Lower Poor Obstacles

In other words, America has a widening gap between its wealthy and poor. As the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, there is a problem emerging: the disappearance of the middle class. Low-wage workers continue to fall behind those who make higher wages, and this only widens the gap between the two. There has been an economic boom in the United States, which has made the country more prosperous than it has ever been. That prosperity does not reach all people; it seems to only favor the rich. Rising economic segregation has taken away many opportunities for the poor to rise in America today. The poor may find that the economic boom has increased their income; however, as their income increase so does the prices they must for their living expenses (Dreier, Mollenkopf, & Swanstrom 19).

Everywhere you look at the United States you can find economic stratification. From the kind of vehicle you drive, to the kind of house you live in, to the kind of restaurants you eat at the most you will find economic stratification. Some might ask, does any of that truly matter today? Yes, unfortunately, it does. An important goal for most people is what’s referred to as The American Dream. Whether it is to attend a good college, get a respectable job, purchase the perfect house, and have a small family or maybe just to start your own business; that dream starts with wealth. People with more money will have an easier time with achieving the dream than a lower income person would. With wealth comes power and prestige as well. People with more money have better life chances because they can afford better healthcare, education, healthier food, and safer neighborhoods just to name a few things.

No matter which country you would look into whether it’s from wealthier to those less wealthy countries through the eyes of economics, there are bound to be types of inequity within their borders. Inequity is a very crucial problem in the United States, you would think that our economy here in the states is booming, and the citizens are living life easy or without worry. Life is the United States isn’t as it seems, in fact, Inequity is in fact a big problem even in the United States. Over the years, there has been millions of Americans that were considered to be in poor or in poverty line that are not able to provide for themselves and their families. We can sadly see those Americans on the streets, cars or shelters unable to keep-ends meet that are not able to keep a decent paying job. That is why throughout this paper I’ll be discussing why inequity is a big issue in the United States from how income is distributed through causes of income inequality, social status, and even how the government interventions is trying to alleviate income inequity.

Nowadays, the middle class is shrinking, while majority of people are either moving into the lower or upper classes. This is due to the major economic and policy changes that have occurred throughout the past thirty years. Based on the Basic Economy Security Tables, one in four full-time working-age adults are not earning enough income to meet economic needs for themselves or their families. This is a serious problem in America today, the fact that the median income today is six hundred dollars less than it was in 1989 is proof of this epidemic. It is much harder now, than ever, to work your way into the middle class, much less stay there. The percentage income growth since 1967 for the top 5 percent of earners is 88%, top 20 percent of earners grew 70%, and middle-income households only grew 20%. (Camp) In simpler terms, the upper classes income has increased tremendously, while middle-income households have seen very little growth in their income. Since the middle class is not receiving any income growth, it is declining and moving towards the lower class. It is not nearly as easy as it was thirty years ago to get a decent job and make

In all economies, in all times, and in all places, there has been inequality. Sometimes it has been in the form of forced and immobile classes and sometimes the disparities have been the result of forces outside of the population’s control. There have been those who conquered and those who were conquered. History documents early civilizations organizing class systems within each new civilization. It is human nature to organize in this way. There have always been those who have more and those who have less. Yet, that does not make it okay for those suffering in our lower classes. It does not make it okay for those forced into this lower class who are unable to rise above it. The attitude toward those in the lower classes can be improved upon. There are many who believe that there are “plenty of jobs available for poor people, that government programs breed dependency and that most poor people would prefer to stay on welfare” (Lauter). The standard of living needs to be raised so that the impoverished people in America continue to be richer than those

When wealthy people look at the world around them and where they are at in their financial situations they often feel a sense of power and feel in control of their future and lives. Unlike the wealthy when the poor look their financial situation they are overcome with feelings of defeat and uncertainty about the future. Which is a feeling that many like Madonna Harris, Jenifer Hernandez, and Martha Johnson experienced. These women and their families experienced the bottom of the social class which is the underclass that consists of individuals with next to no chance of ever leaving this class. Those who belong to this class have little or no connection with the job market but those who are lucky enough to get a job are only offered low paying or temporary work. Government funded programs like SNAP, Welfare and WIC are designed to help those in need but people who apply for them are often turned away because of the specific criteria that must be met which. If they are accepted they are or are not supplemented enough to maintain an apartment, afford food, and utilities as well as everyday living

