I was privileged to grow up with the belief that I could achieve whatever I set my mind to. That despite any hardships or “bumps in the road” that I might encounter, I could continue moving forward. My parents, in part, are why I am able to see life in this way. They have always been honest, hard-working business owners and entrepreneurs who taught my sister and I to work hard for what we want in life. The demographics that I grew up in also aided this goal-achieving mindset. I am a white female who grew up in a very affluent place. My sister and I never had to worry about being homeless or not having enough food to eat. We went to nice schools, played sports, and went on vacation often. I understand that my childhood is different from others, but despite this, I thought that everyone had the belief that they could achieve whatever they set their mind to. This, unfortunately, is not the case.

After reading and discussing the materials from this week’s topic on poverty, I feel like my awareness and understanding of the harsh realities of living in poverty in America have grown tremendously. Barbara Ehrenreich’s book, titled Nickel and Dimed: on Not Getting By In America, helped to illustrate what it’s like to live below the poverty line. Hearing individuals’ stories about barely getting by while working two labor-intensive jobs, living in less than desirable places, eating less than is needed to get necessary nutrients, and not having access to healthcare made me understand my own privileges better. Things that I often take advantage of without ever thinking twice about it.

Given the low minimum wage and high cost of housing throughout the nation, it is impossible to live comfortably or to even “get by” working 40 hours a week. People aren’t homeless or living in poverty by choice. It is a “trap” that is nearly impossible to escape. Ehrenreich’s book and the other articles we read helped me understand this, while also allowing me to empathize with the homeless and working poor class. Earlier in the week, we also read an article titled, “The Positive Functions of Poverty” by Herbert Gans. I found this article very interesting because it shed light on several reasons why nothing is really done to fix issues related to homelessness and poverty. I think that the author’s approach was both direct and informative, omitting any political biases and the like. Overall, I think that my awareness and understanding about homelessness and poverty in America has already grown and changed so much and I’m looking forward to the remainder of the semester!