Sociology Essay: Poverty Analysis and Ehrenreich's Insights

This sociology essay examines poverty in the United States, focusing on its measurement, major trends, and how it compares to other countries. The essay begins by analyzing the experiences of journalist Barbara Ehrenreich, who worked low-wage jobs to investigate the challenges faced by the workforce. It explores the statistical tools used to measure poverty, discussing the poverty line and its adjustments based on family size. The essay also outlines key trends in poverty rates across different age groups, educational attainment levels, and racial/ethnic groups, highlighting the rise of extreme poverty and the impact of social safety nets. Furthermore, it compares poverty definitions and levels in America to those in other countries, particularly high-income Western European and English-speaking nations. The essay concludes by addressing myths surrounding poverty, referencing the 'Rags to Riches' podcast, and emphasizing the challenges faced by low-wage workers and the growing population of children experiencing spells with no income. References from the assignment brief are included.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY 1
Sociology
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Introduction
In the United States, most of the workers in the low-wage jobs are facing a lot of
complexity barriers hence leading to poverty (Shaefer & Edin, 2013). This task is about a
journalist by the name Barbara Ehrenreich who went ahead to America to work as a housekeeper
inorder to investigate about the low-wage workforce. The task will analyse how to measure
poverty and the major trends; how the poverty in American society differs with that of other
countries and the myths about the media podcast.
From the story of Ehrenreich, I have learned that the low-wage work is not a solution to
poverty and is not for the homeless. We should not only sit at the table and theorize, but we
should move to different places and environments to learn more about them and their economies.
Starting conditions are everything in the low-wage life just as Ehrenreich had prepared herself.
According to the story of Ehrenreich, the numbers of people holding more than one job are 7.8
million where most live in cars or vans.
Barbara Ehrenreich could not have had a different experience as a woman of color
because just like her, the other workers too lived in the same conditions as her. Andy the white
cook lived in a dry-docked boat. Just like the other workers in Hearthside, the expenses were
more as compared to the salary hence she had to look for an alternative job (Loprest, 2011).
Most of the servers in Jerrys are white so Ehrenreich is termed as server material hence she
couldn’t have a different experience there. Those who lacked working husbands or boyfriends
had a second job just like her.
Poverty is measured through a statistical tool which analyses the progress against
poverty. The measure was adopted in 1960 to represent the income required to provide a

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minimum modern standard of living. This poverty line changes with family size. This tool gives
information to the public and policy makers regarding the poverty trends. If money income from
all the resources of family members falls below poverty line, they are considered poor according
to the tool. The measure doesn’t include the refundable tax credits and noncash benefits. Some of
the major trends in poverty include; official poverty rates for adults classified by age cohort,
educational attainment and race or ethnicity (Shaefer & Edin, 2013). In 1968 18-24 olds, the
poverty rates increased by about 11% points while the 25-34 olds by 5 points. The poverty rate
for high school graduates have increased by 10 points while those without a high school degree
by 20% points. The poverty rates for the white is higher than that of the black.
The rise of extreme poverty matters because according to the 2011 data, 1.65 million
households in the United States with 3.5 million children survived on income cash of $ 2 per
person. 4.3% of non-elderly people with children live in extreme household poverty (Shaefer &
Edin, 2013). Even though the safety net has succeeded in reducing extreme deprivation, it has
not been able to reduce the extreme poverty. By equating the SNAP benefits to cash, poverty has
reduced by 48% and when subsidies and refundable tax credits are added, it reduces by 63%.
Even though the tests have saved about 2.4 million children from poverty, they have still left
about 1.2 million children behind.
In other countries, poverty is defined by the household income which is below the
national median income and the standard of living in each country (Loprest, 2011). The high
income western European and the English- speaking countries have less relative poverty as
compared to the United States. There is a high level of inequality in American society hence
supporting low income households.

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According to the America’s Poverty Myths, the ‘Rags to Riches’ podcast talks about
America being a nation where everyone has an equal opportunity and mobility. It includes stories
about people who moved from rags to riches. From the story, we learn that those people endured
pain that everyone goes through in order to be successful. We succeed from the exercise of virtue
and the success depends on being in the right place at the right time.
Conclusion
The most people who experience spells with no income are the growing population of
children. Estimates from household incomes vary from month to month hence should be treated
with caution. The trends in poverty are clear to sensitivity tests and the American society has
higher poverty rate as compared to other countries.

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References
Loprest, P. (2011). Disconnected Families and TANF. Urban Institute: OPRE Research
brief,#02.
Shaefer,H.L & Edin,K. (2013). "Rising Extreme Poverty in the United States and the response of
federal meana-Tested Transfers."Social Service Review,87(2), 250-268.