Response to Kathy Mai's
"Social Stigma and Poverty"

Mai's video essay on "Social Stigma and Poverty" is a video I believe more people should watch and learn from. Society at large isn't often (if at all) required in any way to think about how stigma's of poverty can affect those living in it and often looks down on those living in poverty. Never lending a hand. Mai's project talks extensively about the damaging stereotypes of like 'filthiness', 'laziness' 'dangerousness', 'feeblemindedness', and 'worthlessness' that are given to the poor. She says that they are "outdated and damaging, diverting attention away from the values of altruism and opportunity that America so highly upholds" (Mai, 0:21 - 0:28). It is completely true that adding such stereotypes to this group only harms them. The blame is placed on the victims of poverty and homelessness, thus making it easy for those living a 'normal life' to chose to ignore the impoverished communities.

​

I used to live in an upper-middle class area and lived there during most of my teenage years. My mother had told me when I was little that they had laws dictating that the homeless weren't allowed to be in public places. They were shunned to areas that were out of sight. Well, as the saying goes, "Out of sight, out of mind" and so back then I didn't have to think about the poor people living in the areas around me. On the rare occasions I saw a homeless women or man, my Mom would make me and my sister give them some spare dollars we had but that was it. I too held the individualistic view although it was never my intention to purposefully cause harm to those in poverty.

 

This project was an eye opening experience that allowed me the opportunity to understand and realize the deeper struggles of those living on or below the poverty line. Mai quotes Belcher & Deforge saying that, "in the eyes of the public, is a devalued 'social identity' that represents individuals that are unworthy of equal opportunities, rights, and access to societal resources because they failed to pursue or accomplish the American Dream" (6:40 - 6:55). I didn't understand the extent to which people living in such terrible conditions have been needing and asking for society's help only instead to be punished for something that is completely out of their control.

​

It made me sad to hear the injustices done upon those living in homelessness and poverty. After watching the vide essay, I have come out of this project a much wiser person and to Mai, that was exactly her intention.