Working Poor Shipler Analysis

Even though the author points the issue with the phrase “working poor,” the society that America has fostered does not lend itself to agree with this sentiment. This paper will discuss this along with the cause, demographics and magnitude of the problem. In many ways the author describes the working poor as living on the edge. Meaning that no matter if they are working, there is always another hardship waiting to happen. The author perfectly says how “an inconvenience to an affluent family is a major crisis to them.” One financial crisis causes a domino effect on other aspects of their life and exacerbates their already poor situation. The author describes the working poor as the population that is infiltrated by continuous hardships. Many …show more content…
In essence, it becomes a vicious cycle of being poor due of the lack of education and low earning wage and then continuing to live on the edge to maintain the essentials of daily life (i.e. car, housing, food, etc). The author further argues that the average middle class or wealthy individual’s wants are simply not an option for the working poor. The author also describes the working poor through some of the common demographics. Throughout his book, Shipler explains and recounts several anecdotes and groups who are living in poverty. Many of these groups include households led my single mothers, minorities, and immigrants. These groups are more susceptible to impoverished living environments while growing up resulting in negative decision-making skills. In addition, these demographic groups are also more likely to face either corporate or sexual abuse during their life. Many may think that the overall the problem is about not having enough money to buy and access essential items. However, the problem spans a wide variety of other issues that affect the quality of life. The hardships that the working poor face include adequate nutrition, health, housing, safety, and psychological …show more content…
Shipler points out that many employers seek employees with no criminal background in addition to having “soft skills.” Thus, these challenges create a larger problem that this population faces and makes it even more difficult for them to triumph against poverty. The growing demand for skilled laborers and exportation of low skill labor to foreign nations results in fewer opportunities for this population. In addition, the prevalence of sexual abuse among the poor causes emotional trauma for many women who and later lead to unhealthy relationships which in turn causes another financial burden to the family and prevents a rise against poverty. The lack of kinship among some of the working poor also can cause an extra financial strain for low wage workers. Without adequate amount of support and help, low wage workers are burdened to spend additional money (i.e. child care, transportation, food, etc). For example, the author points out that kinship can not only provide emotional support, but also financial