Warren Shirk
Dr. Palacios
English Composition
9 September 2017
Summary/ Critique on Changing the Face of Poverty by Dianna George Changing the Face of Poverty: Nonprofits and the Problem of Representation by Diana George asses the way that poverty is pictured by nonprofit organizations. Particularly, George focuses on videos produced by Habitat for Humanity. George presents the argument that the use of video portraying poverty is not fully showing what poverty is. George critiques Habitat for Humanity for focusing on one particular type of poverty and its solution without realizing or showing the broader spectrum of poverty. George states.
“The real trouble with Habitat’s representation, then, is twofold: it tells us that the signs of poverty …show more content…
In the quote included in the first paragraph, George criticizes Habitat for Humanity’s video as focusing in on one aspect of poverty and ignoring others. She contends that poverty is not always easily recognized and is not able to be addressed as quickly and simply as the video portrays. George argues that homelessness is not the prevalent form of poverty in our nation and focusing on it disrupts our view of other kinds of poverty. “How much more true is that of the impoverished in this country who may be neither homeless nor ragged, but are certainly struggling every day to feed their families, pay rent, and find jobs that pay more than what it costs for …show more content…
The cultural stereotype for poverty has been set so that whenever we think of poverty our minds immediately jump to not having sufficient shelter, not having sufficient food, or not having sufficient clothing; however, as George states, poverty can exist in forms other than these which are so painfully obvious. George rightly contends the family, that is struggling to keep the bills paid and provide for basic needs, can be as impoverished as the family who obviously has nothing. These families can be overlooked far to easily if we are not careful.
George expresses a negative opinion of the way Habitat for Humanity portrays poverty throughout her article. To be fair, George clearly states that she is not criticizing the work that Habitat for Humanity has done. “To be clear, then, I am not criticizing the work of Habitat for Humanity.” She appreciates the work they have accomplished but she goes on to critique their methods.
“What I would draw attention to, however, is how that problem of inadequate housing and its solution are represented, especially in publicity material produced and distributed by the organization, and how those representations can feed into the troubles that Habitat continues to have as it attempts to change the ways Americans think of helping others.”
George argues that the focus on helping the homeless strengthens the stereotype set by our society
Dr. Palacios
English Composition
9 September 2017
Summary/ Critique on Changing the Face of Poverty by Dianna George Changing the Face of Poverty: Nonprofits and the Problem of Representation by Diana George asses the way that poverty is pictured by nonprofit organizations. Particularly, George focuses on videos produced by Habitat for Humanity. George presents the argument that the use of video portraying poverty is not fully showing what poverty is. George critiques Habitat for Humanity for focusing on one particular type of poverty and its solution without realizing or showing the broader spectrum of poverty. George states.
“The real trouble with Habitat’s representation, then, is twofold: it tells us that the signs of poverty …show more content…
In the quote included in the first paragraph, George criticizes Habitat for Humanity’s video as focusing in on one aspect of poverty and ignoring others. She contends that poverty is not always easily recognized and is not able to be addressed as quickly and simply as the video portrays. George argues that homelessness is not the prevalent form of poverty in our nation and focusing on it disrupts our view of other kinds of poverty. “How much more true is that of the impoverished in this country who may be neither homeless nor ragged, but are certainly struggling every day to feed their families, pay rent, and find jobs that pay more than what it costs for …show more content…
The cultural stereotype for poverty has been set so that whenever we think of poverty our minds immediately jump to not having sufficient shelter, not having sufficient food, or not having sufficient clothing; however, as George states, poverty can exist in forms other than these which are so painfully obvious. George rightly contends the family, that is struggling to keep the bills paid and provide for basic needs, can be as impoverished as the family who obviously has nothing. These families can be overlooked far to easily if we are not careful.
George expresses a negative opinion of the way Habitat for Humanity portrays poverty throughout her article. To be fair, George clearly states that she is not criticizing the work that Habitat for Humanity has done. “To be clear, then, I am not criticizing the work of Habitat for Humanity.” She appreciates the work they have accomplished but she goes on to critique their methods.
“What I would draw attention to, however, is how that problem of inadequate housing and its solution are represented, especially in publicity material produced and distributed by the organization, and how those representations can feed into the troubles that Habitat continues to have as it attempts to change the ways Americans think of helping others.”
George argues that the focus on helping the homeless strengthens the stereotype set by our society