I think the universal response from those of us in the “challenge” has been the understanding that we didn’t really experience, not did we believe we would, living in poverty.
Several recent posts have broaden the dialogue to ask why our voices as “challengers” were more readily heard by the larger community than those with the actual experience.
Some bloggers have commented on why this is the case.
It is important to hear about why this is and it is important to find a way to hear more of those voices. I don’t have the ultimate solution but by participating in the challenge, I am more connected and re-connected at a personal level as to what my role can be to be more inclusive. I would welcome any suggestions.
We have made as a community a small step forward but we have a ways to go.
October 3, 2011 at 8:12 am
Its quite an compelling position you folks participating in the FoodBasket Challenge have taken Sherri, and I think its absolutely palpable around the edges that folks are talking about the paradox of poverty. On the one hand, the dearth of choice you all wrote about, the high tension you all experienced tells us low income folks are forced into a situaion where thy have to make higher quality decisons when they don’t have slack to help buffer them, i.e. even though they have to supply higher quality decisions, they’re in a worse position to supply them because they’re depleted. That is the ultimate irony of poverty. Low income people are in an environment where their decisions have to be better, but the very nature of that environment makes it harder for them to apply better decisions.
Thanks Sherri, me thinks there’s more than one answer to these questions and they’re pointing us in a crooked line. The less we seek definitves, the closer we’ll get to a solution. (My paraphrase from a favourite song by the Indigo Girls).
October 11, 2011 at 5:11 pm
Because of continued stereo-typing, impoverished are considered noncredible, liars, losers, trash, waste and a huge inconvenience to everyone else. This is heard loud and clear from high-level income earners who in their private lives do nothing other than bash those who are in more need. Hence the problem with impoverished individuals being segregated from family and friends.
No one wants to be identified with them. impoverished = embarrassment.
Is it any wonder they want to remain private.