Born “Unlucky”: The Systematic Disadvantage of Being A Part of the Lower Class

Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy the essentials of life; food, clothing, housing, and an education. Money is the fundamental concept that our society is built on, and is also the object needed for survival. Life is a game of luck and chance. On one side of the coin, you're either born lucky enough to be a part of the upper class, and have access to all you need to survive and beyond. On the other hand, you're born “unlucky.” Being a part of the lower class is similar to playing life on hard mode. Although the two words living and surviving are synonyms, they have wildly different meanings. When you can enjoy life without the incessant worry of how you're going to get basic necessities such as food and water, you're living. Some people don't get to live, some people have to survive. Some people can't guarantee they have food on their plate the next day, or have the advantage of having a roof over their head. People in the lower class more often than not do not get the privilege of living, they have to survive. To understand how class impacts opportunity, let’s explore the everyday realities faced by those born into poverty.

      Being born into the lower class and living in a poor area means attending a school that's underfunded, overcrowded, and lacks essential resources such as school devices or updated textbooks. Education is marketed as an even playing field, an opportunity to rise up in the world. “Doing good in school means doing good in life” is a phrase told to many. However, this is not always the case, especially for those in the lower class. Many poorer students are not allowed the privileges or opportunities that many of those in the upper-middle, or upper class are allowed. Economically disadvantaged schools often lack qualified teachers, access to AP or honors classes, and adequate college prep programs. Combine this with the fact that even if a lower class student is accepted into a top college, affording attendance is another issue entirely.  It's not just money many lower class students have little of, it's time. Which, arguably, is just as valuable. Many lower class students are forced to get jobs after high school as opposed to higher education in order to survive. Education is not always the gateway to success it’s marketed as, contributing to the continuous poverty of many. 

      American healthcare: a necessity that's out of reach for many. Although the U.S. spends far more on healthcare than other high income countries, it is below expectations in terms of many key health measures, such as life expectancy, preventable hospital admissions, suicide, and maternal mortality. Despite this, care remains unaffordable for millions. It wouldn't even be an exaggeration to say that one could go bankrupt in the case they became terminally ill. For those living paycheck to paycheck, a serious illness can mean choosing between life saving treatment and bankruptcy. As a result of the astronomical prices of healthcare, many citizens, specifically those in the lower class, do not have access to healthcare. This leads to the denial of high-quality care to those who are in need of it most, but can least afford its towering cost. As a result, many economically disadvantaged demographics continuously suffer physically and mentally, unable to receive any help they need.

      Poverty is deceptively simple. On paper, it could seem easy to escape. However, poverty is not a worldwide problem for no reason. In most cases, it's generational. Compassion International explains it very well, stating, “Making money requires having money in the first place. Not having capital to begin with prevents income growth and perpetuates generational poverty.” This is how generational poverty works: the poor stay poor because making money often requires having money to start with. As a result, many people stay poor for generations. For decades, families continue to lack the resources needed to not only live a good life, but to live a survivable life. There are deep rooted system inequalities as well that contribute to this poverty. Institutional racism and discrimination are also key contributors to generational poverty, limiting access to quality education, employment, and housing for marginalized communities. 

     Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy stability, security, and a good life. In an unjust world, where status is often determined by income, and what neighborhood you live in, society must acknowledge that poverty is not a personal failure, but a societal one. The inequalities in our system are rooted deep, tracing back decades. Society needs to address the ingrained inequalities in our society that hinder the success of millions of those in low income communities. If not, those who happen to be born “unlucky” will continue to suffer.