Poverty in America Essay

want is an epidemic that has swept the Ameri crowd out nation many metres over. Whether it be quietly lingering under the surface, or blatantly staring us in the face as it is in this on- leaving respite, it affects good traverse across America on individual, community and national levels alike. season thither be many throws and do of meagreness, it is of the essence(p) to view the issue of need and its causes from either angles when angiotensin converting enzyme gather inks to tackle the problem. These factors include socio- frugal status, kind illness, family value and reach morals, to name a few. In this essay, I result be examining these factors as they are discussed in the book, The churl go by Jeanette W eithers (referred to as field glass Castle throughout essay), as swell up as in the oblige s chamberpottiness in America from the Congressional brave, celestial latitude 2010 (referred to as numerate throughout the essay).When children are born into indigence, it is the only life they know. They a great deal bewilder up to either hang life from the viewpoint of, thats bonny the way it is, or become pertinacious to wagerer their status when they are venerable enough to do so. Children dont a great deal realize they break d possess in privation until they are told by their peers, such as when they are called poor and see tribe taking pity on them or bewilder fun of them. They whitethorn as well realize they are polar when they are chiffonierdid to what former(a) people have and realize that they have such(prenominal) less. As noted in Poverty in America, exiguity level, in itself, is just now based on an income deficit, whereas aces house behave receives less bills than some otherwise it excessively relates to the ideal of life history ( numerate, pg. 300). When one has less income, less things are afforded, til now living within those representation allow often effect or efface the barrier that is destitution. time one family whitethorn make up ones mentality to utilize their resources effectively and clutch funds where they be ample, another(prenominal) will effort to make fast money such as through crime or gambling. As in the story of the applesauce Castle, the father spends the money the family has on gambling, sometimes paying off and sp destruction the money on lavish dinners out and treats other times they are deeper in poverty since gambling funds are not the most stable income (Glass Castle, p. Living in Las Vegas).Addictions and mental illness have wedged the nation and led many families into poverty. While not directly discussed in the article, it whitethorn be presumed that these issues play a eccentric in keeping people from attribute jobs, exerting full time and develop the skills necessary to attempt a line gainful employment. The article cites get going experience and less-than-full-time workers as organismness affected by increased pover ty rates, especially in this recent economic downturn. Additionally, whereas it was normal for a single drive to stay home and care for her children in the 1950s when the poverty census was beginning(a) started, it is expected now for single parents to work and better their economic status for the wellbeing of their family. With the costs of daycare and living skyrocketing since the 50s, women sometimes seek easier means of devising money and tranquillise staying at home, including whoredom and drug dealing. Many of these women were similarly sexually hollerd and preyed upon because of their economic status and other issues affecting their childhood, which whitethorn lead to plaza abuse in adolescence and early adulthood. cozy abuse was a prominent guinea pig in the Glass Castle, as the parents were real hands-off and flighty, leaving the children exposed to predators and tied(p) victim to family members. While Jeanettes parents matte that the children will only become stronger by facing hardship, these factors will often cause self-esteem, trauma, depression and anxiety in children who grow up into alcohol and drug abusing adults this may also begin the poverty bicycle for generations to come.The cycle of poverty being exacerbated by drug and alcohol use is basic noted in the Glass Castle with insight into Rexs drinking problems. While he has attempts at periods of sobriety, he perpetually returns to the bottle. It is apparent that he has dreams of grandeur, always verbalise the children that they will one day live in a glass castle, going so far as to skeletal system blueprints. He is a self-proclaimed inventor and thinks actually highly of his skills and self, but is constantly losing jobs and move the family away to avoid the law. While he has the emotional support of his family, he is battling his own demons of feeling like a failure, star him to steal his wifes money, lay on the line profusely and even takes steps toward interchan ge his own daughter for a dissolute buck (Glass Castle, pg. rex takes to bar to play pool, allure money back). He also seeks the reliever of a prostitute, probably to have the fellowship of someone who makes him feel better nearly himself (Glass Castle, pg.Brian tells Jeanette about reading comic small-arm Rex/Ginger were in hotel). Its also interesting to examine the impact of the sexual abuse Rex may have been exposed to as a child by his mother, which could have been the start to his cycle of living in a dream-world, using alcohol and low self-esteem (pg. when they tell Rex Erma tried to molest Brian and wonder if he was abused).beyond addiction issues, mental health problems were also a focus of the Glass Castle, as it appears that bloody shame was, deep inside, a unfaltering person with a good family upbringing, an learning and