With a per capita GDP of $52,194, the United States is one of the wealthiest nations on the planet (United States GDP Per Capita). However, despite its wealth, the U.S. suffers from glaring economic and social inequality. While the fact that there is immense inequality is overwhelmingly agreed upon, the reasons behind this inequality have been the source of widespread debate. Author and professor, Edward Royce, explores some of the most prominent theories of inequality in his book Poverty and Power. Royce classifies these theories as explaining poverty from either an individualistic or structural perspective. Although, as with any theories in the realm of social science, it is necessary to see how the theories stand up in real world circumstances. Alice Goffman’s, On the Run, provides a great
…show more content…
178). Simply put, this means that one’s neighborhood, good or bad, has a significant effect that person’s social upbringing, and consequently their social and economic opportunities (Royce, 2015, p. 178). The young men in On the Run are all residents, through no choice of their own, of a poor, crime ridden neighborhood in Philadelphia. Goffman (2014) states that “In the first eighteen months that I spent in the neighborhood, at least once a day I watched police stop pedestrians or people in cars, search them, run their names for warrants, ask them to come in for questioning, or make an arrest” (p. 5) Moreover, in a 2007 household survey administered by Goffman, 139 of 146 women reported that a man close to them had been in trouble with the law (Goffman, 2014, p. 55). Clearly, growing up in a neighborhood where crime is so prevalent makes it more likely that one will commit or be accused of committing a crime. Exacerbating the issue is the fact that many of the households these young men grow up in provide a near uninhabitable standard of
178). Simply put, this means that one’s neighborhood, good or bad, has a significant effect that person’s social upbringing, and consequently their social and economic opportunities (Royce, 2015, p. 178). The young men in On the Run are all residents, through no choice of their own, of a poor, crime ridden neighborhood in Philadelphia. Goffman (2014) states that “In the first eighteen months that I spent in the neighborhood, at least once a day I watched police stop pedestrians or people in cars, search them, run their names for warrants, ask them to come in for questioning, or make an arrest” (p. 5) Moreover, in a 2007 household survey administered by Goffman, 139 of 146 women reported that a man close to them had been in trouble with the law (Goffman, 2014, p. 55). Clearly, growing up in a neighborhood where crime is so prevalent makes it more likely that one will commit or be accused of committing a crime. Exacerbating the issue is the fact that many of the households these young men grow up in provide a near uninhabitable standard of