The social inequality in the Unites States of America and how President Donald Trump is going to handle this issue

Table of Contents

1 Introduction

2 Poverty in the United States

2.1 Who Belongs to “the Poor”?

2.2 Food Insecurity

3 The Working Poor Concerning Gender

3.1 The Pay Gap – A Brief Introduction

3.2 The Pay Gap – A Tool of Discrimination towards Women

3.3 Occupational Segregation

3.4 Explaining the Pay Gap

4 The Working Poor Regarding Ethnic Minorities

4.1 Illegal Immigrants and the Working Poor

4.2 Women among Ethnic Minorities

4.3 Racial Prejudices in the United States

5 Social Heritages and the Myth of Equality in the United States

5.1 The Need of Owning Money to Make Money – A Vicious Circle in the United States

5.1.1 The Costs of Colleges

5.1.2 How Families Afford College

5.1.3 Reasons for Enrolling Community College

5.2 Why Do We Need Employments? – How Jobs Define People’s Value for Society

6 Proposed Solution to Decrease the Poverty Rate

6.1 The Importance of the Affordable Care Act

6.2 The Threat towards Equality by the Presidency of Donald Trump

7 Conclusion

Research Objectives and Key Themes

This thesis investigates the systemic causes of poverty among the "working poor" in the United States, examining how social inequality persists despite the cultural myth of the American Dream. The central research objective is to analyze why specific demographic groups remain trapped in low-wage cycles and to propose potential policy solutions to mitigate these disparities.

• The intersection of gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status in defining poverty.
• Structural barriers to education and the impact of the gender and racial pay gaps.
• The role of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and minimum wage policies in economic stabilization.
• The influence of political leadership and national ideology on social inequality.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1 Introduction: This chapter establishes the American Dream as a cornerstone of US culture while introducing the "working poor" as a significant portion of the population excluded from its promises.

2 Poverty in the United States: This section defines the poverty line and examines statistical data regarding the prevalence of poverty, including food insecurity across different demographic groups.

3 The Working Poor Concerning Gender: This chapter analyzes the gender pay gap, occupational segregation, and how motherhood impacts the likelihood of women falling into poverty.

4 The Working Poor Regarding Ethnic Minorities: This section discusses the intersection of racial prejudice, immigration status, and ethnic background in limiting economic opportunities and mobility.

5 Social Heritages and the Myth of Equality in the United States: This chapter explores how access to quality education, social heritage, and the psychological impact of low-wage work perpetuate the cycle of poverty across generations.

6 Proposed Solution to Decrease the Poverty Rate: This section evaluates the Affordable Care Act and addresses the political challenges and potential impacts of the Trump administration's policies on social inequality.

7 Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the necessity of policy interventions like raising the minimum wage and ensuring universal health care to dismantle systemic inequality.

Keywords

Working Poor, American Dream, Social Inequality, Gender Pay Gap, Racial Prejudice, Poverty Line, Food Insecurity, Affordable Care Act, Minimum Wage, Occupational Segregation, Economic Mobility, Immigration Law, Socioeconomic Status, Education Costs, Systemic Discrimination.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this thesis?

The thesis explores the reality of the "working poor" in the contemporary United States, analyzing how structural inequalities contradict the promise of the American Dream.

What are the primary thematic areas covered?

Key areas include the impact of gender and race on wage disparity, the role of education in economic mobility, and the influence of political decisions on poverty rates.

What is the central research question?

The work investigates why a large percentage of Americans remain in poverty despite being employed, and what systemic factors and political choices contribute to this state.

Which methodology is employed in this research?

The author utilizes a qualitative review of sociological studies, government reports, economic data, and academic literature to analyze the systemic nature of poverty.

What is the main focus of the middle chapters?

The middle chapters detail how specific demographic factors—specifically gender and ethnicity—act as barriers to economic progress and how these are further complicated by the high cost of education and health services.

How is the term "working poor" characterized here?

It refers to individuals who occupy jobs but do not earn sufficient income to cover basic living expenses, often remaining trapped beneath the poverty threshold despite their efforts.

Why are immigrant populations specifically discussed?

Immigrants face unique structural exclusion, including legal precariousness and limited access to public resources, which forces them into low-wage, high-risk employment.

What role does the "American Dream" play in this analysis?

The author uses the American Dream as a critical framework to contrast national ideology with the reality of persistent social inequality and limited mobility for lower-class citizens.