Nearly 38 million Americans suffer from Poverty in the United States. You will only understand what it is to be in it if you have lived in poverty. So, an American journalist, Barbara Ehrenreich, embarks on a unique investigative journey to experience the realities of living on a minimum wage in America. This insightful exploration, derived from her firsthand experiences working in various low-wage jobs across multiple states, sheds light on the daily struggles of millions of Americans.
Ehrenreich’s journey began when she left her full-time job as a journalist to delve into the lives of the working poor. She traveled to Florida, Maine, and Minnesota, taking on roles as a waitress, hotel cleaner, house cleaner, nursing care aide, and Wal-Mart sales clerk. Often, she found herself juggling more than one job simultaneously to make ends meet. No matter how much she spent budgeting her expenses, she lived paycheck to paycheck. She experienced a stark portrayal of the challenges faced by those earning minimum wage. Yet, she saw how important it was to note the resilience and determination of these workers, who continue to strive despite their odds, inspiring us with their unwavering spirit.
Through her varied job experiences, Ehrenreich discovered that no job is truly “unskilled.” Each position required mastering new tools, learning specific terminology, and understanding distinct operational procedures. Her coworkers and supervisors heavily influenced the quality of her work life, as they taught her the essential skills to do her jobs right or even get better schedules. Moreover, she realized that performing too well could paradoxically lead to increased expectations, potentially raising the bar for others in similar positions.
One of the most striking aspects of Ehrenreich’s narrative is her struggle with mobility and living conditions. Despite owning a car, the costs associated with commuting limited her options. If you try to live near the work to avoid owning a car, you now limit where you live. Even public transportation can be costly. In Nashville, for example, a ticket for 2 hours bus ride costs $2. You will likely spend over 1 hour of wages for transport if you have multiple jobs.
She often found herself in substandard living situations without basic amenities like air conditioning, relying on non-perishable—and frequently unhealthy—food options due to financial constraints. Her experiences highlight a critical issue: even with full-time employment, many Americans struggle to afford basic necessities, including medical insurance. These are not just statistics but real people with real struggles, and it’s crucial to remember that.
Drawing from personal experiences, I never faced the harsh realities of minimum wage labor during my formative years. My seasonal job as a lifeguard during university, which paid double the minimum wage, combined with the security of living with my parents or relatives, shielded me from the financial instabilities faced by many others. As I became an adult, I started meeting other people. This contrast became even more apparent as I encountered stories from individuals struggling with healthcare costs and living below the poverty line.
There are a few things I can do. I can do besides donating toys or food at the foodbank to use my skills in tax preparation. Through volunteer work as a tax preparer for low-income families in Tennessee, I gained further insight into the economic hardships many face. Many spoke to me about their hardships while preparing their taxes. I had to stop doing the tax preparation volunteer since the pandemic. The cessation of this activity due to the pandemic, considering my high-risk spouse, was regrettable but necessary.
Now, we look into the actual statistics. How many Americans are actually in poverty? The 2022 U.S. Census revealed an 11% national poverty rate, translating to 37.9 million people living in poverty (Bureau, n.d.), with local figures in Davidson County, TN, slightly higher.
I know there are some assistant programs. Tax preparation services are one of them. Despite the existence of assistance programs, many still need to be insured and burdened by rising living costs. The static federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, the same as Tennessee’s minimum wage, contrasts sharply with the escalating cost of living, exemplified by the near doubling of housing prices in Nashville since 2018. To consider access to the works, you must balance the higher and lower rent with the commute. You are looking at approximately $750 for a studio or 1-bedroom apartment – only a few are available. You can try owning a car and living in a rural area. Even the cars used are costly, and the gas prices are much higher than when I first moved here in 2018.
Can you move out of poverty? Ehrenreich’s narrative and corroborative personal observations make clear the pervasive cycle of poverty. When you don’t have enough money, you eat the available foods. You live in a lot of stress—you will have a higher chance of getting health problems. If you have medical insurance, the situation will be good.
When my husband was ill due to his stroke, I spent time investigating our options. I thought we had saved for a few years with all the medical costs. I was worried that my husband would not get well. Those publications are usually offered in English, but not all Americans can read English. Not everyone had emergency funds saved up. I met a family who was crying during the long-term care. The father, who was around 40 years old, got a brain stroke. She had two young children. She did not speak good English, but their situation stressed her. I gave her the business card for social assistance programs where she could speak her language to get support.
In the United States, poverty is everywhere, but the southern states have a higher poverty rate. I could not conclude the reasons, but I suspected that it had something to do with the types of industries the states have, the types of available jobs, or the infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals. According to Scioto Analysis (September 19, 2023), the cost of living is a significant factor.
Wikipedia. (2021) List of U.S. states and territories by poverty rate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_poverty_rate
Can a government do something about it? Perhaps. It is not that easy as it is, though. I was trying to make sense of the data, so I corrected various data, such as the inflation rate, the Gini coefficient, etc. I even gathered the data from other countries, such as Canada, Japan, and the EU, where I lived in the past. Factors such as the Gini coefficient or inflation do not correlate straightforwardly with poverty levels, suggesting a complex interplay of socioeconomic factors. Surprisingly, the U.S. is doing better than Japan or EU countries. Since the U.S. has many people, we have many people in poverty.
Ehrenreich’s book provides a compelling look into the lives of the working poor, a condition exacerbated by inadequate wages and rising living costs. Her experiences underscore the urgent need for policy reform and support systems that address the roots of poverty and provide meaningful support to those in need. Now, I see how complicated that would be. We still need to advocate for changes that will allow more individuals to escape the cycle of poverty and achieve economic stability.
I’m glad I read this book, even though it was depressing. I should remember that this is the reality for nearly 38 million Americans. And this is the 3rd banned book I read.
References
Bureau, U. C. (n.d.). National Poverty in America Awareness Month: January 2024. Census.Gov. Retrieved June 18, 2024, from https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/poverty-awareness-month.html
Scioto Analysis. (2023, September 19). Poverty in the States: 2022. https://www.sciotoanalysis.com/news/2023/9/19/poverty-in-the-states-2022
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Davidson County, Tennessee. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2024, from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/davidsoncountytennessee/RHI425222
Wikipedia. (n.d.) List of U.S. states and territories by poverty rate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_poverty_rate