Social class is a topic of discussion that most Americans do not like to talk about. It can be harder to identify than racial or ethnic differences, yet in many ways is the most important indicator of what kind of financial and educational opportunities someone is granted. When money or success is talked about, people tend to favor the form of “meritocracy” which is the fair competition for success among all people no matter race, gender, or family history. Unfortunately, this is not the reality and there is a huge correlation between success, and factors such as race, gender, education level, and inheritance. With the odds being stacked against minorities, women, and those living below the poverty line experience obstacles that limit personal success. In his text, Class in America, Gregory Mantsios examines the myths and realities behind the truth about class in America and its universal influence on the lives of Americans. He argues that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer due to many different factors. Similarly, in her text, Serving in Florida, author Barbara Ehrenreich writes about her experiences working multiple minimum wage jobs to make ends meet after going undercover in the working class life. She argues that people working minimum wage jobs are treated very poorly, and receive pay that isn’t enough to get by. Ehrenreich’s essay effectively illustrates Mantsios’ claim by offering a personal account that showed how lower

Research shows that low income people fighting to move up in society are only trapped in the lower class due to the limitations given from state and federal aid programs. Most of the lower class would like to believe that they will get ahead, but the sad truth is most will stay trapped in the lower class. This is affecting not only the adults, but children as well. “More than one out in [of] eight” (VartaAnian, Houser and Harkness) people in the U.S. are receiving help from some of these types of federal aid program. There are a number of diverse and complex factors that contribute to these issues for the low income people in America. This is not something that has just recently became an issue, it has been around for many of years and also

This “middle-class nation” is struggling to support all those who live in its borders and the misconceptions about wealth are vastly overrated. Furthermore, the idea of wealth and stability is incorrect, and there is a very sharp contrast between the rich and poor in the country. As the richest twenty percent of American hold ninety percent of the total household of the total household wealth in the country, those at the bottom have managed very poorly and suffer to get through the days.

Class, income, and wealth play a significant role in social stratification. In “What Americans Had..” Fischer explains the differences between social classes and the inequalities the lower strata faces by providing data and graphs to corroborate his argument. In addition, presents throughout the reading the differences of income between the 1900s to 2000s. As well as the three features that helps explain the inequality of standard of living. These three features are: wealth, income, and consumption. Evidently, while observing the graphs, Fischer explains that after the 1960s, inequality became a trend that ultimately has led to become a “norm” if you are in the lower scale of social structure. Furthermore, as with wealth, there are many ways

Even though having the “poor class” is a necessary evil needed for society to function, most Americans, at some point in time, will experience what it is like to live in poverty or live below the poverty line. One main reason for having a high percentage of people living in poverty is because the U.S. policy makers have ignored the poor and have given tax breaks to those with a much higher income. Funding for welfare was slashed and extended unemployment benefits were ended. With little success with the economic reform the United States has been going through for the past five years, about 14.5 percent of Americans are still living under the poverty line.

The disproportion of income distribution in America is a hot topic these days, and a major factor in the bondage of poverty. While the economy has grown substantially, the incomes of the underclass have seen the least growth. Levine draws attention to the fact that the share of income for the bottom fifth of the population has hardly changed over the last few decades at less than 4%, yet for the rest of the population it grows at higher rates the farther up the ladder you go. Levine illuminates that “the U.S. income distribution appears to be among the most unequal of all major industrialized countries.”5 While most Americans perceive that we have a society in which one has the power to move up or down the ladder with personal choices, the “empirical analyses suggest that children born into low-income families have not become more likely and may have become less likely to surpass their parents' position at the bottom of the income distribution.”6 There are a lot of variables that will contribute to explaining this immobility, from the added expense of being poor to the cognitive and social effects that are associated therein.

A major social problem in America today is its inequality of the distribution of income. "Income inequality refers to the gap between the rich and the poor. The United States has the most unequal income distribution in the industrialized world, and it is growing at a faster rate than any other industrialized country" (Eitzen & Leedham, pg. 37). The main reason as to why income is distributed so unequally is because of the gap between social classes.

The concept of class stratification in relation to the average person within the US tends to be confused by the promises the United States advertises: a land of opportunity where if you work hard enough, you can achieve your dreams of wealth and prosperity, despite your background. It is reported that most Americans, 42 %, believe that they fall within the middle class (Gallup Poll, 2012). However according to a report released by the Pew Research, the middle class has experienced shrinking and there has been an increase in the number of people reporting identification with the lower-middle and lower classes (Pew Research 2012). Additionally, the so-labeled “Free World,” is often depicted as one that promotes equality. However, complete gender equality, like other ideals the US holds dear, are not fully practiced within society. It is widely said that “females make 75 cents to their male counterparts' dollar” (Hegewisch, Williams 2013). The subject of societal inequalities has provoked great debate and consequently been approached by a number theories to explain, and at times justify, the realities we face as a society on a daily basis. Two such approaches, Functionalism and Conflict Theory have taken opposing but compelling stances on deciphering the reasoning behind the inequalities present in today's society.

• Working-Poor Class: Fifteen percent of the U.S. populace has a place with the working poor. Individuals from this group have some secondary school training and gain a normal salary of $20,000 every year. They act as administration specialists, workers, and in occasional job. This gathering meets all requirements for nourishment stamps and welfare now and again. Their biggest trepidation is that they could get to be destitute.