history of social welfare M4 D
must use video
Video link
Please watch this personal documentary:
Million Dollar Shack: Trapped in Silicon Valley’s Housing Bubble (2015, 23 minutes in length, transcript available).
After watching the video, please discuss the following with your classmates:
Identify classism and historical perspectives on people who are wealthy and those who are not (please think back to the beginning of class).
How have the views remained the same? How has our definition of poverty and middle class changed?
Discussion Participation Tips
Your initial post should be a logical and thoughtful response to questions posted and typically should be at least 250 words.
ANSWER
Identification of Classism and Historical Perspectives on People Who Are Wealthy and Those Who Are Not
The film Million Dollar Shack: Trapped in Silicon Valley’s Housing Bubble explores classism and historical perspectives on wealthy people and those who are not. The film tells the story of a family struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living in the Silicon Valley area of California. The family is forced to move into a shack worth only a fraction of what their home was worth just a few years ago. The film highlights the struggles many families face in the current economy, and it also offers a glimpse into the lives of the wealthy people who can afford to live in the area.
How Have the Views Remained the Same?
The views of classism and historical perspectives on wealthy people and those who are not have remained the same in the current world. The rich are seen as being better than those not wealthy, and the historical perspective is that the wealthy have always been better off than the poor. For instance, in the movie, the real estate agent’s character is shown as being very successful and having a lot of money. He is also offered as arrogant and condescending to those who are not as wealthy as he is. This is an example of how the rich are seen as being better than those who are not wealthy.
How has our definition of poverty and middle class changed?
The definition of poverty has changed because people are now considered to be in poverty if they cannot afford to house. The purpose of the middle class has changed in that people are now regarded as middle class if they can afford to house. Example- A family that makes $100,000 a year is considered to be in poverty if they cannot afford a $1 million home.
References
Million Dollar Shack: Trapped in Silicon Valley’s Housing Bubble. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBjXUBMkkE8&authuser=0
