Poverty: Gender Inequality In The United States

The image of a boy shackled to a ball with the word poverty on it communicates various topics which can be examined through a sociological point of view. The main idea that is expressed by this image is that a person’s status in society can act as a hindrance throughout their life and can prevent them from escaping that status. It can be inferred that the boy is poor because he is connected to the ball with poverty written on it. This is probably because the boy’s parents or parent belong to the low class and he has inherited that position in society from them. While technically America’s class system allows for the possibility of upward social mobility, circumstances can make it difficult for someone who is poor to work their way out of …show more content…
The economy is a large factor in whether a person can move upwards or downwards in social class. If the economy is doing poorly, typically the ones who are affected in a major way are those in the middle and lower classes. During the Great Recession many people were laid off and they had a tough time trying to find a new job. On the other hand, if the economy is in a good place, people might have better job opportunities and they might even be able to raise their standards of living. Depending on the economy, the boy’s position could change. The government also plays a role since they are in charge of running social welfare programs to help those in need. These programs such as food stamps or Medicaid can provide people with food and health insurance which they have trouble affording on their income. The boy’s family could be receiving assistance from any of these programs which could ease some of the burdens they might have. The boy has a better chance at success if his family has access to …show more content…
He probably lives in an area with other lower class citizens. How the people there act, what they do, and what they expect of others will influence the child. If the place where he lives in is filled with gangs then he might find himself swept up in that. Especially if the other kids his age are a part of that. Furthermore, the boy might choose not to get a higher education if he sees that the people who surround him don’t either. He might choose to work at a job that does not require a degree which will probably pay him a low salary. Then he will be stuck in the same place or in a place similar to where he grew up, struggling to make ends meet. There is a chance he could move up in rank wherever he works and end up in a managing position. Maybe he manages to go to college so he eventually finds himself moving towards the middle class or upper class. However, the odds are stacked against him and society is structured in way where the poor will always be at a disadvantage in comparison to the upper and middle classes. For the boy, his being poor is a weight that he will have to constantly battle against in his