Goodwin Parker Poverty Of Equality

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When it comes to poverty and living on the opposite side of the spectrum, we often have a lot of tolerance and excuses for our behaviors and not so much for those of others. As a whole, we must understand the point of view of those living under unfortunate circumstances, such as poverty, to end all feuds and misunderstandings. Articles “Poverty of Equality” by authors Stephen Moore and Peter Ferrara, and “What is Poverty?” by author Jo Goodwin Parker both depict poverty according to their unique perspective and/or experience on the subject. Author Goodwin Parker was able to describe poverty through a first-hand experience and also empathize with those who could relate as well as sympathize with those of kind heart, while authors Moore and Ferrara…show more content…
She explains the hardships she has endured ever since her childhood years for example, Parker’s mother forced her to quit school and enter the work force at a young age to help out and pay the bills at home. Later, and a having a stable income, Parker married a young man and had her first child; problems arose when her husband lost his job. Having to take care of her child and later giving birth to two other kids, Parker lost her job as well, later, divorcing her husband. Independently, Parker struggled to keep afloat and living conditions deteriorated, she explains, “Poverty is getting up every morning from a dirt- and illness-stained mattress. The sheets have long since been used for diapers. Poverty is living in a smell that never leaves. This a smell of urine, sour milk, and spoiling food sometimes joined with the strong smell of long-cooked onions.” She also explains how getting aid from the state/government is a struggle and not as simple as they make it out to be. She states that asking for help has its costs, a cost she obviously is not able to afford having to provide for four, as she states, “That’s when I asked for help. When I got it, you know how much it was? It was, and is, seventy-eight dollars a month for the four of us; that is all I ever can get.” “…I pay twenty dollars a month for rent, and most of it goes for food.” Making her struggle obvious, her efforts to

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