask myself if I could survive in poverty and if so for how long?
I believe this book shows those living in poverty to not be what we so often stereotype them. They are industrious, clean creative and most importantly proud. We are so spoiled to imagine having to clean someone’s home as beneath us. It appears that Ehrenrich feels superior for not having a maid, but what other service is someone doing for her that she has chosen not to do? What in our minds truly separates us from those that do so, is it anything we have done ourselves or is it the luck of the draw? Are our lives anymore valid, does the government owe us more?
I appreciate what Barabara Ehrenreich attempts to accomplish in this book, but feel it is impossible, knowing that there is a reserve to help meet your need. My mother has told me that while middle class views accomplishment as most important, those that live in poverty view relationship as such. This is one section of the book where Ehrenreich demonstrates that she is living a lie. When George is accused of thievery and she does nothing to help him, she shows a different value system than those in poverty. In poverty, possessions come and go, but people are forever. They may be in and out of your life and assume a multiple of roles, but they are there.
The question seems to be, what is our responsibility or do we have a responsibility to helping these individuals? We are to be our brothers keeper, but do we pick and chose our brothers? The book shows that people who work for minimum wage are unable to afford many things we take for granted-food, clothing, and housing. There are few areas for promotion and there is a long line of people waiting for your job, you are replaceable. The constant pressures make life difficult and there seems to be little hope for a better day.
I enjoyed this book and learned to appreciate even more what I have been given. My mother has on her classroom wall the quote, “No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship,” meaning, the person is always most important. After having read this book I am more aware and hopefully slower to judge. The class levels will always be in place, but I hope that Donald Trump would not dismiss my idea or person, just because he is of a “higher” class.
I believe this book shows those living in poverty to not be what we so often stereotype them. They are industrious, clean creative and most importantly proud. We are so spoiled to imagine having to clean someone’s home as beneath us. It appears that Ehrenrich feels superior for not having a maid, but what other service is someone doing for her that she has chosen not to do? What in our minds truly separates us from those that do so, is it anything we have done ourselves or is it the luck of the draw? Are our lives anymore valid, does the government owe us more?
I appreciate what Barabara Ehrenreich attempts to accomplish in this book, but feel it is impossible, knowing that there is a reserve to help meet your need. My mother has told me that while middle class views accomplishment as most important, those that live in poverty view relationship as such. This is one section of the book where Ehrenreich demonstrates that she is living a lie. When George is accused of thievery and she does nothing to help him, she shows a different value system than those in poverty. In poverty, possessions come and go, but people are forever. They may be in and out of your life and assume a multiple of roles, but they are there.
The question seems to be, what is our responsibility or do we have a responsibility to helping these individuals? We are to be our brothers keeper, but do we pick and chose our brothers? The book shows that people who work for minimum wage are unable to afford many things we take for granted-food, clothing, and housing. There are few areas for promotion and there is a long line of people waiting for your job, you are replaceable. The constant pressures make life difficult and there seems to be little hope for a better day.
I enjoyed this book and learned to appreciate even more what I have been given. My mother has on her classroom wall the quote, “No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship,” meaning, the person is always most important. After having read this book I am more aware and hopefully slower to judge. The class levels will always be in place, but I hope that Donald Trump would not dismiss my idea or person, just because he is of a “higher” class.