David Shipler The Working Poor Analysis

The perception of poverty held by many Americans is appeared as weak, flawed, and an unfixed problem in society. But with a change in perspective, there could be a chance that poverty can decrease and we can build a stronger community at the same time. In The Working Poor written by David Shipler, he discusses the barriers that low-income families face but gives reasoning to why our society can promote hope and change. Even though there is a stereotypical opinion of how low-income families don’t want to pursue change, there is a majority who want to get out of the poverty system. For that majority, they are not receiving the same benefits or opportunities that middle class receives. It is not that they don’t have the capacity to learn how to …show more content…
However, the working poor never see themselves as part of it nor does middle class see poverty as a wider issue than it is led on. The first thing that society needs to do for the working poor is to give them a chance to see their potential. According to Demos, author Miles Rapport proposes that“[a]merica must create more jobs. We also must ensure that more of the jobs we are creating are middle-class positions [and by doing so] these policies represent a package of reforms to bring us closer to the reality of the American Dream in which hard work is rewarded with economic success.” By giving low-income employees a chance to be equals with middle class employees, it is providing them a chance to believe that the American Dream is ideal for them. In addition, employers need to recognize that the working poor are unfamiliar with believing in themselves. In order for them to believe in the American Dream, they need help from employers who already have it. In The Working Poor: Invisible in America, David Shipler describes how “employees coming out of poverty are rarely armed with support networks, coping skills, and backup mechanisms to insulate their workplace from their personal difficulties” (129). For some employees who are trying to get out of poverty, they need to feel worthy and acknowledged in their workplace. Shipler elaborates on the idea that society needs to be the role models for the working poor because in order for them to believe in themselves, they need people around them to believe in them. The American Dream was always perceived as a far off reality for the working poor but that can change if society teaches them what they truly