was probably capable of being a good mother. Unfortunately, she was an fire addict (Glass Castle, pg. transmitted house in phoenix) and e ven gave up her teach job to be an mechanic (Glass Castle, p. bloody shame returns from Bluefield), even though her children were starving. She also followed her husband through all of these adventures, partaking in all the excitement and neglect/abuse of the children, plain oblivious to any wrongdoing. pursuance the periods of excitement addiction, she would have depressed moods, staying in bed and complaining of the burden of rearing a family and missing out on her endangerment to be an artist (Glass Castle, p. when they find diamond ring).It would appear to me that, while Mary has her times of trying to do whats best for her family, she may be deplorable from a mental illness, such as bipolar dis rewrite, making choices that are broadly speaking selfish to fulfill her fun and excitement she also makes very poor monetary choices for her family, such as not merchandising the million-dollar property to feed her family (Glass Castle, pg. Mary wants to sweep up money from Eri c to buy adjacent land) and not using money from work to spoil with a budget so that diet and indoor plumbing and coal target be bought (Glass Castle, pg. Mary is teaching and Lori and Jeanette make a budget and ask to hold money). In addition, mental illness is often thought to be genetic, with some syndromes go across through generations. While most of the children in the Walls family eventually become masteryful adults with seemingly normal lives, Maureen adapts some of the characteristics of her parents, ultimately ending up living a droll life of chasing cults and getting locked up in a state hospital (Glass Castle, p. Maureen stabs Mary).Family set play a large berth in bringing, and keeping, people in povertyespecially families. Although thither have been discriminate societal classes throughout history, determine and work moral philosophy are two factors that can change over time and create a different outcome of values and ethics. Through the article, the reader learns that recessions have caused disparities at different levels since the census began recording this substantial in 1959 ( number, p. 298). While each recession has differed slightly, the length and severity of increased poverty has happened in different extents, leading one to believe that the values/ethics of the time may be affecting how people continue changes in their economic situations how families handle ongoing poverty over generations will also determine the overall success of that family coming out of poverty or remaining in it.The work ethics and values were definitely confused throughout the Glass Castle, with Rex having a history of function in the Air Force and Mary being educated in teaching and falling back on that from time to time, barely keeping the metaphoric family orchestrate above water. There is also head teacher about the values that are being taught to the children where one parent proclaims to be a devout catholic that doesnt take to heart chur ch or follow the commandments and another parent despises and puts down the religion. Other family values that the children are exposed to include steal (Glass Castle, p. where they steal dresses and get caught) and take from the rely (Glass Castle, p. where dad and mom are stealth money), as well as stealing lunches at school and dumpster diving all of this yet Mary refuses to even ascertain government aid when the idea is mentioned, presenting herself as better than that. Also, family traditions that the children see other people participating are often destroyed (Glass Castle, p. where dad lights tree on fire) and the family learns to deal with it by just understanding in that respect is nothing they can do.Hope still remains for those in poverty. We know that, economically, everything that goes up must come down, and when it comes to the economy, the opposite is apt(predicate) to occur as well. As the Census shows us on p. 298, while poverty levels have dropped and risen over the recent five decades, they do resume on with the economy and each person in poverty still has a chance at changing their situation if they work hard enough. The coping skills that people learn when they live a life of poverty to effectively live within their means prioritize can make or break the future options they have in advance them.As the Walls children show us, one can change their future when they put their mind to it. The children lived through so many experiences of execrable and neglect, and were always trying to aid their parents get it together so they could have a better life. While the children learned to grapple with their parents ways, they also were apt and ambitious, and having been taught to dream, they were able to imagine a better future and a higher standard of living. While poverty has been an ongoing issue, there are many causes and facto s associated with this social construct, and many ways to overcome it. In this essay, which combined p overty information from the 2010 Census and the book, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, the effects of mental illness, addiction, family values and work ethics on poverty were discussed and examined. The overall finis of this writer would be that poverty can be overcome as long as individuals are willing to help themselves and their dependents and overcome the obstacles that they face in order to create a better outcome.References1.Congressional Digest (December, 2010). Poverty in America Census Population Report. Retrieved April 1, 2011 from www.congressionaldigestdebates.com. 2.Walls, J. (2005) The Glass Castle A Memoir. New York, Simon & Schuster.