Instructions For This Assignment - Internet Re

Instructionsfor This Assignment You Will Conduct Internet Research Ab

Instructions for this assignment, you will conduct Internet research about poverty in the United States and create a photo essay that depicts the economic struggles that many Americans are facing today. Photo essays consist of a collection of photographs or images that portray a particular message. The idea of this assignment is to be creative, so don't let a new type of assignment hinder you. Your photo essay should have an organized theme, linking two photos in some way in the essay. Theme ideas include a certain area or region (urban or rural), lost jobs, a personal story, the recession, immigration, economic impact of globalization, low-paying jobs, slums, kids and poverty, hunger, elderly and poverty, single parents and poverty, health care and poverty, drugs, or other social issues that may be associated with poverty. You are not limited to these ideas; you may pick any theme that you think depicts the economic struggles of Americans. You will submit the following in one document: Two photos that support one common social theme. Each photo must come from a different webpage, article, or source. In other words, do not find an article or photo essay online and copy both photos from that one source. The photos may be your own photos, photos found online, or a combination of both. Provide a 100-word (minimum) description for each of the two photos that states what each of the photos represents. The descriptions should educate the reader about the social theme you are presenting. Provide a 150-word (minimum) summary of your photo theme and explain how social class as a social structure influences the opportunities or life choices for the individuals or individuals in your photo essay. Conclude with a statement of what you learned from this photo essay assignment.

Paper For Above instruction

In this photo essay, I explore the theme of economic hardship faced by many Americans, focusing on the impact of low-paying jobs and limited opportunities on families living in urban environments. The two selected photographs illustrate contrasting yet interconnected societal issues—one depicting a day laborer waiting at a street corner and the other showing children playing in a neglected neighborhood park. These images collectively portray how socio-economic status influences everyday life and future prospects, emphasizing the role of social class in shaping access to resources, education, and upward mobility. The essay discusses how structural inequalities perpetuate cycles of poverty, affecting life choices and opportunities, especially among marginalized communities. Through this visual narrative, I have learned the importance of addressing systemic barriers to foster equitable social and economic development, highlighting that poverty is not solely a result of individual failure but also a consequence of societal structures.

Paper For Above instruction

The first photograph captures a lone day laborer standing on a busy urban street corner early in the morning, clutching a sign advertising manual labor jobs. The unemployed worker’s weathered face and worn clothing reflect the struggles faced by many in low-income brackets who depend on temporary, unstable employment for survival. This image represents the social issue of underemployment and the lack of reliable job opportunities that maintain the cycle of poverty among working-class Americans. The second photograph shows young children playing amidst dilapidated buildings and overgrown lots in a neglected neighborhood. The children’s expressions of innocence contrast sharply with the decaying surroundings, symbolizing how poverty affects future generations and restricts upward mobility. Both images highlight disparities rooted in social class, with limited access to quality education, safe environments, and economic resources shaping life outcomes.

My photo theme centers on the pervasive influence of social class on economic opportunity in the United States, particularly within urban settings. Structural inequalities—such as unequal access to quality education, affordable healthcare, and stable employment—severely limit the life chances of individuals born into poverty. People in lower socio-economic brackets often face systemic barriers that constrain their ability to improve their socio-economic status, perpetuating a cycle of hardship across generations. For example, the depiction of a day laborer emphasizes how economic necessity forces many into unstable, low-wage jobs with limited social mobility. Meanwhile, the image of children highlights how poverty jeopardizes future prospects, embedding disadvantaged youth in cycles of deprivation. These patterns demonstrate that social class is a fundamental social structure influencing individuals’ opportunities, shaping life choices and long-term outcomes.

From completing this photo essay, I learned that poverty in America is deeply intertwined with systemic inequalities rooted in social class. The images revealed how structural barriers—such as limited access to education, healthcare, and stable employment—disproportionately affect marginalized communities, hindering social mobility. This exercise deepened my understanding that tackling poverty requires comprehensive societal efforts aimed at reducing inequality and expanding opportunities for all. Addressing root causes, including economic disparity and residential segregation, is essential for fostering a more equitable society where individuals have genuine chances to improve their lives regardless of their socio-economic background.

References

• Wilson, W. J. (2012). The Truly Disadvantaged: The Inner City, the Underclass, and Public Policy. University of Chicago Press.
• Brady, D. (2019). Rich Democracies, Poor People? The Political Economy of Poverty in Comparative Perspective. Oxford University Press.
• Gordon, M. (2016). Urban Poverty and the Social Environment. Routledge.
• Sharkey, P. (2013). Stuck in Place: Urban Neighborhoods and the End of Progress toward Racial Equality. University of Chicago Press.
• Hbr.org. (2020). The link between economic inequality and health disparities. Harvard Business Review.
• Definitions and facts about poverty in the United States. (2021). U.S. Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/poverty.html
• Pager, D., & Shepherd, H. (2008). The Sociology of Discrimination: Racial Discrimination in Employment, Housing, Credit, and Consumer Markets. Annual Review of Sociology, 34, 181–209.
• Wilson, W. J. (2009). More Than Just Race: Being Black and Poor in the Inner City. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Desmond, M., & Kimbro, R. T. (2015). Eviction's Fallout: Housing, Family and Family Poverty. City & Community, 14(2), 105–111.
• Allard, S. W. (2017). Down on their Luck: A Study of Poverty, Inequality, and Social Welfare. University of California Press.