Success can be defined as “the accomplishment of one’s goals,” according to dictionary.com. Most commonly, this definition varies from person to person, depending on many factors. Does one’s wealth determine success, or does it matter how one became successful? Does everyone feel success at some point in their lives, or are some obstacles too substantial to overcome in order to achieve it? In this chapter of “Money and Success,” these questions are answered with four different essays that discuss the idea of success and opportunity for the individual person. In regards to the topic, I didn’t have much of an opinion prior to reading any of these essays other than thinking that everyone has the opportunity to create their own success. I believe
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In the most vivid essay of them all, Barbara Ehrenreich’s “Serving in Florida” takes on an experiment by transitioning from the wealthy class and taking a step into the working class in an attempt to write about the working class and their efforts. This step is more of a leap as she works and lives as someone would if they were in the working class. She begins her experience by describing her work environment as “a fat person’s hell” in …show more content…
In Gregory Mantsios’ “Class in America – 2012,” his essay tackles myths and their realities when it comes to social classes. His most intriguing evidence shows that white males have a 1 in 14 chance of being poor in the U.S. That’s roughly a 7% chance, which is really slim compared to a black female (who is also head of household with no husband) which stands at a 1 in 2 chance, or 50% (Mantsios 396). Mantsios even says, “the qualities of our lives and the opportunities for success are highly circumscribed by our race, our gender, and the class we are born into (396). So really, if we’re not a wealthy white male then we automatically have a higher chance of being poor and living a less successful life. Mantsios also explains how one’s social class determines achievement and success. Those in poverty have a long way to go to get out of it, again referencing to the idea that no matter how hard one works, the system is not working in their
In the most vivid essay of them all, Barbara Ehrenreich’s “Serving in Florida” takes on an experiment by transitioning from the wealthy class and taking a step into the working class in an attempt to write about the working class and their efforts. This step is more of a leap as she works and lives as someone would if they were in the working class. She begins her experience by describing her work environment as “a fat person’s hell” in …show more content…
In Gregory Mantsios’ “Class in America – 2012,” his essay tackles myths and their realities when it comes to social classes. His most intriguing evidence shows that white males have a 1 in 14 chance of being poor in the U.S. That’s roughly a 7% chance, which is really slim compared to a black female (who is also head of household with no husband) which stands at a 1 in 2 chance, or 50% (Mantsios 396). Mantsios even says, “the qualities of our lives and the opportunities for success are highly circumscribed by our race, our gender, and the class we are born into (396). So really, if we’re not a wealthy white male then we automatically have a higher chance of being poor and living a less successful life. Mantsios also explains how one’s social class determines achievement and success. Those in poverty have a long way to go to get out of it, again referencing to the idea that no matter how hard one works, the system is not working in their