What Is Poverty
- Poverty In America - Poverty In America As time marches toward a new millennium, America prepares for many...
- Poverty - Poverty There have been numerous studies examining the effects that poverty has on...
- Poverty - Poverty Poverty is defined in many ways. The dictionary definition simply does not...
- Poverty In America - Poverty In America There has been a constant battle with poverty in the United...
- Child Poverty - Child Poverty Introduction The well-being of children is a key measure for evaluating...
Submitted by DanaMe4 on 06/30/2008 05:21 PM
- Category: Biographies
- Words: 620
- Pages: 3
- Views: 134
- Popularity Rank: 87
What Is Poverty
Poverty is a subject that can mean different things to different people. To me poverty means having no money for all the luxuries of life. In the article "What is Poverty?" Jo Goodwin Parker gives her ideas on what poverty is. She describes her experience of living in poverty as dark and oppressive. Jo tells of the hardships she and her three children must face daily due to their poverty. Her definition of poverty is so detailed and forceful that it conveys, even to those who have never known it, the nature of poverty.
In her story "What is Poverty?" Jo Goodwin Parker is a poverty stricken, single mother of three. According to Parker, poverty has a certain sickening smell. Poverty stinks, it tires one out, is dirty and cold. Poverty takes away all pride and honor. Poverty means living like an animal, without basic human necessities such as clean clothes, food on the table, health care when you get sick, and education for you and your children, all of which Parker refers to as luxuries. Poverty is an embarrassment that eats you up when you have to beg for help. But, above all, poverty is an inescapable reality.
Poverty is an issue not many people think about or even write about. If an author writes a story about a character being poor, they usually mean that they don't have a huge house or a fancy car. However, they still have what they need to live a comfortable life. Parker wrote beyond this point. It was enjoyable to read about a family struggling through their darkest times and not have one of those fairy tale endings. Afterall, that's how real life is.
Parker wrote that she dropped out of school at a young age. Because she was poor to begin with, I don't think this was the best decision. She wrote, "It is remembering quitting school in junior high because nice children had been so cruel about my clothes and smell." During that age, children are cruel even in today's society. I feel that she took the easy way out. I think...
You must Login to view the entire paper.
If you are not a member yet, Sign Up for free!
